Happy June Everyone! June is the official beginning of summer and also the start of summer break for students. We would like to congratulate and wish all the 2025 Seekonk Graduates success and happiness as they begin their new journey.
IN RECOGNITION
In recognition of Lisa Lyon – Lisa began her career with the Town as a clerk in the Collector’s Office on December 8, 1999. Lisa was promoted to the position of Senior Clerk in the Treasurer’s office on July 12, 2004. After 28.5 years, Lisa has decided to retire. Collectively, as her friends and coworkers (past and present), we congratulate her on her well-deserved retirement. Lisa, you will be greatly missed. Thank you for all you have done for the town.
ANNUAL SPRING TOWN MEETING NEWS
Seekonk held its Spring Town Meeting on May 12, 2025 at the Seekonk High School. Below is a report summarizing the meeting and votes. The complete set of minutes can be found on the Town Clerk’s webpage.
The Town Clerk called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m. with a quorum of over 75 registered voters. The Town Moderator made a motion to allow the Town Moderator to proceed with all articles, even those that affect him personally.
Article 1 - To receive Town Officers or Committees reports. No reports were given.
Action on the motion: Motion passed.
Article 2 - To see what sums of money the Town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds or borrow for Operating Expenses and the Sanitation Fund of the Town for the Fiscal Year commencing July 1, 2025 and ending June 30, 2026.
A motion was made and seconded on Town Meeting floor by the Board of Selectmen to increase line item 56 Section D-Education by $113,000. The total number for line item 56, Section D-Education totaled $33,856,464.
Action on the motion: Motion passed.
Motion was made and seconded on Town Meeting floor by the Board of Selectmen to appropriate the sum of $73,285,033 to defray charges and expenses of the Town for Fiscal Year 2026 for the purposes and amounts set forth in Budget Schedules A through J in column titled Select Board Budget 2026:
Action on the motion: Motion passed.
Motion was made and seconded on Town Meeting floor by the Board of Selectmen to appropriate the sum of $1,950,256 to defray charges and expenses of operating the Sanitation Enterprise Fund for the Fiscal Year 2026 for the purpose and amount set forth in Schedule K in the column titled Select Board Recommended Budget 2026: the sum of $1,950,256 to be provided from revenues of the Sanitation Enterprise Fund.
Action on the motion: Motion passed.
Article 3 - To see if the Town will vote to fix the salary and compensation for the elected and appointed officials of the Town as provided by GL c 41, s108 for their services for the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2025, provided that any part-time elected official may waive receipt of compensation.
Action on the motion: Motion passed
Article 4 - To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, transfer from the Municipal Capital Stabilization fund or available funds in the treasury, or transfer from designated funds that have been reserved for appropriation the following sums to be expended for departmental equipment and all incidental and related expenses, including new or continuing leases for such equipment, and further to authorize appropriate Town officials to enter into contracts for more than three years for such purposes.
Action on Motion: Motion passed
Article 5 - To see if the Town of Seekonk will vote to appropriate from the Community Preservation Fund Fiscal Year 2026 estimated annual revenues the sum of $33,203 for administrative expenses of the Community Preservation Committee for Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2026; and further reserve for future appropriation the following sums from Fiscal Year 2026 estimated revenues, as recommended by the Community Preservation Committee, with each item to be considered a separate reservation.
Action on Motion: Motion passed
Article 6 - To see if the Town appropriate the sum of $825,000 from the Community Preservation Fund Undesignated Reserve for the Medeiros Farm Committee, with such sums to be expended under the direction of the Select Board, for designer services for the Medeiros Farm project at Elm Street and Lincoln Street.
Action on the motion: Motion passed
Article 7 - To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to dispose of surplus property or material, exclusive of buildings and land, but including compost, no longer needed by the Town.
Action on the motion: Motion passed
Article 8 - To see if the Town will vote to transfer a sum of money from Free Cash to the FY 2025 Town Meeting Operating Budget Line Item #69 (Snow & Ice Expenses).
Action on the motion: Motion passed
Article 9 - To see if the Town will vote to appropriate from Ambulance Receipts the sum of $119,797.25 for the second year of a four (4) year lease/purchase for an EMS/Rescue vehicle for the Fire Department, to be expended under the direction of the Select Board
Action on the motion: Motion passed
Article 10 - To see if the Town will vote to transfer from the PEG Cable Access and Cable Related fund the sum of $135,182.60 as a grant to Seekonk Cable Access, Inc., the Town’s PEG Access Provider, and transfer the additional sum of $50,000, to be held by the Select Board, and transferred to Seekonk Cable Access as a grant if, in the sole discretion of the Select Board, Seekonk Cable Access, Inc. needs additional funds to carry out its PEG Access Provider functions in FY2026
Action on the motion: Motion passed
Article 11 -To see if the Town will vote to transfer from the PEG Cable Access and Cable Related fund the sum of $83,000 to Seekonk Public Schools for PEG purposes.
Action on the motion: Motion passed
Article 12 - To see if the Town will vote to accept General Laws Chapter 59, Section 5, Clause 22I, added by Chapter 178 of the Acts of 2024, An Act Honoring, Empowering and Recognizing Our Service Members and Veterans, also known as the HERO Act, which authorizes an annual increase in the amount of the exemption granted to eligible veterans under General Laws Chapter 59, Section 5, Clause 22, Clause 22A, Clause 22B, Clause 22C, Clause 22E and Clause 22F by the percentage increase in the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the previous year as determined by the Commissioner of Revenue, to be effective for applicable exemptions granted for any fiscal year beginning on or after July 1, 2025.
Action on the motion: Motion passed
Article 13 – To see if the Town will vote to accept General Laws Chapter 59, Section 5, Clause 22J, added by Chapter 178 of the Acts of 2024, An Act Honoring, Empowering and Recognizing Our Service Members and Veterans, also known as the HERO Act, which authorizes an annual increase in the amount of the exemption granted under General Laws Chapter 59, Section 5, Clause 22, Clause 22A, Clause 22B, Clause 22C, Clause 22E and Clause 22F by 100% of the personal exemption amount available to qualified veterans, subject to the conditions in Clause 22J, to be effective for applicable exemptions granted for any fiscal year beginning on or after July 1, 2025.
Action on the motion: Motion passed
Article 14 – To see if the Town will vote to appropriate from the Building & Infrastructure Stabilization fund the sum of $97,623.50 to fund the LED lighting upgrades at the Seekonk Public Safety Building, including all incidental and related expense.
Action on Motion: Motion passed
Article 15 – To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of $10,400,000 to fund the construction, renovation and expansion of the Seekonk Public Library, including demolition, landscaping, paving, utility and other site improvements incidental or directly related to such construction and renovation, necessary architectural, engineering or other provisional and legal expenses and fees associated with the project, temporary library operation space, storage and moving expenses, furnishings and equipment and for all other costs incidental or related thereto: and, as funding therefor, to authorize the Treasurer with the approval of the Select Board to borrow said funds pursuant to G.L. c.44 §7 or any other enabling authority and issue bonds and notes therefor; to authorize the Town to apply for any grants or loans available for the project, and, further, that the amount of the authorized borrowing under this vote shall be reduced by the amount of any grants received for the project prior to the issuance of bonds or notes under this vote; provided however, that the vote taken hereunder shall be expressly contingent upon approval by the voters of the Town at an election to exempt from the limitation on total taxes imposed under G.L. c 59 § 21C (Proposition 2 ½) the amounts required to pay the principal of and interest on the borrowing authorized by this vote.
Action on the motion: Motion passed
Article 16 – To see if the Town will vote to discontinue as a public town way the roadway depicted as “Old Fall River Avenue, Discontinuance Area, Assessors Map 7, Parcel 113”, on the plan entitled: “Discontinuance Plan in Seekonk, MA Bristol County Prepared for the Town of Seekonk, MA”, dated April 24, 2025, prepared by Greenman-Pedersen, Inc. (the “Discontinuance Plan”), a copy of which is on file with the Town Clerk, said way being no longer needed as a public way, and to transfer from the Select Board for public way purposes to the Select Board for general municipal purposes, including the purpose of conveyance, and authorize the Select Board to convey, any and all land and interests in land within the discontinued Old Fall River Avenue on such terms and conditions as the Select Board sees fit, and for the purpose of confirming or otherwise establishing record rights to maintain the utilities presently located over Old Fall River Avenue, and to enter into all agreements and take all other actions necessary or appropriate to effectuate said discontinuance and to convey and acquire the foregoing land and interests in land, VOTED TO INDEFINITELY POSTPONE
Action on the motion to indefinitely postpone: Motion passed
Article 17 - To see if the Town will vote to amend Section 3.2 of the Town of Seekonk Zoning Bylaws and the Town of Seekonk Zoning Map to rezone from Residential-1 to Local Business the property located at 1484 Newman Avenue, identified as Seekonk Assessor’s Plat 30, Lot 87 containing approximately .58 acres of land
Action on Motion: Motion passed
Article 18 - To see if the Town will vote to appropriate from the Building & Infrastructure Stabilization fund the sum of $150,000 for repairs to the Dr. Kevin M. Hurley Middle School heating system, including all incidental and related expenses, to be expended under the direction of the School Committee.
Action on Motion: Motion passed
Article 19 - To see if the Town will vote to appropriate from the Building & Infrastructure Stabilization fund the sum of $300,000 for remediation of asbestos floor tiles at the Seekonk High School, including all incidental and related expenses, to be expended under the direction of the School Committee
Article 20 - To see if the Town will vote to appropriate from School Capital Stabilization fund the sum of $77,500 to fund the second phase of the updated door locks at the Seekonk High School and the George R. Martin School, including all incidental and related expenses, to be expended under the direction of the School Committee.
Action on Motion: Motion passed
Article 21 – VOTER PETITION - In accordance with Article II, Section 6 of the Town of Seekonk Home Rule Charter, we registered voters here by petition: "Any ten (10) voters may secure by written petition to the Board of Selectman, the inclusion of an article or item for the warrant or agenda of any session of the annual Town meeting." To see if the Town will appropriate a sum not to exceed $9,500,000, (nine million five hundred thousand dollars), to pay the costs of constructing, originally equipping, and furnishing the new South End Fire Station, at 69 School St., on land owned by the Town of Seekonk, MA, excluding any funds for the cost of demolition of the existing structure; also excluding any funds for relocating the Communication Department from its current location of 500 Taunton Ave; and for payment of any and all costs incidental and related thereto, whether this amount shall be raised by borrowing or otherwise provided.
Action on Motion: Motion failed
Meeting was adjourned at 10:50PM.
We would like to thank the poll workers, registrars, town hall staff, high school staff, police, fire, DPW, and voters for your participation in town meeting.
SPECIAL ELECTION INFORMATION – July 21, 2025
Polling hours are from 7:00 am – 8:00 pm. at the Seekonk High School, 261 Arcade Avenue
You will be voting yes or no on the following Binding Ballot 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 for the bond issued in order to pay the costs of the renovation and expansion of the Seekonk Public Library building located at 410 Newman Ave, including the payment of all other incidental and related costs?
Early voting will be offered at Seekonk Town Hall, 100 Peck Street in the Select Board Meeting Room July 14th through July 17th during the following hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 7:30AM-4:30PM and Wednesday 8:00AM-5:30AM.
If you are not already registered to vote, the deadline to register is July 11, 2025. Please visit https://www.sec.state.ma.us/OVR/ or www.RegisterToVoteMA.com if you would like to:
Voters are required to file a new mail-in ballot application or absentee ballot application request every calendar year. If you would like to vote by absentee or mail-in ballot, please complete the correct application and send it into the Town Clerk’s Office. Both applications can be found at https://www.sec.state.ma.us/. If you would like us to mail or email you an application, please contact our office.
You qualify for an ABSENTEE BALLOT if:
Whether you are completing your ballot in-person or by mail, please be sure to FILL IN the circle completely. Do NOT mark an X or only lightly fill in the circle.
SUMMER HOURS TRIAL PROGRAM AT TOWN OFFICES
The Town of Seekonk is launching a Summer Hours Trial Program to better serve our residents while also providing a more flexible schedule for staff during the warmer months. Beginning June 9, 2025 and running through August 29, 2025, Town Hall and participating departments will adjust their weekly hours to include extended hours Monday through Thursday and early closure on Fridays. Each department will operate on its own modified schedule based on operational needs and staffing. We strongly encourage residents to check individual department hours before planning a visit.
Building Department
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 6:30 AM to 3:30 PM
Wednesday 6:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Closed Friday
Health Department
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 6:30 AM to 3:30 PM
Wednesday 6:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Closed Friday
Human Services
Monday through Thursday 8:15 AM to 4:00 PM and Friday 8:15 AM to 12:00 PM
Public Works
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM
Wednesday 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM
Friday 6:00 AM to 10:00 AM
Town Hall
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Wednesday 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM
Closed Friday
We're considering changes to the Town’s operating hours during the summer months, and we want to hear from you! The Summer Hours Community Feedback Survey gives residents, businesses, and visitors an opportunity to share their thoughts on potential adjustments. Your feedback will help ensure any changes meet the needs of our community. The survey is short and will only take a few minutes to complete. Thank you for helping us serve you better!
https://www.seekonk-ma.gov/forms.aspx?FID=73
DOG LICENSES AND TOWN CENSUS ARE NOW PAST DUE
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. As of June 1st an additional $25 late fee is included with your dog license fee.
We are still updating census forms. If you have not returned your census, please return it to the Town Clerk’s Office as soon as possible. Failure to respond to census mailings for two consecutive years will result in the removal from the active voting list.
REMINDERS FROM THE TAX COLLECTOR’S OFFICE
Real Estate and Personal Property Taxes:
We wish you a happy, safe, and memorable Summer! As always, please contact us (508) 336-2920 or by email at townclerk@seekonk-ma.gov if you have any questions. Thank you for taking the time to read the Town Clerk’s Office monthly update.
~Kristen and Lorraine
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