What's the Deal with CVS and the Rest of Seekonk?
Did you know that Seekonk is getting a new CVS? The planning board approved the developer's site plan for Baker's Corners at its last meeting. The building, thankfully, will not be another orange and ugly building.
John Hansen, the town planner, advised, "... it will be colonial in style with a brick front." That's better than we thought ... a good deal.
The developer also temporarily set aside plans to cut down the wood lot adjoining their property ... a good deal. Thank you to all of the local abutters who made a difference.
A lot of questions about Seekonk's future
What's happening with the proposed Walmart? What are the November Warrant Articles? Whatever happened to the well we voted to seal two years ago? When is the senior center going to be built with the money we voted to spend? Are we going to get affordable housing on the town-owned property at Gude Street as the Board of Selectmen voted to do?
Is the town going to put money aside for the future by authorizing a "real needs" budget for the C.I.C? Is the Banna fire station in the north end going to get re-built with the money Town Meeting approved (P.S. - Art Foulks needs another skilled and professional member on that building committee)?
Are some people in town REALLY dissing the talented and incredibly hardworking public works director and fire and police chief? Why are two selectmen on the Board of Health?
Will the Board of Selectmen EVER plan ahead and create goals and objectives?
Emcee of Seekonk
8:09 am on Saturday, November 5, 2011
Plans... goals... objectives? I think not. But, for the most part, the current BOS does appear to care a lot about Seekonk. It's all those times when they put out small fires in an inappropriate manner, or swat at flies with machetes, that rankle the nerves of the citizenry. All those egos unwilling to give an inch will never plan or agree on a goal.
deb of see-attleboro
11:15 am on Saturday, November 5, 2011
I did not know any of our department heads were being "dissed". One thing is for sure, Wednesdays BOS meeting was an embarassment. If I was uncomfortable watching from home, I can not imagine what it was like to be in the building.
paul
8:58 am on Sunday, November 6, 2011
I think voters still have to approve funds for a senior center at the nov. 28 town meeting. Why is the town still wasting time & money on the Banna Fire Station? The whole thing is a can of worms. If we need a north end station, what about the south? It was a done deal, when the new station opened the old ones would be closed. How about sticking to plans, goals & objectives Mr. Rice?
Emcee of Seekonk
12:20 pm on Sunday, November 6, 2011
Paul... the North/South thing brings to mind the Civil War and I don't want to be around when someone tells the North that they won't be getting the Banna Fire Station... even though there are some in the North who are digging in against it.. or were. I've lost track of where we're at, exactly, on this one since I don't have a dog in the race other than taxes.
Emcee of Seekonk
12:08 pm on Sunday, November 6, 2011
@Bill... I guess if anyone relents on an issue, it is probably you, or possibly the Chairman, but the other two hold to their principles with unmerited tenacity. The fourth and oft-absent selectman appears to have opted out of the process altogether. But, somehow things do get done... the easy things at least.
paul
1:15 pm on Sunday, November 6, 2011
The plan was to build a new fire station in "middle" Seekonk that would serve our needs for many years. The goal/objective was to have one station in a central location to serve the entire town. When the new station opened the old ones were closed as per the plan. Now years later we are going to start opening up old stations and refurbishing them? With a 24hr Walmart in the works is the County St. Station next? This is a can of worms that we don't need to open up in these uncertain economic times. The Banna Station would cost millions to do it RIGHT.
Emcee of Seekonk
3:12 pm on Sunday, November 6, 2011
Paul, there has been talk about the Country Street station... talk like 'fix up the roof', 'clean out the junk' and put an ambulance in there. Then someone asked, "Where would you store the fire engine?" And someone else shot back, "We don't need a fire engine there." And on and on it went. Could have been just talk.
My opinion about Banna Station is that it will no sooner be renovated, at the tune of the millions you quote, that within three years it will be considered inadequate or unsuitably located.
deb of see-attleboro
2:26 pm on Sunday, November 6, 2011
Bill: I would like to ask how the board plans to compensate the rest of the town employees for the time off that was granted to town hall employees for Thanksgiving eve.
My understanding is these hours were not part of collective bargaining, and the action by the BOS was clearly political favoritism. The TA warned the board of another "can of worms" and from her experience such practices have been grieved. So what say ye?
deb of see-attleboro
3:18 pm on Sunday, November 6, 2011
I am well aware of the BOS jurisdiction. I am also aware that town employees get many hours of personal time, which could have been used for that day. One member of your board suggested just that.
How is this fair to the employees who do plan ahead and use vacation or personal time for that week? This edict is political, pure and simple. You may not intend it to be that way. But it is.
I have no point about future regulations. My point is about fairness. Some town employees are being granted paid time off that is not granted to all town employees.
Paul Mac Pherson
9:24 pm on Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Correct me if I am wrong but I do not believe that the plan was to close the other stations. (except Newman Ave, because the town does not that building) when the new station was built. County st. is closed because at the present time there are no call people in south end to respond. North station (Banna station) was NEVER closed. The station is manned by call people, on weekends when they are available. The second rescue runs out of that station quite a bit to help in the coverage of that end and go mutual aid, (to bring in more money) when needed.