Selectmen Decide Against Special Town Meeting for Senior Center

The decided at its Wednesday night meeting not to to hold a special Town Hall Meeting later this month for residents to vote on the allocation of funds for a new senior center. The suggestion had come from Seekonk resident Gary Sagar.

The vote was originally on the warrant for the this past November, but was held off on because a bond issue such as the senior center project needs to be voted on at an election within 90 days. Since the next scheduled election was in April and the town did not want to organize a special election, it was decided to put the vote on the warrant for the June Town Hall Meeting, following the April election.

Sagar said that by having the Town Hall Meeting this month the town would be able to start in early April rather than early June, essentially two months worth of extra construction time.

The Senior Center Building Committee had previously made a recommendation to the selectmen that the ballot vote in April take place and then the Town Hall vote follow in June.

“We felt that the majority of taxpayers should have a go at it first,” said Dave Bowden, chairman of the Senior Center Building Committee.

The board ultimately decided to stay with its original decision and the Senior Center Building Committee’s recommendation.

“The committee has already made their recommendation. I want to take their suggestion,” said Selectman Bill Rice.

Other Committee Notes:

• Voted to form the Al George Memorial Garden AD HOC Committee. The committee will be chaired by the current Veteran’s Agent, Seth Bai, with seven other members to be added following their submission of talent bank forms and approval by the selectmen.
• Voted unanimously to appoint Bill Rice to Southeastern Rail Task Force.
• Voted to support the planning department’s seeking of the Community Innovation Challenge Grant to implement online permits and other electronic government solutions.