Seekonk Town Meeting Adjourned to Saturday, May 22nd

The Spring Town Meeting will now be held on May 22nd. Town Moderator Peter Hoogerzeil made a brief announcement at 7:15 pm Monday. “Due to Covid-19 restrictions and the inability for us to seat people who are in line and outside, tonight’s meeting will be adjourned until Saturday, May 22 at 10 am at the Seekonk High School football field,” Hoogerzeil said.

Meeting attendees were seated in the high school’s auditorium and gymnasium but were spaced six feet apart due to social distancing requirements. Selectman chairman Justin Sullivan said there had been 286 voters checked in with many more still waiting outdoors when the decision was made. “I understand there are a lot of people disappointed,” Sullivan continued. “I’m sorry but we have to make sure we account for everybody and my guess is that if we didn’t have Covid restrictions in place, we would have been able to move forward.”

When the meeting resumes, voters will need to decide on a $63 Million budget for the 2022 fiscal year. Other major expenditures up for a vote include $19.6 million to fund the construction, renovation, and expansion of the Seekonk Public Library. The money will also pay for demolition, landscaping, paving, utility, and architectural and engineering services. One warrant article calls for the appropriation of $1.5 million to pay for the cost of designing, planning, and construction of a new Department of Public Works facility on land owned by the town at 351 Fall River Avenue. Another request is $2.7 million to fund the construction and renovation of the Seekonk Connolly Field and Mooney Track at Seekonk High School.