VIDEO: Board of Selectmen Discuss Charity Drive Policy, School Employee Negotiations

During Wednesday night's Board of Selectmen meeting, legalese was the language of the night as members discussed charity drive permits and school employee negotiations.

To monitor organizations attempting to get donations from passing motorists in Seekonk, Police Chief Ron Charron asked board members to adopt a "Toll Road Policy" that requires loose change seekers complete a permitting process before hitting the streets. There are no toll roads in Seekonk, but the policy is the "most all-encompassing," according to the chief.

According to the chief, the policy would make it easier for the department to regulate pandering on the roads, citing the annual Fill the Boot Drive as a tradition that should remain but needs monitoring. 

"Right now there's no way to regulate or deny someone from doing it...Certainly if it's a worthy cause we're not going to stop them from doing it," he said.

According to Board of Selectmen Vice President Dave Parker, this policy is necessary for the police department to keep Seekonk safe. 

"The [policy] would still allow those from out of town...But there's a lot of hoops to get out there and do that," said Parker, noting churches from Fort Lauderdale have petitioned for donations on Route 6. 

The chief also announced Patrol Officer Russell Berry's resignation. He started about three years ago after graduating from Bridgewater State College and will be working in Raynham as it's closer to his home.  

"He said we have excellent officers and staff...We made it very hard for him to leave," said the chief. 

The department will replace the officer.

But a good amount of the meeting minutes were spent discussing the possibility of Chairman Bob Richardson acting as a designee on the school contract negotiation board; he would have taken Town Administrator Michael Carroll's place during the negotiations that occur every three years to hammer out school employee contracts.

It was ultimately decided that Richardson would not fulfill the assignment though Carroll said he needed someone with experience in finance, the school committees and municipal government to sit on the board as he is busy working on the annual budgets.

Richardson is not seeking re-election on the Board of Selectmen; he is running for school committee.

However, Parker thought appointing a selectmen to attend meetings in the Town Administrator's place may be outlawed. Member Francis Cavaco said the practice would have been "tacky," as he is running for school committee and currently serves on the Board of Selectmen.