VIDEO: Selectmen Stall Town Administrator Search Committee After Debate Ensues

Tension-filled dialogue continued into this week's Board of Selectmen meeting as members discussed stalling the creation of a five-person Town Administrator search committee after newcomers Bill Rice and Bob McLintock asked to become more acquainted with applicants.

"Even if I did know each of these persons since I was in grade school... we have to have something a little bit more solid than 'I've known this guy for a long time,'" Rice said at the Wednesday night forum.

Chairman Dave Parker told members the process should not be delayed as current Town Adminstrator Michael Carroll is leaving in a few months. McLintock asked why there was a rush to appoint the committee. 

"It's not going to fun to raise your hand to hire one [applicant] and not hire the other… We're already a month behind," Parker said. "It's not going to be an easy thing; 99 percent of the people know but we really need to take some action on this - they have a lot of in-depth work ahead...It's going to come June and he’ll be gone."

Member John Whalen then said he "understood" Rice's position and thought all members should feel comfortable with the hiring process. Member Francis Cavaco then suggested perhaps hiring a professional to hire the next administrator. But after discussion, Rice said he did not want to wait since the hiring process was already lagging a month behind.

"I was to get with this," he said.

Resident Arther Foulkes then interceded the discussion and told members he would like to take his name off the search committee's applicant list. Furthermore, he said the search committee appointment process was flawed.

"We've been through more town managers than we care to imagine...We need to get the right people in here to evaluate someone," Foulkes said. 

"Mr. Foulkes is right, we should talk to them," McLintock said. "It's an important decision."

"I'm still concerned with the time factor," retorted Rice.

Parker then said he wanted the entire board to be in agreement on the hiring practice. The board voted to table the appointments; applicants will be asked to come to next Wednesday's meeting to articulate their motivations to join the committee. If applicants can't attend, they will be asked to submit a written statement.

An Anthony street property owner also approached the board to discuss a zoning change that will be placed on the town meeting's warrant. (See the video to the right.) He would like to ultimately build a CVS on the property. According to the owner, Board of Selectmen members do not have to approve the addition - nor do Seekonk Planning Board members. Voters will be asked to make the decision regarding the zoning change during the June town meeting.

School committee members, including chairman Mitch Vieira, also discussed the status of cracks forming in school sidewalks and the pool. Committee members advocated for a warrant article to be put before voters in town meeting.

Members also approved the hiring of two full-time summer Department of Public Works employees to help with summer maintenance; one is a former police officer. McLintock did not support the motion; he would like the department to hire young Seekonk workers. Superintendent Bob Lamoureux said the hiring was necessary to prune extensive public fields.