Voters to Decide on $40 Million DPW Facility

Voters at the November 18 Fall Town Meeting will be asked to approve several major expenditures, including $40 million for a new facility to house the Seekonk Department of Public Works.

The new DPW will be located on Town-owned land at 351 Fall River Avenue. The proposed design is for a 61, 815 square-foot building. The garage will be 41, 850 square feet. The remaining space will be for maintenance and administration.

Brewster Thornton Architects came up with the designs for the facility. The complete building project timeline and architectural drawings can be viewed on the town web site – www.seekonk-ma.gov. 

If the article is approved, a ballot referendum vote will be held on November 25.

The project’s start date is set for the first week of December. Construction is set for completion in August 2026.

There will also be a vote to amend the Town’s Zoning Bylaws to create a Multifamily Development Overlay District. The purpose is to allow for the development of multifamily housing development in accordance with G.L. c. 40A, § 3A, and protect the value of real property; to promote more sensitive siting of buildings and better overall site planning; to allow landowners a reasonable return on their investment; to facilitate the construction and maintenance of streets, utilities, and public services in a more economical and efficient manner; and to promote the development of a variety of housing sizes and types to create housing for people with a variety of needs and income levels.

Other warrant articles include:
• Storm damage repair and reconstruction at the Seekonk High School (not covered by insurance), to be expended under the direction of the School Committee $98,983.52
• Demolition costs of the old School Administration building on School St. $400,000
• 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
• To see if the Town will appropriate $6,970,000, or any other amount, to pay costs to acquire, pursuant to G.L. c. 61B, §9, by donation, purchase, eminent domain or otherwise, the Firefly Golf Course, being land located at 320 Fall River Avenue, as well as 763 and 769 Arcade Avenue, consisting of approximately 55 acres, of undeveloped land identified as all of Lots 78, 100 and 101 on Seekonk Assessor Map 14, and to acquire portions of Lot 96 on said Assessor Map 14, for general municipal purposes.
• To see if the Town will vote to transfer from the PEG Cable Access and Cable Related fund the sum of $xxx,xxx to Seekonk Cable Access, Inc., the Town’s PEG Access Provider, or take any other action relative thereto.
• To see if the Town will vote to transfer the sum of $595,299 from Free Cash to the Stabilization Fund.
• The sum of $595,299 from Free Cash to the Municipal Capital Stabilization Fund.
• The sum of $1,303,639 from Free Cash to the Building & Infrastructure Stabilization Fund.
• The sum of $595,299 from Free Cash to the Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB) Trust Fund.

The meeting will begin at 7 pm at Seekonk High School, 261 Arcade Avenue. The entire warrant can be viewed on the Town website: www.seekonk-ma.gov.