We wish everyone a healthy and safe Memorial Day. It is a day to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving in the United States Armed Forces.
“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter the words, but to live by them.” ~ John F. Kennedy.
In observance of Memorial Day, the Town Offices will be closed on Monday, May 26th.
In Recognition
Kathy Coyle - Kathy began her career with the Town of Seekonk on July 7, 1985. She started part-time at the Seekonk Police and Fire Department until January 25, 1989. She returned to work full-time at the Department of Public Works on October 16, 1995. On October 8, 2010, she transferred to the Finance Department as the Accounts Payable Senior Clerk where she served until May 2, 2025. On behalf of her friends and coworkers (past and present), we congratulate her on a well-deserved retirement after 40 years of service to the Town of Seekonk. Thank you for your contributions and dedication to our town.
Sandra Foulkes - Sandy retired from her position on the Planning Board effective April 7, 2025. She served on the board from April 2008 to March of 2025. For many of those years, she served as the vice-clerk or vice-chair for the Board. Seekonk Town Planner, John Aubin, stated, “I had the privilege to work with Sandy for the last ten years and always valued her attentiveness and genuine concern for the Town, its residents, and natural resources.” We would like to take this opportunity to thank Sandy for her contributions and dedication to the Town of Seekonk. Even though she is no longer on the Planning Board, Sandy will continue serving the town as an election worker so you will see her at the polls.
Annual Spring Town Meeting May 12, 2025
The Annual Spring Town meeting will be held on May 12th at 7:00PM in the auditorium at the Seekonk High School. Check-in begins at 6:00PM. If you are NOT a registered voter and would like to vote at the meeting, please be sure to register before May 2nd at 5:00PM. You can register on-line at https://www.sec.state.ma.us/OVR/ or in-person at the Town Clerk’s office.
The warrant is now available to view on the town’s website (www.seekonk-ma.gov). Please come out and participate in this important town meeting. We encourage everyone to get involved…. your voice matters!
Annual Town Election April 7, 2025 – Official Election Results Congratulations to all those who won their respective seats and thank you to all the individuals who ran for a position. The election process is not easy. Your willingness to serve our town is recognized and appreciated.
Number of Eligible Voters 12,529
Total Votes Cast 1,562
Voter Turnout Percentage 12.47%
Voter turnout by precinct:
1 - 415
2 - 519
3 - 310
4 - 318
1,562 Total
Binding Question: Shall the Town of Seekonk be allowed to exempt from the provisions of proposition two and one-half, so-called, the amounts required to pay the Town’s allocable share of the bond issued by the Tri County Regional Vocational Technical School District for the purpose of paying costs of designing, constructing, originally equipping and furnishing a new District High School and related athletic facilities to be located at 147 Pond Street, Franklin, Massachusetts, including the payment of all costs incidental or related thereto?
Yes - 789
No - 723
Blanks - 50
1,562 Total
The official tally sheet is available on the Town Clerk’s page (https://www.seekonk-ma.gov/280/Town-Clerk).
Board, Commission, and Committee Opportunities
Our town boards, commissions, and committees provide residents the opportunity to work with the town in areas that interest them. Please consider volunteering your time and talent to sit on one of our boards, commissions and committees. If you are interested, please complete a talent bank form online at https://www.seekonk-ma.gov/583/Talent-Bank-Form, request one via email at townclerk@seekonk-ma.gov, or pick one up at either the Town Clerk’s Office or Town Administrator’s Office.
Board of Registrars is a three-member board that is appointed by the Select Board to a three-year term. Duties pertain to voter registrations, street lists, signature certifications, and certain post-election duties, such as post-election audits, recounts, and counting Federal Write-in Absentee Ballots (FWABS) and ballots received from outside the United States (UOCAVA). The Board of Registrars do not work at the polling location during an election. There are currently two seats available.
Capital Improvement Committee is a seven-member committee appointed to a three-year term. Capital Projects are defined as projects or assets that cost at least $5,000 and have a useful life of at least 5 years. In the fall, the Capital Improvement Committee will call Department Heads to review their capital project requests for the upcoming fiscal year. After the reviews are completed the CIC rates and ranks each project based on Department priority, budget impact, public safety, equipment replacement, efficiency, useful life, cost reduction, benefit to the Town and alignment with the Master Plan. The goal is to provide an impartial perspective for the Board of Selectmen and Town Administrator as they develop a balanced budget for the next fiscal year. Currently, there are five vacancies for this committee.
Commission on Disability includes participation of people with disabilities to (1) research local problems of people with disabilities; (2) advise and assist municipal officials and employees in ensuring compliance with state and federal laws and regulations that affect people with disabilities; (3) coordinate or carry out programs designed to meet the problems of people with disabilities in coordination with programs of the Massachusetts office on disability; (4) review and make recommendations about policies, procedures, services, activities and facilities of departments, boards and agencies of said city or town as they affect people with disabilities; (5) provide information, referrals, guidance and technical assistance to individuals, public agencies, businesses and organizations in all matters pertaining to disability; (6) coordinate activities of other local groups organized for similar purposes. For more information, please refer to MGL Chapter 40, §8J or contact our office. There are up to twelve seats available.
Cultural Council is a group of interested residents whose purpose is to support community-based projects in the arts, humanities, and interpretive sciences. Currently, there are two vacancies for this committee.
Economic Development Committee involves in the development and review of the Town’s long-term economic development plans and works on marketing the Town. They also will promote new business development and support existing businesses in Town. There are five vacancies on this committee.
Energy Committee provides advice to the Select Board on policies and programs that may help reduce the town's "carbon footprint"; preserve and enhance Seekonk's environment, natural resources, and quality of life for its residents and businesses; and to provide leadership, education, and outreach to the public. There are four vacancies on this committee.
Finance Committee oversees and advises on the town's financial matters. The committee reviews the proposed budget for the coming fiscal year prior to the Annual Town Meeting. The committee reviews, in detail, all monetary proposals to be brought forward at the Town Meeting and provides recommendations on each article for the benefit of the voters. There is one vacancy on this committee.
Historical Committee prepares and distributes publications, make recommendations to the selectmen, enter into contracts, and essentially develop an effective local program for preservation that is based on the needs and desires of our community. There are two vacancies for this committee.
Parks & Recreation is an advisory committee that works with the Parks and Recreation Coordinator to help gather ideas for new programing. They also help with the development of the town’s acquisitions and recreational areas. The committee, along with the coordinator, holds monthly meetings with the goal of developing diverse services and programs for the community and promoting citizen involvement. There is one vacancy for this committee.
Recycling Committee helps coordinate and implement various sustainability programs in town-including recycling education, food waste composting, reducing waste by switching to reusable products, rain barrels for saving water and reducing flooding, litter patrol for cleaning up our streets, and special recycling programs for hard to recycle products. There are two vacancies for this committee.
Zoning Board of Appeals adopt rules, not inconsistent with the provisions of the zoning ordinance or by-law, for the conduct of its business and for purposes of this chapter. There is currently one alternate position available.
Dog Licenses and Town Census are now PAST DUE
Thank you to all those who have submitted their dog license forms. As of April 23rd, we have registered 1,566 dog licenses. Dog licenses are now PAST DUE. As of June 1st, there will be an $25 late fee included with your dog license fee. Per MGL Chapter 140 Section 137: All dogs 6 months or older must be licensed annually with proof of a current rabies vaccination. Failure to comply may result in a by-law citation fee. If you would like to have the dog tag mailed to you, please return your completed form to us along with a self-addressed stamped envelope and a check made payable to the Town of Seekonk. As a reminder, license fees are waived for residents 70 years of age or older. However, you still need to apply for the license and show the dog is current on their rabies vaccine.
Thank you to all those who have submitted their census. If you have not returned your town census, please do so as soon as possible. Failure to respond to the census may result in an interruption in voter status (i.e., becoming an inactive voter and/or removal from the active voting list). If you are a registered voter, there will be a party affiliation by your name (i.e., D, R, U, etc.). Updates to your party affiliation can be made in person at our office or by going online to https://www.sec.state.ma.us/OVR/. As a reminder, the census does not register you to vote.
Memorial Day Parade – Saturday, May 24th at 10:00AM
The parade will begin at the Seekonk High School at 10:00AM and proceed to Arcade Avenue, right onto Newman Avenue and will end at Dr. Kevin M. Hurley Middle School. The Seekonk Department of Veterans Services and Seekonk Veterans Council will hold a ceremony at the Seekonk Veterans memorial park (410 Newman Avenue) immediately following the parade. A complimentary cookout will be held at the American legion Post 311 (351 Fall River Avenue) 12:00PM – 2:00PM.
We hope to see you there. It is a wonderful parade put on by an incredible group of dedicated individuals.
Reminders From the Tax Collector’s Office
Due dates for Real Estate taxes and Personal Property taxes:
If you have any questions regarding your taxes, please contact the Tax Collector’s Office at 508-336-2930.
It’s hard to believe it has been one year since I was fortunate enough to be elected Seekonk’s Town Clerk. The year has flown by, and I can honestly say I learn something new every day. Thank you for your support and trusting me to serve as your Town Clerk. In addition, I would like to thank Lorraine Sorel, my fellow employees, the Administration, and Select Board for sharing your knowledge with me over the past 12 months. Our teamwork and collaboration have helped me successfully transition into the role of Town Clerk during a very busy election year
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the election workers. In the past year, they had to adapt to many changes that included the successful implementation of new poll pads that were first utilized in the September State Primary election. Their professionalism and willingness to embrace change was instrumental to our election process.
We hope you have a wonderful month. As always, please contact us (508) 336-2920 or by email at townclerk@seekonk-ma.gov if you have any questions.
~Kristen and Lorraine
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here