Healy Affirms Support for South End Fire Station

Seekonk Select Board member Michael Healy has affirmed his support for a South End Fire Station. Healy is a former Seekonk Fire Chief. 

The $9.5 million project was rejected at the May town meeting by a vote of 112 – 108. A two thirds vote was needed to pass the article.

“I believe it’s needed,” Healy said at the August 6 meeting. “From day one, I’ve stated that staffing is the issue. (The fire department) has been understaffed and undermanned.”

Healy believes response times will be improved with a new station, but that would come with a price.

“We’re putting the life of every single firefighter in greater jeopardy because they operate unsafely to this day,” Healy noted. “It’s time for it to change.”

Town Administrator Shawn Cadime said in order for the project to go ahead, town meeting voters would need to approve funding for architectural services.

Voters at the May 2020 town meeting allocated $425,000 for the design of the facility at the site of the former school administration building at 69 School Street. The town intends to demolish that property. The 8300 square foot building would have consisted of three components, including dispatch, living quarters, and fire suppression.

At last May’s town meeting, Fire Chief Shaun Whalen explained that if the station were to be built, some firefighters would need to be reassigned from the other two stations – the Banna station on Pine Street and the Police/Fire Headquarters on Taunton Avenue. Additional staff would also need to be hired.

Select Board member Gary Sagar, who has been calling for a September town meeting, noted the building would not be completed before a two year period.