Select Board Delays Medeiros Farm Contract

The Seekonk Select Board did not award the bid for designer services for the Medeiros Farm project at their Wednesday meeting. 

Members Christopher Zorra and Michael Healy were in favor of awarding the bid to CHA Consulting for $549,450. Chair Gary Sagar and Elizabeth Elmasian were in opposition.

“I can’t see spending any more money on this project,” Sagar said, noting the Medeiros Farm Committee needs to go before the Zoning Board first. In addition, Sagar said a full traffic study needs to be conducted and invited the Medeiros Farm Committee to meet with the Select Board.

“The townspeople voted,” Healy said. “It’s not our job to take their vote away. This is the next step. This is what the people wanted.”

Healy believes “personal agendas” were a factor in the board’s vote.

“I would think (the residents) would want to make sure that the plan is going to be approved (by the zoning board) before the money is spent,” Elmasian said. “I don’t see this as stopping it. I don’t have a personal agenda. If people want soccer fields, god bless, they have soccer fields.” 

The Town acquired the property for $2 million. At the May 2023 Town Meeting, the Town voted to appropriate $150,000 from the Community Preservation Fund Undesignated Reserve to hire and direct a consultant to develop a master plan for the Medeiros Farm project at Elm Street and Lincoln Street. A seven member committee was appointed to oversee the project. 

The Medeiros Farm Recreation and Park Master Plan outlines four objectives: active recreation, passive recreation, historic preservation, and a Community Park. 

Residents from Elm Street and Lincoln Street expressed their opposition to having soccer fields in their neighborhood. They cited traffic and safety concerns.

Two citizens’ petition articles were placed on the November 2025 Town Meeting warrant. One article was to rescind $825,000 in funding already appropriated for the project. The other was to rescind the appointment of the Medeiros Farm Committee itself. Both articles failed.