Town Administrator Concerned About Tri County Project

Seekonk Town Administrator Shawn Cadime said he was concerned about the proposed Tri County Regional Vocational High School project, which will cost $280 million. A special election will be held on October 24 from 12 to 8pm. If the project is approved, taxpayers will have to pay $1.1 million annually over a 30 year period.

Seekonk is one of 11 communities that make up the Tri County school system. The project moves forward with a simple majority of votes.

Cadime explained if a debt exclusion is not approved, $1.1 million will have a “significant impact into our operational budget.”

“It will impact police, fire, DPW, the schools,” Cadime said. “The (new) building is going to be capped at 1000 students. Right now, (Tri County) only has enough room for 900 students. We’ll have additional students who will have the opportunity to go to Tri County and will impact the assessment we have on a yearly basis.”

Cadime’s comments were made at the September 20 Quad Board meeting with the Select Board, School Committee, and Finance Committee.

Cadime also provided updates on some major building projects, including a new Department of Public Works facility.

$1.5 million has already been awarded for an Office of the Project Manager and for designer services. Cadime said a November 2024 Town Meeting vote is necessary to go ahead with the project, which could cost $20 million.

The estimated cost of building a South End Fire Station is $8 million. A Town Meeting vote would be required to approve funding.

A feasibility study for the Seekonk Public Library will be conducted and a cost estimate will be provided for the cost of renovating the current facility on Newman Avenue.

“We’ve got some HVAC issues and other structural issues that need to be addressed,” Cadime noted.

Voters at an October 2022 special town meeting rejected plans to build a new $24 million public library.

Another project is the Medeiros Family Farm. A committee has been formed and will soon be meeting to discuss uses for that property. The purchase was approved at last May’s Town Meeting.

$1.7 million worth of renovations for the Seekonk Senior Center at 540 Arcade Avenue are also nearing completion.