Library Renovation on Spring Town Meeting Warrant

The Seekonk Select Board voted 4 to 1 on March 26 to place a library renovation warrant article before voters at the May Town Meeting.

Chairperson Michelle Hines said the library project was “ready to go.”

The renovation cost could be as much as $10 million. Justin Sullivan, Hines, Michael Healy, and Chris Zorra voted yes. Pam Pozzi was the lone no vote.

Library Director Kathleen Hibbert outlined a list of needs in a discussion with the board on March 12.

“This is already a compromise. We’re not coming for a new building,” Hibbert said. “We know that ship has sailed but we have been waiting 25 years to make improvements to the building.”

A feasibility study was conducted in late 2023/early 2024 and the final report was issued last November. It read in part: “The library is located at the site of the former Newman Avenue Landfill.  In an earlier study, a structural assessment identified up to 3 inches of settlement at the southwest corner of the library building.  The exterior building cladding is visibly deteriorated in many areas, and will need to be replaced.”

There will be no warrant article for a new Department of Public Works (DPW) facility.

Pozzi believes a new facility is a “priority.”

Healy said it was an “absolute need” and noted the proposed location on Fall River Avenue “really isn’t the best site for us to use.”

Gary Sagar, a former selectman now running for the board, proposed an alternate location on Taunton Avenue can be used. Sagar said the total cost of the new project would be $16 million, a big drop from the $40 million project which was going to be situated at 351 Fall River Avenue. Voters at last November’s town meeting were not supportive of the proposal, which required a debt exclusion (temporary tax increase).

Hines noted more information was needed about the DPW project before it could be placed on a warrant.