Seekonk Says No to $40 Million DPW Facility

A proposed $40 million facility for the town’s Department of Public Works was rejected at Monday’s Fall Town Meeting. 118 residents voted in favor, with 158 in opposition.

The facility would have been located on Town-owned land at 351 Fall River Avenue. The proposed design was for a 61, 815 square-foot building.

DPW Director David Cabral explained the current building on Route 44 is 75 years old and lacks necessities including showers and restrooms. Cabral noted the garage is unable to accommodate large vehicles.

Seekonk Town Administrator Shawn Cadime said the DPW was the “backbone of this community,” noting the employees had done “a phenomenal job with the lack of space they have.”

$7 million in equipment authorized for DPW will be sitting outside and would be vulnerable to the weather conditions, Cadime noted. An indoor storage area for vehicles would result in a huge cost savings, he said.

Resident Christine Allen said the DPW building was a “disaster” and “a dump.”

Michael Brady, a member of the Finance Committee, acknowledged the need for a new facility but believed the cost was too high. When the committee held a vote, Brady voted against the project.

Cadime said a debt exclusion, which is a temporary tax increase, would have been necessary to pay for the bonds over a 30 year period. The owner of an average single family home would have paid an additional $272 a year to pay for the project.

If the article had been approved, a ballot referendum vote was to be held on November 25.

Voters did approve the Select Board to go ahead with the purchase of the old Firefly golf course on Fall River Avenue. That property, along with 55 acres on Arcade Avenue, will cost $6.9 million. 271 voted in favor, with 18 in opposition.

Developer Charles Tapalian had hoped to construct 280 housing units on the property.

David Andrade, a former member of the Board of Selectmen, warned of the consequences of allowing more residential construction. Families with children would be moving in, which would result in an increased population for the schools, Andrade noted.

“You don’t know what’s coming if you vote no,” Andrade said.

Select Board Chair Michelle Hines told the assembly there were no immediate plans for the property.

“We’re going to need new things,” Hines said. “Think of what’s coming up if we don’t buy this land.”

Other articles which were approved:

• Authorize the Board of Selectmen to file with the General Court a petition for special legislation to amend the Town Charter by replacing “Board of Selectmen” wherever it appears in the Charter with “Select Board” and making such other revisions required to make the Charter gender-neutral
• $98, 983, 52 for storm damage repair and reconstruction at the Seekonk High School (not covered by insurance), to be expended under the direction of the School Committee
• $400,00o for demolition costs of the old School Administration building on School St.
• Transfer from Free Cash the sum of $110, 987 to the School Capital Stabilization Account and $55, 493 to the Special Education Stabilization Fund
• Year One (1) of the three (3) year lease/purchase of four (4) vehicles for the Police Department, to be expended under the directions of the Select Board $120,000
• Year One (1) of the three (3) year lease/purchase of one (1) large dump truck for the Public Works Department, to be expended under the direction of the Select Board $100,000
• Transfer the sum of $595,299 from Free Cash to the Stabilization Fund.
• Transfer the sum of $595,299 from Free Cash to the Municipal Capital Stabilization Fund.
• Transfer the sum of $1,303,639 from Free Cash to the Building & Infrastructure Stabilization Fund.
• Transfer the sum of $595,299 from Free Cash to the Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB) Trust Fund.