Lt. Gov. to Tour Preferred Site for Seekonk's South Fire Station
Timothy Murray will take the tour of the Fall River Avenue facility on Oct. 11.
Lt. Governor Timothy Murray will be in Seekonk on Thursday, Oct. 11th at the invitation of state Sen. James E. Timilty, whose duties include chairman of the public safety & homeland security and member of the Transportation Committee, to tour the Massachusetts Department of Transportation facility on Fall River Avenue.
This tour is for the purpose of allowing the town to co-occupy the site for a new south end fire station.
We have been working on access to this site since 2009; this location has been identified by our fire chief as a preferred location for a new South Fire Station. Access to this site for a new south station would facilitate our response to the south end, while providing a location with no land acquisition costs.
Sen. Timilty and Rep. Steven Howitt, who also sits on the Transportation Committee, recently appeared before the Board of Selectmen. They will accompany the lieutenant governor, and have been working with Mass DOT to secure access to this site, creating an excellent municipal partnership with the commonwealth.
The lieutenant governor is scheduled to arrive at Town Hall at 3 p.m. before touring the Fall River Ave location.
Francis Cavaco is the chair of the Seekonk Board of Selectmen.
deb of see-attleboro
5:31 pm on Monday, October 1, 2012
This is the first I have heard of this proposal.
A number of years ago, a former fire chief who was serving as a selectman "valiantly" tried to get this road re-opened to thru traffic. I think his proposal was suppose to benefit a local developer/businessman. (I think this is Progress ST next to Mcdonalds? If I am mistaken, please correct me) Thankfully, he failed.
If it remains closed to thru traffic, sounds like it might be a good spot...(only if it is determined we really need a full service south end station)
Last time I remember Timilty doing a good will tour of Seekonk, Edith K convinced him to take a ride on the chair lift at the COA bldg. Very funny.
Emcee of Seekonk
5:54 pm on Monday, October 1, 2012
I think it is Progress Street, and I believe it has already been determined that we, with a population of 14,000, need a third fire/rescue station. After spending a bazillion dollars on the recently built complex, within three years it was deemed inadequate.
We're going to miss Edith K if she ever decides to retire.
Paul Buckley
6:20 pm on Monday, October 1, 2012
Congratulations to Francis Cavaco and Chief Alan Jack for all the hard work in possibly securing this location for a South End fire station that will bear no cost to the town of Seekonk to acquire the land.
The people living in the south end of Seekonk have demanded more coverage and we have a great opportunity here.
Mr. Cavaco’s work with our State legislators and MASS DOT is a great accomplishment. This is an excellent win for the Commonwealth and for Seekonk if this project comes to fruition.
deb of see-attleboro
6:40 pm on Monday, October 1, 2012
I agree. As long as it remains closed to thru traffic.
Emcee of Seekonk
8:00 am on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Paul, first a new animal shelter, then a new senior/community center, followed by the completely overhauled Banna station and now a another station for the south. Don't you think it is a bit much on the taxpayers of Seekonk... particularly those on fixed incomes? I understand there is old debt retiring, but how many millions of dollars is that. The debt money of the 1980's won't go far in the 2010's.
deb of see-attleboro
9:34 am on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
As has been pointed out, the location is ill-thought. We had land on school st. For whatever reason I think we are selling it. Seems to me that location would have made more sense. Admittedly, a fire station would probably have been a hard sell to the neighborhood.
I also think it is unreasonble to expect taxpayers to sustain 3 fully staffed 24/7 fire stations.
Joe
7:23 pm on Monday, October 1, 2012
Let's put the station there and see what happens between Thanksgiving and Christmas when you can't move in that area. Another bone head idea
J L R
7:42 pm on Monday, October 1, 2012
I agree with Joe. There are certain times that area is Grid Lock times 10!! Also agree a South End Station is needed. There must be someplace else. You have to get south of Walmart/Kohls if you want to be on Fall River Ave
baitcutter02
10:56 am on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
so if you cant move how do we get through now?? your logic escapes me--i lived in prov. up until two years ago and all the stations are on very busy roads in the city and they get through fine with proper signals --
Carol Bragg
12:48 am on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Does anyone know how many additional firefighters, fire engines and rescue vehicles we'll need if we open a third fire station? I was told by a firefighter shortly after I was elected to the Board of Selectmen that a study had been done ($50,000) that determined Seekonk needed two fire stations. Then we built the Public Safety Complex and now need three. Here's an interesting article from the Boston Globe from 2005 that was part of a special series based on a study of 20,000 fire departments around the country: http://www.boston.com/news/specials/fires/teamwork_could_save_money_lives/ Here's the whole series: http://www.boston.com/news/specials/fires/
Joe
1:46 pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
That is correct Carol a study was done, I believe, by the MMA Consulting Group out of Boston, Ma. and if I am not mistaken it was done in the year 2000 and it was a very intense study. You should try and get hold of a copy of it and see just what the recommendations were back then.
paul
7:35 am on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
It's a great location with plenty of fast food options for the guys to chow down all day long and hang out all night long. I will argue no more! Build it huge with a girls locker & weight room, a massive kitchen and a fire tower. Make sure it is funded by all the folks that live in the south end only, since they are the ones that want it!
baitcutter02
10:59 am on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
good idea--like the north end paid for the banner station -----WRONG- SOUND LIKE YOU LIVE IN THE NORTH -- you need to be where the calls are and the calls are in the south far in excess of any other place in this town
Emcee of Seekonk
11:13 am on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
I remember hearing mention of re-assigning personnel from the new Safety Complex in the center of town the north and south end. After spending all that money for state-of-art communications and other equipment, the Route 44 site might become a storage place for old fire engines and rescue trucks. Really gets disheartening after a while.
Dave Abbott
11:36 am on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
From what I understand the satellite stations are not supporting a full company, but enough to provide a more immediate response for a Rescue and minimal Fire protection. If something large occurred, you would still need the assistance of the main complex.
Regardless of the back history, common sense would dictate a Rescue towards either end of a rectangle shaped town.
Carol Bragg
12:10 pm on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Dave: Get yourself added to the Town Administrator's e-mail list. I just received a copy of warrant articles received by September 14 for the November 13 Town Meeting. It's loaded with free cash expenditures. So much for capital improvements or getting our departments to stop circumventing the annual budget process and engaging in the fall feeding frenzy. Fall town meeting should be the non-financial warrant articles, including planning and zoning, by-laws revisions, accepting streets, etc. We know without even asking that the Finance Committee, which is charged with oversight and making recommendations to Town Meeting, will oppose most of the free cash requests. Would love to communicate with you more directly, but I don't know how.
paul
12:00 pm on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Seekonk has survived 200yrs without a firestation on Fall River Avenue, why do we need one now? I thought the mostly Republican BOS would be smart about spending, is this how the town creates jobs? Baitcutter, I do live in the North and I think Banna Station is also a waste. Keep our taxes down, new firestations are great if you are a fireman. How many have died or burned because of a lack of stations in Seekonk? Are we ever going to be safe enough in the opinion of a fireman? Put it up for vote and show everyone how much it will cost and how much their taxes will go up again in addition to the Senior Center increase.
Emcee of Seekonk
12:08 pm on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
I sometimes think it would be cheaper to hire East Providence and pay them for every run they make into Seekonk. They respond most of the time, anyway.