Select Board Meeting — September 16, 2026

Good evening.

Thank you for attending the September 15th— I'm sorry, 16th, 2026, 6 PM meeting of the Seacock Select Board.

Would you all please rise and join you with this Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you.

Okay, Mass General Law Chapter 30A, Section 20F requires any person recording must notify the chair at the beginning of the meeting.

All select board meetings are recorded via audio and video and are broadcast live on CCOC Channel 96.

If you look at your agenda, we are going to take, uh, 2 items out of order, and that's items C and D. We're going to do those first, to consider the conditional offer of employment to Justin Callahan for the position of police officer, and to consider the offer of employment to Robert Fontaine for the position of police officer.

Chief, you have the floor.

Thank you.

Good evening, Chairman Steger, members of the board, Mr. Kadeem.

On August 31st, interviews were held for the position of police officer.

The interview panel consisted of myself, Deputy LaFleur, Captain Jardine, and Lieutenant Dowd.

The applicants were all current police officers, one of which was a Massachusetts POST-certified officer.

The other 2 would be eligible for a Massachusetts Academy waiver.

All 3 applicants would be considered a lateral transfer.

At the conclusion of the interview process, the panel members all agreed that 2 of the applicants would be good candidates to move on in the process.

The first was Justin Callahan.

Justin is currently a police officer with the Westfield Police Department.

Justin is also a first with the Massachusetts Army National Guard.

He holds a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Westfield State University, and he is the officer that was Massachusetts POST certified.

He serves as a field training officer with his current department.

Mr. Callahan did an excellent job during his interview and impressed the panel with his professionalism and passion for policing.

Through Mr. Cadime, I would like to request that the board extend a conditional offer offer of employment to Justin Callahan for the position of police officer.

Mr. Chairman, I support the police chief's recommendation.

Okay, we have a motion.

Yes, I move that the select board appoint Justin Callahan to the position of full-time police officer for the police department, subject to and conditioned upon his successful passage, as determined by the town administrator, of the following: completion of a satisfactory background check, Physical examination with drug screening, psychological screening, MPTC physical fitness test, obtain and maintain a Massachusetts license to carry, fulfillment of all statutory requirements set forth by the Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission to become a certified law enforcement officer, successful verification of the National Decertification Index, successful passage of the civil service physical ability test, and completion and passage of an MPTC or approved ROC police academy.

Second.

Okay, any discussion?

All in favor?

Aye.

Opposed?

So voted.

Uh, the second candidate is Robert Fontaine.

Robert has an extensive law enforcement resume.

He currently serves as a police officer with the Rhode Island Airport Corporation at TF Green.

Prior to that, he served as a police officer with the East Providence Police Department.

He also worked as a deputy with the Rhode Island Division of Sheriffs.

Robert grew up in town and currently lives in Seekonk with his wife and child.

Mr. Fontaine's experience resonated during his interview process.

During the interview, Mr. Fontaine expressed a sincere interest in serving the community he lives in and explained that was the reason why he was applying for our department.

Through Mr. Cadime, I would like to request that the board extend a conditional offer of employment to Robert Fontaine for the position of police officer.

Mr. Chairman, I support Chief Ennis' recommendation.

Okay, do we have a motion?

Yes, I move that the select board appoint Robert Fontaine to the position of full-time police officer for the police department, subject to and conditioned upon his successful passage, as determined by the town administrator, of the following: completion of a satisfactory background check, physical examination with drug screening, psychological screening, MPTC physical fitness test, obtain and maintain a Massachusetts license to carry, fulfillment of all statutory requirements set forth by the Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission to become a certified law enforcement officer, successful verification of the National Decertification Index, successful passage of the civil service physical ability test, and completion and passage of an MPTC or approved ROC police academy.

Second.

Any discussion?

All in favor?

Aye.

Opposed?

So voted.

Gentlemen, congratulations.

Congratulations.

Thank you.

Okay, so I'd like to now invite our state senator and state rep up.

But while they do that, I will— because I forgot them, I'll do the board and committee openings.

Volunteers are needed on the Capital Improvement Committee, 2 select board, 3 moderator.

Commission on Disability, 5 select board.

Economic Development Committee, 3 select board.

Energy Committee, 3 select board.

Finance Committee, 1 moderator.

Historical Commission, 2 select board.

Recycling Committee, 1 select board.

Okay, so I'm honored to invite and welcome our state senator.

Thank you, Kelly Duna.

And Representative Steve Howard.

We're gonna have a discussion.

One of the items is regarding a payment in lieu of taxes or any other thing we might be able to do with the Wiggle School.

Okay, all right.

Good evening and thank you for having us here.

Gary, just a point of information.

I want to thank you and the Lions Club and the Board of Selectmen with the naming of the fields in memory of Neil Abelson.

There was a big crowd that came out on Sunday.

Was it Sunday?

And look forward to seeing that sign, that beautiful sign posted up on the fields.

Very good.

Thank you.

So first off is we have the discussion about Wheeler School.

Is anyone from Wheeler School here?

Uh, we have 2.

Would they like to maybe pull up a couple seats and join us so that way we can have a full discussion here?

Good evening.

Good evening.

Would you, uh, identify yourself please?

Matt Newberg, Seekonk resident and employee of the Wheeler School, Director of Facilities at the farm.

I'm Julie Steffes.

I am Director of Finance at Wheeler School.

What was that, your name again, please?

Julie Steffes.

Okay, very good.

Thank you.

As we've had previous discussions, Wheeler School, which is located in Seekonk on between Reed Street and Walker Street on Prospect Street.

And anyone who's driven by there over the years has seen a vast improvement of the property with buildings, playing fields, parking lots, all types of facilities.

They do have a beautiful field with a track which they do allow residents to use when it's not used by the school.

And there has been discussion about whether or what Wheelis School uses as from the town of Seekonk, whether it be fire, police, police, roads, plowing.

I mean, it just goes on.

Now, Wheeler School, as you know, is a private school.

It was at one time a women's school.

Actually, it was a women's boarding school in Providence.

And they are now co-ed and they have enlarged their school quite a bit.

And they bus their children in and out of Seekonk to use the fields because athletics is very important to the school, as well as the older children tend to drive along to get to the if I'm not mistaken, you allow your students to drive who are seniors and juniors.

We do.

Yep.

And so there has been discussion that Wheeler has expanded to renting out their facilities for various other groups besides Wheeler, whether it be a camp or whether it be a different organization.

So the question comes up, pilot fee, because they are using the facilities for retail use.

In other words, renting out for something other than their own students.

And so that we've wanted to have a discussion to see if the school would be interested, as Massachusetts law allows, to have a discussion about pilot fees, which a pilot fee is payment in lieu of taxes.

And I know that the valuation of Wheeler is in the millions of dollars, and I think as a good neighbor, it would be nice to see them contribute something to the school— well, either the, the town in some way, whether it be through the schools or through police or fire department, whatever the case may be, and get to a determination as to what would be a fair amount considering what they use the field and the facilities in the town.

Senator, did you have any comments?

I think Rep. Howitt covered it all.

I can just add At the statewide level, I know at least in the Senate we are considering pilots for private universities statewide.

Obviously that takes time to develop, but it is a consideration that we're looking into.

Did representatives from Weigel want to have any comments at this time?

I guess just a follow-up.

So our rentals haven't really changed.

We rent to anyone that is involved with K through college-age students.

Students.

So it's usually sports teams that are practicing and other organizations, but it's usually centered around children and education.

So we haven't really increased our rentals with the exception of because of our new pool, we have swim classes we hadn't offered before.

So that's it.

Did you have anything about that?

No.

Okay, can I— sorry, just to add one more thing.

I know the city of Boston, in speaking with Senator Lydia Edwards, many of the private universities had voluntarily went into agreements with the city of Boston because they are using, whether it's public safety resources or whatever it may be, those schools in good faith did voluntarily enter into agreements.

You took the words right out of my mouth.

But it would be a nice gesture for Wheeler to own up up to the fact that they are very lucky to be in the town of Seekonk, and they have a beautiful facility there.

And again, you know, whether it's children or sports or whatever that you're renting, it's still an income-producing activity above and beyond that's outside the scope of your, of your school.

So it would be nice for Wheeler to enter into discussions with the board to come up with some sort of a formula Whether it's based on the number of students you have that attend the farm or some other formula that we could agree upon that would make— I think it would make everyone feel better.

We would hate to change the laws in Massachusetts to force you to be in a position where we come up with the amount that you would be required to pay.

As a point of information, I think it was back in the '70s, the assessors taxed them and went to Superior Court, and the Superior Court ruled in favor of the town that they would pay taxes.

And then, uh, the Wheel appealed it to the appeals court, and the appeals court ruled that it was because— just because they're an out-of-state charity, it would be discriminatory to, uh, not let them have their tax-exempt status.

So, so, but the issue has changed in the sense that instead of being all for Wheeler School, they have opened it up to outside organizations who pay a fee.

Yeah.

Now, what would the likelihood be if we, we the town, decided to, uh, pursue a home rule petition to change the law?

Well, we could file it.

Uh, where it would go is something that I can't answer, but if it were to pass and the town were to decide what type of amount, it might be a lot more than what Wheeler would be interested in paying.

Or maybe they just would prefer to go through the process, as we said, of a pilot fee to the town before things get moving forward on a state level.

Mr. Dean, do you have anything to offer?

No, I think everything's been covered.

Just to, I guess, piggyback on what you stated with regard to the case that we have in point was the 1975, the discriminatory component.

So whatever we file, we just got to make sure that it's generic in nature so that it's not just targeted towards the Wheel School, that we would have to make sure that, you know, they've got an equal protection issue going on so that we have have to pass that muster in order to pass legal up at the legislature.

Also, you know, we, uh, as we represent Rehoboth as well, they have some issues with some of the private schools from Rhode Island that have athletic fields there.

Now whether they rent them out, I do not have that information, but they're also interested in looking at pilot fees.

So it's, it's something that not only this town but other towns besides, uh, Seekonk and Rehoboth that are looking where, in this case, out-of-state schools come here because we have beautiful land, and versus the inner city where they're very landlocked.

Okay, any of the board members have any questions or comments?

Yes, if I may, a financial question.

If, if you can answer it, what are your expected rental revenues in the next fiscal year at Wheeler?

Honestly, I don't know that off the top of my head, but we don't make a lot on the rentals.

We— the hourly rate is actually very small, so, and usually they're nonprofits or schools or So it's not high.

Liz, do you have any questions?

No.

Michael?

Nope.

Chris, do you have anything else you'd like to add to it?

Uh, we can continue.

I think we have to wait to see what their next move is before we— we have plenty of time.

But again, I, I think the opportunity for Wheeler to be a good neighbor is here, and we'd be interested in hearing what they would like to offer the town.

Okay.

Do you have any further comments?

Um, just to, I guess, piggyback on, on what the rep said, um, yeah, you know, our job is whatever happens at town meeting, it's mine and the rep's job to represent the town of Seekonk up there.

So whatever you guys come up with, that'll come back to us.

It goes through Senate Legal Counsel, it goes through House Legal Counsel for constitutionality purposes, as well as any other changes.

So it's not going to move if they deem it unconstitutional, but they'll communicate back through us to you guys as far as whatever you guys pass at town meeting, what their, their stance is on it legally.

All right, can I just ask a quick question?

Julie, I know we were working with Ian.

Ian has left.

Is there— are you now the point of contact, or is there someone else?

And Adam, do you have anything you would like to add?

I would like to add that the Wheeler School has always been here.

They've been here for 120 years.

So their school actually started here in Seekonk and then bought Providence property and expanded over that way.

So I wanted to say that we had started here first, and we do pay for all our town services.

We pay for our fire, we pay for our water, we pay all the stuff the same businesses in town pay.

There's no, there's no gifts there.

How do you, how do you pay for fire if you don't pay taxes?

Well, we pay all the permitting fees and all that other, all the stuff, you know.

There's no, there's no freebies in that, in that aspect.

Okay.

All right.

Well, we thank the WIGLA representatives very much for coming.

And you all set, Rep and Senator?

Yes.

Yep.

I guess the next step is for them to get back to the board.

Yeah.

Okay.

Thank you.

Thank you very much for coming.

The next thing we wanted to talk to you about is funding for a replacement bridge on Pond Street.

So we looked into Pond Street, and it doesn't qualify for the small bridge project because It's between 10 and 22 feet, and I believe the Pond Street is 33 feet.

And so you would have to go through CERPIT to apply for either funds or engineering.

I would think the engineering would be the first thing that would come up.

But we can also, when the budget comes along, we can put money into the budget to try and get additional revenue.

But we have no idea what the cost of that replacement, especially when it's over a water.

Now, a few years ago, there was the— what was it, the Fast 14 or the Fast 13?

They did, uh, 13 bridges in 13 weeks, or 14 bridges in 14 weeks up in the North Shore.

They did one over every weekend.

And then, uh, I think on 195, they did one of those bridges over the river in a very quick time frame.

But again, that was the state doing it.

And unfortunately, Pond Street is something that the town would have to take full responsibility.

So I would think it would be in the 10, at least the millions of dollars to replace that.

So I just want to say something.

Sure, go ahead.

Uh, Rep. Howard, back a few years ago, it was brought to my attention about the Pond Street Bridge, uh, was that, you know, people's opinions deteriorated quickly because when they did the main bridge in County Street in Attleboro, the detour was through Seekonk.

I believe it was supposed to be a 2 or 3 year project, and somehow it ended up being a 6 year project.

It was delayed.

I think they had a lot of trouble with the trains scheduling to make it work.

So at the time, people had brought up that it added extra traffic, a couple years of heavy trucks going over our bridge, and actually took years off our bridge.

Of course.

So back when we brought it up, we were looking at maybe something from Boston to help, you know, financially help cover the cost of our bridge, seeing there was such a delay.

So trucks had to come in, you know, deteriorate our bridge a little bit sooner than what it should have been.

That's how this whole thing came to light.

This was probably about 7 years ago or so, maybe.

Has there been any review of the bridge structurally in the last few years?

Yeah, so we've done all the engineering.

So we've got plans.

The plans were completed and approved and stamped by MassDOT.

So we've got 85% bid docs.

So we just need to finish the other 15%.

The estimate was $2.3 million.

That was a couple years ago, so that's— that's going to be probably about $5 million.

That's going to be— that's going to be off a little bit.

Uh, we've got the Mylar plans for the easements.

We're going to need easements with that.

So there are going to be some easement acquisitions that we need— we need to do.

So I, I have reached out to, to SERPAD to see what our funding options are.

Um, we, we do have to update some of the flaggings for environmental.

We have some original flaggings that are out there.

They're a little outdated.

So that's just minor work.

The biggest piece is that, as you mentioned, it's, you know, 10 feet to 20 feet is the Small Bridge Program.

Federal— the federal program identifies a bridge span anything over 20 feet.

So we're, you know, 33, 35, depending on where the span is actually measured.

So we don't meet the Small Bridge Program, which, you know, kind of hurts us a little bit because— The only thing that I would suggest is maybe contacting Congressman Achenkloss's office.

And seeing what— whether there's anything on a federal basis that would be available to the town.

It is an important roadway, as everyone knows, and you do have heavy trucking.

You have a number of businesses that would be landlocked, so to speak, if they needed— if the bridge is closed.

We went through, and we still go through, the problems of the bridge on 195, everyone traveling through Seekonk.

I remember when they closed the bridge down, all the traffic that was going by my house, which is completely out of the way, but apparently Waze sent them that way.

And if you— and I had a meeting with DOT— well, we have a legislative quarterly meeting with DOT, and I brought up the fact that the lights at Luther's Corners maybe need to be adjusted because of all the traffic.

It backs up between the gristmill on one side and the off-ramp on the other side because people will come through Seekonk to avoid the bridge and go the back way either into Rhode Island or out of Rhode Island.

And then, uh, when 114A was being rebuilt, the, the state of Rhode Island, without coming to the town, decided to detour all that traffic, uh, Arcade Avenue, and everyone was cutting down Scott Road and some of the other roads.

And we had some additional wear and tear and traffic that a lot of the people in the neighborhoods weren't too pleased with.

So we've had our fill of detours just as Chris has mentioned.

And, you know, in the end, we end up holding the bag for the repairs.

Just want to add a little bit.

I would definitely suggest reaching out to the congressman.

I know he's been a huge asset for some bridges in other communities.

I don't want to speak for him that he can help fix this, but I do think it would be good to just start that communication while we're working with just, you know, for future planning and forward thinking.

Yeah, and we've had conversations with the congressman.

Yep.

So he's— and I think the, the fact that you have the plans at 85% ready makes a big difference as well.

Okay, anybody have anything else for the, uh, Senator?

Just one thing.

If you happen to come across the command center, that's someone's, uh, looking to replace for the police department.

We're in the, we're in the need for one.

I know when the new sheriff took over Bristol County, they liquidated a lot of their assets and updated, and New Bedford got a lot of things.

So if anyone that you know, okay, police department is looking for a new command center.

I'm still trying to find a, uh, an old Jeep for the, uh, veterans of, uh, Norton, and that's been tough.

Every time I see the Adjutant General, uh, I run up to him, and he's actually done pretty good at running away from me because he knows what I'm going to be asking him for.

All right, well, thank you very much.

Thank you.

Thank you, guys.

Thank you.

Okay, next we have Community Speaks.

Anybody want to speak?

Hello, everybody.

Hello.

Hello, good evening.

Um, I'm here to make basically just 3 points, speak to 3 points.

Can you put the mic closer to you?

Sure.

Uh, my name is Jackie Pru.

I live 102 Reed Street, and I'm here basically to, as I said, touch upon 3 points.

The first one about the Madeiras Farm project.

Uh, gee, I just see this as such a great opportunity for the town, as many people have spoken about.

Um, a tremendous opportunity to establish a museum for farm, farm history, education about what's happened in Seekonk here.

There are many farms.

In fact, the other day I was speaking to people down at R&R Farm.

That farm's been in the family for 100, over 100 years, and there's a great history there, great stories.

Then there are newer farms and co-ops taking place along Prospect Street.

So we We have new things starting up.

Then there's a whole history of farms that used to be and are no more and have been replaced with whatever, developments, open space, whatever the case may be.

Anyway, I think the opportunity for that museum is incredibly good.

Then the whole opportunity to use the property in building cultural and artistic or art center, a center where we can display art.

We have tremendous artisans here.

The Seekonk Artist Network has quite a few, but we don't have a venue where we display art.

The library has a small spot, the, the senior center.

Again, arts and culture.

I'm on the Seekonk Cultural Council, and we're in the phase now of handing out or getting applications for grants to hand out this fall.

Tremendous opportunities for the cultural aspect of people having Um, whatever, workshops, entertainment.

Anyway, there's a lot of potential there.

And of course, the whole issue of passive recreation, you know, fitness trails, walking trails, and of course the issue that's quite contentious about active recreation.

So there's a lot going on there.

And but the potential to have a center for Seacock that we've wanted for so long Can't, can't be underestimated how valuable this can be.

And then that brings me to another point.

Um, I, I think any of us, if we, uh, if we lived in a neighborhood or a house that abuts the Madeira's farm— it's a huge property— any of us would be concerned about what's going into that property.

So that's a conversation we have to have.

But my concern is the way we're going about it right now.

And that brings me to my second point.

I really believe the best way to move forward here now is to get the building committee back in operation, approve a designer that can work with them and answer these concerns about traffic, about all the permitting process and all that.

It's a perfect opportunity to do that and get all these concerns addressed.

Addressed.

But also, and, and this next suggestion, uh, probably isn't a popular one, but I feel would be a helpful one.

As I said, if I lived in a property, uh, that abutted the Medeiros Farm, I'd be concerned.

That's a huge place and a lot can happen in there.

And so I'm thinking when the building committee does— and I, I encourage you to do that sooner than later.

Get the building committee to start addressing the whole design issue.

My suggestion is to have— I guess it might take an article at a town meeting to add one more position to the building committee.

That would be somebody who abuts the property, because many of those houses didn't exist or were in the process of being built when we appointed a building committee.

And even though there are other neighbors and people who live on Lincoln Street who could have applied to be on the building committee.

The fact is it's a contentious issue.

If we had the opportunity while all these traffic studies and all the other engineering things and what the final cost will be, well, that's going to be determined by a design process.

So let's get going with it.

It's, you know, we've already wasted 3 or 4 months and that just adds money to the project.

There are intelligent ways for us to do do that as a town.

And as I said, there'll be people upset thinking you must be crazy.

In fact, I've heard that, to want to add somebody from who's in the butter.

But no, if I lived next to that property, I'd want to know and have a really at least one vote and a say to be represented.

And I grew up on the water.

I had a younger brother that was a real pain in the Well, he was, he was a brat.

And I learned at an early age, if somebody's rocking the boat, the only way to stop them is to give them an oar and start working together.

And so I really believe it's time for the select board to move in a new direction, get this project going in a design phase where everybody has a say, and we have forums in the town for everybody to be heard.

Make a design that works for everyone.

And then the last part is my third point, has to do with town meeting.

Town meeting, our votes matter.

And it's, it's, it's been said over and over again.

I thank Chris Orr and Mike Healy because you did talk about how votes at town meeting should guide a lot of what's being said.

We have a town meeting coming up in November, and we want to know our votes are going to matter.

Matter.

So I guess I just want to say get the project going again, get the building committee going, get everybody involved, and move in a way that's, that's going to serve everyone.

But the opportunity is just too great to pass up.

Thank you.

Before you leave, I, I had planned on putting something on the agenda for the Madeiras Farm and I omitted it, so I'm going to bring bring it up during select committee comments at the end of the meeting for our next meeting.

So, oh, for the Madeira Swamp?

Okay.

Yeah, well, in that case, I don't want to take your thunder.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Anyone else?

Good evening, Michelle Hines, Rickard Street.

I'd like to just say a few comments on one of your agenda items because we don't always get a chance to speak while you're discussing them.

And that is under your general business, Jay, the discussion of the town administrator's evaluation.

Now it's unfortunate that a couple of the members of the board have not been here that long because the job of the town administrator is very involved.

It's practically a 24/7, 365 job, and there's a lot of things that go through that office.

And the town administrator not only has to be on top of his office, but he has to be on top of the other departments that are in town, the committees, all the employees.

And if you talk to him, you will know that he is.

A few months isn't enough to give a proper evaluation of what goes on, because we all know that this— there's only a few things, a few things that go in front of the board, and, um, it's, it's just hard to get to know exactly what happens in that office.

So it's kind of hard for new members, unfortunately, and it's nothing against them, to properly be able to evaluate the town administrator and his work.

Now, the purpose of a performance evaluation is for the select board of the town of Seekonk conduct a performance evaluation of the TA in a manner defined in the town administrator's contract or is mutually agreed upon by the board and the town administrator.

There's actually a form so people will know what has to be filled out, but there are various categories that he has to be evaluated under.

That's the board support and relations and, uh, financial management, community leadership, public relations, town operation infrastructure, Um, so, and each one of you have to make your own evaluation of this, and it has to do— it comes up with an average.

Now, the board support and relations is, um, it's kind of like a two— the town administrator needs to support the board, the board needs to support the town administrator, even if there's conflicts that go between them.

And over the years of working with Mr. Kadeem himself, which I've been here since way before his beginning of tenure.

I've had many interactions under many different circumstances with him.

And when I was on the board, we also had some in-depth conversations.

Now, he's also the type of person that will go into an in-depth conversation with you, whether he agrees with you or you agree with him.

If you're opposite, you can discuss it.

You go back and forth.

Sometimes he'll change your mind, sometimes you'll change his mind, but it's an intellectual professional discussion.

It's not my way or the highway type thing.

And I've seen him not only do that with me but other members of the board.

May I interrupt you for a minute?

Sure.

Good.

The evaluations are all done.

I still— I totally— I understand.

Oh, okay.

I understand Yep.

All right, I understand, but go ahead.

Okay, so, um, I've seen this not only with board members as the conversation back and forth, but town employees and members of the public and other people that— contractors and everything that we have to deal with.

And in those conversations, the town administrator has shown professionalism and courtesy to all of these people.

And like I say, he doesn't always agree with them, and they don't always agree with him, but in the end they shake hands and things are done, whether it's a compromise or a change of attitude or whatever.

Financial management, as everybody knows in this town, because Mr. Kadeem changed the way the finances were, were shown to the town at the town meetings, and he, he changed the way they were done I don't know how many years after he came here, and he made— makes a presentation at every town meeting with the, the numbers that are in effect of that day.

Um, like I said, community relation— relationship leadership and public relations.

Now I know there are people who, who have come, people who don't like what happens, and— but from the years that I've spent with working with him, um, the town of Seekonk is safe in Sean's hands.

And I don't think that anybody should have any detrimental comments about him if they haven't worked with him long enough to realize the amount of work that comes out of that office.

And not just his work, but his— he has, uh, 2 sec— they're not secretaries, I know, but I don't remember their titles.

There's 3 people that work directly with him that work with everyone else in this town, and everything goes by Mr. Kadeem.

He goes to every meeting of every committee that he can.

And the only thing that I would say that was a detriment to Sean, and I probably told him this before, he spends too much time in Seekonk with us and not enough time with his kids.

And everybody who's a worker, everybody who works, they say the same thing.

They want to spend more time with the kids.

But I've actually tried to send him home, tell him to take his time off because his kids need him.

We all know that our children are not going to stay young forever.

And, um, anyone here that is listening to me now, if they had something that they needed to discuss with him, could do that because because he's, he's very intelligent and he's very knowledgeable of Seekonk.

And I can assure you, he wants Seekonk to succeed as much as all the Seekonk taxpayers do, because this is his, his profession.

It's his reputation that everybody sees, because Seekonk isn't the only people who look at this, this meeting and listen to him.

And he is also the first one to admit if he's wrong and then correct whatever it is that may need to be corrected or not.

That's all I have to say about that.

But I'd like to thank J.H.

Lynch Company for being— for the work they've done on Arcade Avenue.

I go down that street a lot.

Unfortunately, sometimes I forget, and you know, it's one way and it's like, uh-oh.

But they did an excellent job, excellent job.

And I'd like to remind the members of this board that because TV9 records everything, video and audio, all the remarks that you make, whether it's like I am to you now with the microphone in front of you, or you think you're whispering to your fellow member, you are not.

It is recorded and it can be brought up again.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Anyone else?

Hi, thanks for the opportunity.

Susan Brown, Jerry Drive.

Um, I just wanted to touch on the Wheeler School, and I think someone mentioned, uh, students driving and the increased traffic in and around that area.

We moved to Secaucus 15 years ago and love the area to walk.

The increase of cars, families, young families up where I am now, there's about 15 to 20 little kids, and I know there is minimal traffic signs.

And I was told— I live off Davis, so if you go up Davis, there was no signs.

And they have the— they finally put up after 10 years the yellow and black 20-mile-an-hour to take that sharp turn.

But there's no signage there around the Wheeler School, Prospect, Walker, Reed.

So if you walk in that area, you pretty much take your life in your hands.

People aren't paying attention.

I work at Brown.

I know students don't look where they're going, so— and young drivers, and they are I'm just— I fear for my safety as an older person walking.

Um, I won't do it anymore.

I had a dog.

I won't take her out that way anymore.

I walk on the track when I can, but there is no— not enough speed limit signs.

Is there any way— I've asked, I've called a couple of times.

I've went to the Department of Public Works in person.

Can you put up some more signs?

Um, and they're like, well, they don't really do anything.

I get that, but there's nothing— something is better than nothing at this point.

Children at play, um, coming from the pool club down Davis Street in the summer is horrendous.

They haven't done a speeding, um, study over there.

I had to yell at somebody that drove past me because I was going 20 and he wanted to go around me to get up to the new plat near the pool club.

So there's a lot of little kids and I'm worried.

And I also have seen some of the cross-country wheeler students walking and riding up in that area, which is great.

But again, the cars aren't really paying attention.

So it'll be great if we could get a little more signage or something, speed limit.

I know at one point there used to be someone sitting, you know, an officer sitting in that area to catch, but they're never in the right place, the right time to catch speeders.

But, um, so that was just my speech.

Thank you.

Okay, thank you.

Thank you.

Anyone else?

Yep.

Hi, Martha Mano again, 116 Reed Street.

Um, I'm here because, well, I've been coming to these meetings now pretty regularly Um, and one of the things that I think about when I'm here is like, why did you want to run for office and be a select board member?

Now I'm not asking you to tell me now, but I'm pretty curious.

I'm a curious person.

I read a lot.

I, I like to find out what motives people have.

I hope you all have good motives.

I think about the title to a Spike Lee movie, Do the Right Thing.

I would really like you to do the right thing.

And what I think is the right thing is what the people have already voted for, not just once but several times.

And I don't know what you're gonna say about the Maduro's podcast later.

I'm happy to hear whatever it is.

I'm here for that.

But I think there were mistakes made.

I think maybe the mistakes have been acknowledged in that we now have a member who's recusing himself from voting on Medeiros Farm project.

But that doesn't undo the one— the votes that came before which should have been recused, if that's the right verb or the right way to use it.

So I guess I'm just saying, whatever it takes to bring back the committee, sign that design contract, get it going again, because as Jackie said, any delays we know just cause cost us more and more money, and nobody wants to see the money going for things that we could have had already.

So, uh, please do the right thing.

If that means you have to review the contract and review it with Sean, who's done so many contracts in town over the years, um, then do that.

I know you're a lawyer, you could do that.

Maybe some of you are not lawyers, but you could do that.

Why did you want to be a select board member?

I assume part of it was because you're willing to work for the good of the town.

So, so do it, do the right thing.

Thanks.

Anyone else?

Would anyone like a button?

My daughter designed them.

Seekonk High School art department was great.

I don't know if it still is.

Sure, why don't you leave, leave us 5?

Yeah, I will do that.

Thank you.

Thank you all.

Thank you.

Sure, do you have the buttons?

Oh yeah, you can leave it there.

Thank you.

Okay, good evening.

I appreciate the buttons.

I appreciate the support for the Medeiros Farm Committee project.

I'd like to introduce myself, Susan Moulton.

I am the daughter of Connie and Paul Medeiros, for those of you who do not know.

I just have 2 requests of the board pertaining to the vote that was taken on June 24th, 2026 of this year prohibiting the active recreation at Elman Lincoln Street.

I would request that the board would rescind this vote due to Mr. Archambault's non-recusal of his vote at that time.

So I'm not sure if that's an item that could be on the next select board meeting, but that would be my request, um, because that vote then also Um, did not approve— that also included non-approval of the design contract that Sean and whoever else negotiated, um, that we had reviewed, the Farm Committee had reviewed and made sure that that RFQ is in line with the tasks that was needed for design services.

So that's my next request, would be that the Farm Committee can resume their tasking.

And if we— if needed, we would need to re-release that RFQ because that design contract is probably expired.

I'm not sure about the details, but I think that the Farm Committee would love to resume their tasking and get this project moving, as some of the folks here tonight are in support of the project and Um, as I said, um, the CHA's master conceptual plan, the original plan, should be reinstated, and that should be used for our design services due to the fact that that vote should not have happened the way it did.

Thank you so much for the time.

Okay, anyone else?

Last chance.

Okay, thank you.

All right, license hearing.

Consider the request from Fairtown Productions LLC for a license to hold the Great Halloween Festival at Secaucus Speedway at 1782 Fore River Avenue.

Michael Quill, manager.

Good evening.

Good evening.

Welcome back.

Thank you.

The floor is yours, sir.

Perfect.

Yeah, my name is Mike Quill.

Um, I own Fiertown Productions.

We've run Fiertown Haunted House since 2013 over at the Seekonk Speedway, as well as the Great Halloween Festival for the last 2 years.

Um, we're looking to take a gap year operating Fiertown this year and just run the Great Halloween Festival, so we're applying for our entertainment license to do that.

Okay, I believe also the calendar you have where is pushed back a weekend just in case it's in the packet.

But so our target opening would be the following weekend.

So you're going to start on the 19th of September?

The 25th.

25th.

Okay, and you're going to end on November 1st?

Yes, sir.

Okay, so can I ask, on your calendar, all your green indicated days, the days you're open?

So all the, all the days that are colored, the color coding is for, um, the operating times, which must have been cut off on that calendar.

But oh, okay, so the chairman's question was you're going to start on the 19th, but you're not going to be on the Correct.

Okay.

Yeah, so it's pushed— but yeah, pushed back a weekend.

Okay.

Anybody have any questions?

This is the same thing you've been doing for years now, right?

Yeah, so we've run the haunted houses since 2013.

Um, we're taking a year off from running the haunted houses.

We're just doing the festival portion, which we've done for the last 2 years.

Okay, so you're not going to have the haunted house, correct?

Okay, so what do you— where do you actually hold it on the grounds of the Speedway?

It's on, on the flea market side.

Okay, so the— if you go, it's where the haunted house typically is.

Yeah, yeah, the same spot we've been in.

I think what you're trying to ask is, can you explain to the people at home what difference— what's the differences between the house and the— oh sure, yeah.

So 2 years ago we, we started the Great Halloween Festival.

There's a pumpkin patch, There's, uh, games, activities.

It's a family-friendly Halloween festival.

Um, there's food, there's, um, some walk-around characters and things like that.

Okay, I see how the family-friendly segues in with the axe throwing.

You'd be surprised how many parents let their kids throw some axes.

It's like a dunk tank though.

Yeah, parents go in front.

Are these like foam rubber axes or the real thing?

Other reel.

Any questions for anybody?

And what are your hours of operations?

Uh, it's between— the earliest is 5 PM.

Um, I believe on the license I probably put 1 AM.

We don't anticipate going nearly that late.

Our last entry time is, I believe, listed at 10 PM.

Okay.

There's been a trend in recent years that people aren't coming out as late anyway, but we like to just have it on the list just in case there's people on the property that were covered.

All right, board members have any questions?

I'm good.

There's been no issues over the years with them.

They did have an issue, but it had nothing to do with them.

That was brought up a couple of years ago, but it had nothing really to do with when they were in the haunted house.

It was just people pulled off into the parking lot with the disturbance, but it was not associated with them, so they've had a good track record.

Okay, so do you want to make a motion, Mr. Zoller?

Yeah, I'll make a motion to approve as submitted.

Second.

All right, any discussion?

All in favor?

Aye.

Opposed?

So voted.

Thank you.

No, sir.

Thank you very much.

Okay, discussion regarding the immediate use of 911 Thornton Avenue for the Department of Public Works.

I put this on, uh, it's hard to believe it's been almost 2 years since the new facility on Fall River Avenue was rejected.

But we went and bought this building.

One of the reasons was because we wanted to immediately, or as soon as possible, to get the office staff out of their current location.

And I think the last time we discussed this, you were going to look at what it might cost us to do, like painting and a rug or some— did you come up with any numbers?

Uh, so, so just a couple of things.

So first, I know the board wanted me to reach out to the building committee to see whether or not they wanted to do it, if there was still interest in that.

So both Michelle Hynes and then Mike Gagne— I'm sorry— don't want to be on it.

John Posey had said maybe.

He's got some question with regards to what the task and the direction would be from the board.

And then Kevin Hurston and Monaghan are yeses.

So what we would have, if we want to still continue with the building committee, which would be an ad hoc committee appointed by the board, we have 2 members and a potential yes.

So that would be 3 people.

So there's still some consideration on if we want to add some additional people or even if we want to go down that road.

Just in terms of the actual cost, I know we had talked about, or you had mentioned, potentially putting $50,000 for a warrant article to get that moving forward.

So one of the things that we had discussed was just having the office staff move in.

There's going to be some costs associated with that.

So I did have the Director of Communications just run some numbers and get some estimates from some of our vendors.

And the reason for it is, is that we need to run fiber from— the fiber ends at the current DBW building, so we've got to run it from DBW to the new building.

We got it.

We need to get the internet.

Our phone systems need to be put up.

We have to get the radio.

They have a radio in DBW that's got to get moved over.

So with that, we did run some costs.

So just the fiber alone is $35,000 to $40,000.

The phone system is $5,000.

And then we talked about cameras, especially where it would just be the office staff.

And if Dave and Jim are out, then it would just be the 2 women who are in there alone.

So we feel that at least one outside camera and then one camera that's in the— what we would say the reception area or the public area, just for safety purposes.

So based on that and what would be required, so that's, uh, $16,000.

So, uh, we would just, just for that, we would, we would need, um, I should probably should add it up, uh, $65,000 roughly.

So, um, that's where we would be on a warrant.

Do we want to do it on a warrant, or do we have money that we can, uh— no, so we would, we would need a warrant for it.

But I guess the discussion would just need to be with the board in terms of if that's the plan we want to do.

I know there was conversations back and forth as to do we want a generic plan first to see what we're going to do, do we just want to move the office staff in.

So that would just be ultimately up to the board on the direction.

Well, I think that's one of the main reasons we bought the building too, was because it could create an immediate need and space for the offices.

I mean, anybody that's seen the conditions they work in, it's, it's, it's terrible.

And we've spent $1.6 million and it's just sitting there.

So that makes no sense to me either.

Anybody else have any thoughts?

How far off are we from doing anything with that building, approximately?

Well, initially get the offices going so we can move the staff over there.

We're talking about a couple years before that facility is ready to go.

Well, depending on what, what that means.

Yeah, but the office is in, you know, structurally I think it's in great shape.

And we do what he suggested, and maybe some paint and maybe a rug or whatever, and we can get them in there.

We're going to be heating it, right?

So do they want to move over now?

Do we know?

Have— has anyone had the conversation with them?

Turn it over to Jim.

I actually had a conversation this morning with the office staff, and that was just prompted by that they had saw the agenda to see what that was coming up today.

They had just said to me that they didn't want to be involved of being at 911 during any renovation purposes.

They were comfortable where they're at until we were ready to move over, if that helps you, uh, with the direction you want to go.

Comfortable where they're at?

Well, they don't want to be over there while any renovations or any works being done.

Oh no, no, no, they move in after the renovation.

Yep, yep, yep.

Well, we're talking about the, the final renovations.

They don't want to move in until after everything is complete.

Well, we don't know what everything complete really is.

That was going to be my question.

Yeah, that is correct.

So if the first step could be get him in a decent office, him included, and the superintendent.

I'm just trying to clarify what we're talking about so we're all talking the same thing here.

They didn't want to be over there in that office while the major renovation and build-out was going on, is that correct?

That would be correct, but we just— we— I still didn't have an answer for them because I don't know what direction we were going in.

Like, to Mr. Sega's point, if we're just put some paint and replace some rugs and make sure everything is working with communication and phones, then there's going to be, you know, a limited time before we have to move everybody over there.

So there'd be no disruption after they're over there.

But if I move them over there and I can't bring them back, and then we decide we're going to start doing this big renovation, I think they would be— that would— that's where they don't want to be involved with.

Only makes sense.

Yep, yep.

Fix it up and then they can move.

Have you been over there and look inside?

Yeah, we did a tour a couple times.

So I mean, the office itself is— I mean, it's got a layout.

I mean, it's better than what they have now.

It's an office that was occupied.

It's a halfway decent office.

So we would have to change.

I guess what I would say is we just need to know what we're doing with the entire— the 2 facilities, right?

So because then I think that impacts if we're going to— I personally think the building that the current currently in is a building with good structure.

So it would just be a renovation on the inside, we can be able to use it for more space for the, for the guys and things of that nature.

So that might be looking at it, or it's a complete demo.

And then we're talking about moving everybody up to the, to the top.

So I think there's got to be some type of discussion programming that needs to take place on what probably makes the most sense and the options are okay.

So if we are going to put a warrant article, I guess I would suggest that we're going to need, you know, the cameras, the internet, and all that stuff.

But I would also probably suggest that we have money for at least some type of architectural drawings with potentials on what we can do so that we can work with both, you know, Dave and Jim in terms of— and obviously DBW with what they look like and the connectivity of that, if that's truly going to be a facility.

I just hate to piecemeal it and then have to go back in.

Right.

And out of fairness to them, the people in the front office, we don't want them to move over there and then have, you know, this needs to be renovated or it's going to affect the sound or their— middle of a construction zone, right?

Right.

So I think other conversations— so what do you recommend, Mr. Gideon?

If we were moving forward with town meeting, uh, the warrant article, I would say let's get a warrant article for, uh, you know, conceptual drawings in terms of what the, what the layout could be and just get the buy-in from the folks, the program, and what they would like to see, uh, because there could be some, some moves with the mechanics to the, to the top garage.

So I think that's what we should be looking at, and especially the connect connectivity portion of it.

That's going to be another major piece for both Jim and Dave, uh, just figuring out how we connect it, which I think probably comes out on Lake Street.

I think that's a feasible option.

So, so what would you want for one?

Um, well, we're gonna have the warrant the next meeting, so let me just try to get some estimates on what folks think.

All right.

Yeah, that agrees.

I— there's a few things I got to say on this topic.

A little over a month ago, maybe a month and a half ago, we discussed this, and my recollection was we voted not to move anybody in there yet.

I made the recommendation to get the building committee back together and do the project correctly, the way any other project should be done.

I am not— as I'm only one member of this board, I am not going to sit here and ask any member of DPW go into that building, whether it's temporarily, permanently, or anything like that without, without actually having a full-time building committee.

A project to be done— this project was voted on as a project down on Federal Avenue, it failed.

So we sought out buying another piece of property with the intent of building a brand new DPW garage and facility.

The only way we can get that done is to have a building committee that goes there, they review the property, they come up with suggestions.

We could design a certain services.

We have a building, we have everything done, and we go ask the taxpayers to fund it.

I am not going to support putting anybody in that building.

We should not treat DPW workers any different than we treat any other town employee.

We have built 2 fire stations for the fire department.

We have built an animal shelter.

We are renovating the library.

We redid— we did 2 phases of the senior center in this town.

And why are we shortchanging the DPW employees of this town?

To me, it's the wrong thing to do.

It's the wrong tone to And then we wonder why we don't have employees that want to stay working here.

Because we do everything backwards.

We do everything half-ass, in my opinion.

This has gone on way too long.

This DPW project should be our number one priority.

The people voted.

The last project was way too expensive.

So we went, we bought another piece of property, right?

I understand your point.

Oh, we spent $1.6 million on it and we're not using it.

We spent $6.9 million on Firefly.

What are we doing with that dump?

Nothing.

This is town employees we're talking about.

This is a facility that should have been done years ago, and let's do it right.

Let's not just jam people in there because that's the history of SECON.

Let's just get them in there for now.

Oh, we'll take care of the rest of it later.

I lived in fire stations.

We had the same mentality for 30-something years.

We've taken care of every other department, but for some reason we want to treat DPW as second-class citizens.

I'm not doing it, Jim.

My idea is to just do what we got to do to get the offices up to par and move the office administrative staff over there.

It'll be far superior to where they are.

All we heard was the deplorable conditions that everybody has to work in over there.

So the taxpayers— yes, we bought a building, we're not going to just let it sit there.

There should be a master plan what we're going to do for a build-out, but it's there.

The office is available, and I think it's, it's shortsighted just to let it sit there and we'll heat it and just look at it.

So I support renovating the offices to get the administrative people over there and then do the whole thing as a big master plan going forward for the rest of the cost.

I don't support that.

I'm with Mr. Healey.

So you're going to spend money to put the— move the offices over, then they may come back and say we're going to destroy the offices and move the offices over here because the flow is better.

I'm not going to throw money in there and then go back and put more, more money into it to destroy the building or reassess it, re— remove it, whatever, remodel, when it doesn't even meet the need.

So let me ask this.

Um, before we put money into it to get a master plan.

Um, that wouldn't have to go on a warrant article.

I mean, could we— would it?

I mean, um, we don't have it.

We don't have anything budgeted right now, so I'd have to— that's why I want to get estimates on, on what the cost would be for, uh, just a master plan feasibility, whatever you want to call for it.

And then, uh, if we can find it within the budget, then that's okay.

If not, no, I think that's the smart move if we're asking for a warrant article, is to, to get that.

I just think we need a conceptual plan and understand what we're going to be doing with the property.

I was just going to say that we need to figure out what we're going to do with the property before we do anything.

But you and Bob haven't seen the building?

I haven't.

I haven't.

Oh, inside 911?

Yeah.

No, I have not.

Okay, so could we arrange that before the next meeting?

And then continue that discussion then.

Does that make sense?

Who was on the building committee?

Uh, so it was Michelle Hines, Mike, uh, Gagne, uh, I always want to say Kanye, Mike Gagne, uh, John Posey, Kevin Hurst, and Ed Monaghan.

Right, but as of right now?

Oh, so we've got, uh, Ed Hurst and Ed Monaghan who said yes, and then John Posey was a maybe.

So we've got 2 definites.

If meetings can be held during the day, I'll throw my hat— my name in the ring, just, just if it'll help.

I mean, I'm kind of stretched then right now, but yep, it's up to the board what, what direction you want to, you want to move in.

Do you guys want to see the offices first?

Yes, I'd like to see it.

I would too.

Okay, so we can arrange through you, uh, you can arrange that through me.

Yes, sir.

Yeah, okay, just take a tour of it.

All right, and then we, we'll put on the agenda again for next, next meeting.

All right, is that agreeable to everybody?

Okay.

All right, next item C, consider accepting the donation of a perk test for the South Bend Fire Station from Oak Hill Engineering.

I know this was very dear to Mr. Zara's heart.

I wanted to make sure that this got done.

It's the right thing to do.

And do you know how much it was that he donated?

I don't see a price on here.

No, he just went and did it.

What would a perk test cost for a commercial building?

You could put it to $3,000, $4,000.

Now, a perk test— TPW supplied the machine.

I know you were there when you're watching them do it.

Yeah, I drove by and and saw them, saw them over there digging it.

Yeah.

So you want to put a price tag of $500 on it?

That would, I would think, would be sufficient.

All right, so entertain a motion to accept the $500 donation from Oak Hill Engineering.

Second.

All in favor?

Aye.

Opposed?

So voted.

Next is a discussion regarding the schedule and street schedule for striping and lettering this fall.

That would be Mr. Halpernoff, right?

Uh, yeah, I can speak to it too.

Uh, so the striping— the, the board does have the list for the, uh, striping that's scheduled.

Uh, so the schedule currently is September 20th, uh, to the 21st.

So it's going to be 2 days to complete the list that's there.

Uh, if the— if there's a rain date, it's going to be the 21st to the 22nd, is that correct?

So I'd also like you— it's not on here, um, I think Michael can agree with me— take a— take another look at Baker's Corners.

That needs— that needs some side striping work also.

Yeah, yeah, right.

Good.

I'll take care of that, sir.

Yeah, okay.

So we don't need to approve this, right?

I just wanted it for information purposes.

Yeah.

Okay, very good.

Thank you.

All right, thanks, Jim.

Consider the continued support for the designation of SoWaM's heritage areas as National Heritage Area and assist in the current legislative outreach effort.

Mr. Orban.

Mr. Chairman, thank you.

Joining us this evening— I thought it was going to be here— Reverend Charles Hartman is joining me from the Soames Board of Directors.

We're here for a few reasons this evening.

One, to thank the board for their past support of the effort.

2, to present the printed version of the feasibility study that was put together over the last 4 years.

With the support of the town.

And then 3, to ask for the board's continued support as we move forward.

And now that the feasibility study has been done, the SOMS board of directors and governing organization has been reformed and more formalized, adopted as a nonprofit in the state of Rhode Island.

And now we're moving forward to the next step of the project, which is to seek the federal designation as a National Heritage Area.

Right now, just so I know, we have some board members who weren't here previously.

Soames is a coalition of 9 communities in the area focused on the early history, specifically the first land grant between the native indigenous Pokanokets and the English settlers that came over, essentially kind of creating a buffer state between the Wampanoag and the Narragansett tribes.

And then there was a pretty much a 50-year peace that was established after that, which then led into King Philip's War, and from there, 100 years later, into the Revolution.

But this effort has been ongoing.

The Reverend's been working on it for 11 years?

5 or 6 years anyway, yeah.

But you were one of the members of the original Psalms Board, correct?

When I was called to be the pastor of the First Baptist Church in Swansea, they told me it was an old church.

So I said, well, how old is It was 1663, and they still had the original records that went back to 1649.

A friend of mine also moved into Warren and next to the Osamequin burial place, and he began to get interested in the 17th century, and the interest grew, and David Weed began to bring more people into the conversation.

And what you see there in front of you now is the compilation of many years of work, huge amounts of research, and some voices that are lifting up a story that really does affect the entire United States history.

Everything from religious freedom to education, the origins of Brown University are right here in Swansea.

I was a professor too, so I can go on for a while.

But the more voices that are lifted up, the better this story is going to be told and shared through the heritage area.

We want to thank all of the towns because it's critically important for the towns to support this effort and pass the word up the ladders.

So where we are in the process now, the feasibility study has been completed, submitted to the National Park Service, but they are really not going to do anything with it until Congress files legislation and starts the formal review process and the formal designation process.

What we have kind of run into is a reluctance at the Congressional level for them to file that legislation even though there are some other heritage areas that are going to go through with this Congress.

We were hoping to kind of catch on to that train.

Regardless of whether or not it is in this Congress, the next Congress or 2 or 3 Congresses from now.

The important thing is SoHo's Heritage Area has been formed.

SoHo's Heritage Area is operating as a heritage area.

The national designation is just that.

It's a designation.

It's really a stamp of approval from the feds.

From everything and all the work that I've been doing with SoHo's and the board, that effort is going to go on regardless of what happens down in Washington.

However, with 9 communities, with all the community support that we have, we're in a position to at least kind of lean a little bit towards— on those congressional delegations and ask them to kind of hear the voices that Charlie was just talking about.

So to that end, I think if there's an ask this evening, one, it would be for continued support for the Soames effort.

And then 2, if the board saw it appropriate to do so, to sign a letter encouraging the congressional delegation on our side of the state line to file that that bill in Congress and get the ball rolling there.

This is one of 9 presentations— well, one of 8 presentations that's scheduled and going on this week and next week between the various communities.

The only community that doesn't have a scheduled presentation right now is the City of Providence because they're kind of in the middle of a, let's say, restructuring.

So with that, one other thing I did want to mention, we do— we have issued an invitation invitation to representatives from all the communities to, to go to the Mass Light seat in Warren on Monday afternoon.

I believe myself and Robert are going to be going there on Monday afternoon.

That's going to be a really great opportunity for us to convene leaders from all these 9 communities, and it's really an aspect of this that hasn't occurred yet.

So I'm looking forward to that.

The delegations have been invited to that.

Again, they're reluctant to, to kind take part in it.

But it's going to be a tremendous opportunity for us to convene as 9 communities and really join our voices together and push this forward.

As I said, the heritage area is going to move forward.

It's going to continue to move forward.

But we're still going to continue to seek to get that congressional designation.

It's due.

This is really the origin story of everything that's happened on this— a big part of the origin story of everything that's happened on this continent.

And to be here, it's kind of a story that I followed.

I worked in North Kingstown in Rhode Island.

I worked in Cumberland, both of those with connection to Roger Williams and connection to Reverend Blackstone.

And then to be able to kind of really be here at kind of ground zero, for lack of a better term, is an exciting opportunity for me on a professional stance and rewarding to kind of have followed that story around across these 3 communities in 2 states now.

But Charlie, did you have anything else to say?

Uh, I don't think so.

You said it very well.

I hope everybody can come.

Standing in the place where, uh, the original inhabitants of this land stood and made their decisions, I think, is inspiring.

So come on down.

So if the board had any questions, certainly, uh, certainly free to write that letter.

I believe it's already written.

We can certainly get that forwarded on to Shawn.

And I just want to note that Andrea Rounds is the director of the board, has been doing tremendous work on the outreach both at the government level as well as the tribal level.

Now that I've kind of stepped down from the quote-unquote board, the steering committee which became the board, I've been serving on the tribal relations committee and also on the advisory committee for so long.

So I've kind of taken a step back.

Being a public employee, you know, certainly not appropriate for me to be sitting on anybody's boards.

But certainly I appreciate the opportunity that the Select Board and Sean has given me to serve on those ancillary boards and continue in the project.

I had the kind of opportunity to do this to a certain extent with Blackstone when I was working for Cumberland, and it's kind of neat and satisfying to kind of be back in the project.

Process again.

So any questions, Mr. Auburn?

No.

No.

So I'd entertain a motion that we write a letter of support as he's requested and formally endorse the project going forward as we have in the past.

Second.

I say so moved.

So moved.

So moved.

Second?

Second.

Okay, uh, thank you, Mr. Chairman.

We'll have the feasibility study up on the planning board's page, and we'll have the hard copy available down in the planning office.

Okay.

All right, all in favor?

Aye.

Opposed?

So voted.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And while— let me see, while you're there, thank you, consider the request for amendments to Section 1.3, 2.3, 4.1, 4.3.2, 4.3.4, 4.3.1, 4.3.2.1, 4.3.3.3 of the zoning bylaws to comply with the Zoning Enabling Act.

I consider referring to the planning board for a public hearing for possible adoption at town meeting.

Mr. Stoller.

Mr. Chairman, this is the first of 2 sets of zoning amendments being proposed by the planning board for the fall town meeting.

These amendments are strictly born of changes that were made as part of the budget process to the Zoning Enabling Act this year.

We kind of got them passed down to us midsummer via KP Law, and the summary that the board has in its packet— primarily the amendments, the first 2, I'll kind of run through them quickly and then we can get down to specifics on them.

The first 2 amendments amendments, Amendment 1 and 2, with regard to the criteria for the grant of a variance.

The primary— just to highlight the changes that the state made— they made housing production define public interest for the grant of a variance.

They changed what was previously substantial hardship to practical difficulty with regard to the criteria for the grant of a variance.

And they also allowed for use variances for residential uses.

Previously, use variances were a pretty rare bird in Massachusetts.

Generally, unless your zoning bylaw specifically provided for a use variance— and a use variance is basically a variance granted by the zoning board to conduct a use that would normally be prohibited within a zoning district.

So what the state has done is made use variances for residential uses allowable in any district.

So any district in town, an applicant would have the right to come forward.

Not necessarily would, you know, the zoning board wouldn't necessarily have to be bound to grant that relief, but an applicant would have a right to come forward and propose a residential use in any zoning district in town in Massachusetts.

Industrial, highway business, you name it, everything, anywhere, the entire Commonwealth.

Exciting, right?

Well, boy, did they gut local control, huh?

Yeah, that's— my memo is lacking in editorial comments, just the facts.

Um, he's hoping for a restructure.

Amendment 3 removes the requirement for a special permit to expand a nonconforming use of structure.

And— but we did— I did clarify this with town council when we did the first pass of the amendments.

We did retain in there the requirement that a special permit is required for a lot that's nonconforming to establish the use.

And I know the chairman came up with it— came up against this a lot of times with the zoning board.

In Seaconch, we've got a few areas here that were developed originally under the R-1 zoning district and then subsequently changed to R-2 and in some cases R-3.

So you've got— and even when they were R-1 zoning district, they were under 10,000 square foot lots.

So you've got areas that were kind of backstrapped into a larger zoning district even though the lots were sitting there at 10,000 feet.

So obviously any of those structures thereby came down and became non-conforming.

This previously, they would be required to get a special permit.

This eliminates that need.

Need.

So it kind of clears up what to us was somewhat of a kind of a problem, because anytime somebody came in on these lots, you'd automatically have to send them to the zoning board for a special permit, even if they were just doing an addition to their house that might otherwise meet the zoning setbacks.

So this kind of clears up some of that kind of matters that were going to the zoning board that maybe didn't.

And that's the only editorial comment I'll make.

But Amendment Number 4 changes the abandonment time period from 2 years to 4 years.

Amendment number 5, with regard to zoning application— the application changes to zoning laws after an application has been made.

Essentially, previously you were kind of granted— you're grandfathered in as long as you're— the board had issued your application, issued your approval.

Now it's been pushed back to applied for.

So it kind of allows people to come in if they know a zone change is coming in to go in and file and take advantage of the former zoning.

And then finally, Amendment 7 changes what was the merger provision, which had last year been removed— previously been removed from single and two-family residences.

And now that merger provision protection has has been expanded to all lots.

So regardless of residential, non-residential use.

And just, just to make one statement, these were all strictly proposed and intended to comply with the changes that were made this summer and that we got in mid-July.

So we kind of are a little bit— we're still a little bit under the gun to get— and as I always try to have our zoning bylaw in compliance with the zoning enabling statute.

When we get mid-year changes like this, it kind of makes that a little bit difficult.

Um, and this— and I will also say, I believe there's more en route from Boston, so stay tuned.

Yeah, looking out for our best interests.

Yeah, this is going to be insane in the courts though.

I mean, I'm looking at this practical difficulty.

How do you define practical difficulty?

Yeah.

And how much different is it from a substantial hardship?

Although at least, at least we've got, at least, at least we have X number of years of case law that have told us that.

Now we're gonna, but that's what, now we're gonna have to go back and start all over again.

Measurable though, if you're, if you're talking financial or, but I mean, to now use practical difficulty.

You're right though, it's gonna just open up a whole new can of worms with case law.

All right, so you'd like us to forward to the planning board?

For— yeah, we're prepared, uh, at our October meeting to hold a public hearing, uh, on the proposed— whatever proposed amendment is going to be in front of, uh, fall town meeting.

Okay, so I have to say a motion that we forward.

So moved.

Right, movement seconded.

Second.

All in favor?

Aye.

Opposed?

So voted.

And now you got one more.

Yes, consider the amendment to the zoning bylaw Section 1.3 and 4.2.6 pertaining to data centers and consider referring it to the planning board for a public hearing for possible adoption at town meeting.

I have an issue with this, Mr. Chairman.

This isn't one that came from Boston.

This was actually, uh, some of the zoning board members had asked us to look at this and, and put it forward.

As the board knows, a few years ago we adopted a list of prohibited uses in town.

This, as written currently, this would add data centers with a definition to that list of prohibited uses.

Another— other communities, and I did include a copy of the Attorney General's determination on Dartmouth's— I'm sorry, Mansfield's fields, data center regulation.

Um, I, I, you know, looking at this, and I think this is one where we're going to be asking for input from the select board, uh, as well as Conservation Commission and Board of Health.

And I'm not sure if the select board noticed, but we did copy the zoning board, Conservation Commission, Board of Health on this.

Um, it's obviously something that stretches across and impacts the entire town, not just the planning board or even just a select board.

So I think what the planning board was looking for was some additional input on this.

I know it's kind of a new topic.

I know it's a hot topic.

It's something— when I was asked to put this together, I don't know what a data center is and how to define that.

The definition that we— that was used in the proposed— in the proposed language was one that was taken from Holyoke zoning bylaw.

So it's something that's in used now in the Commonwealth.

But again, if that's— if the prohibition is the best way to approach this, or whether a regulatory scheme like we see with the Mansfield approaches is the best approach to this, you know, I'm certainly not qualified with my limited knowledge of data centers to say.

But I think as, you know, a community and the 4 boards that were— 4 or 5 boards that we're talking about here, we should be able to come up with some kind of uniform approach to this.

Whether or not it's something that happens fall town meeting, spring town meeting, whatever, or happens at all, I think this is intended to start that conversation.

I— as far as what the board does this evening, I— if they wanted to pass it on, get the public hearing process moving, and then I can come back and we can have further discussions on the substance part of it and what the board's going to say, uh, as they weigh in on this.

Um, I'm really kind of here to get the board's direction.

So do you think that something can be done for the fall town meeting?

Well, I mean, we can go forward with the prohibition as Holyoke did.

I have— but I don't— but to say I'm not in a position to sit here and say that that's what we should do or if that's the best way to approach this.

You know, I'm— I know that this is a topic that's out there.

I know it's reactive to a lot of people, and I think that's why, you know, it was brought forward.

If the planning board didn't propose this, I'm pretty sure that there were folks in town that were going to come forward with a petition to propose this.

So I'm sorry.

No, go ahead.

What's the legislation that Healey's trying to push forward to bring it all down to local local data center can be moved on?

There's some legislation, I believe, in the works.

There is legislation that was recently passed, a regulation that was recently passed with regard to quote-unquote green energy projects.

Data centers were somewhat included in that.

And last week, Governor Healey issued some additional directives with regard to data centers.

There was some comment with regard to local coordination.

My sense on it was with the whole kind of green energy permitting process, that's really kind of comprehensive permits for green projects, somewhat like we see with housing projects.

So I don't know, and obviously I can't speak for what Governor Healey is going to be doing, but it seemed to me setting up somewhat of a similar type process.

So, and again, it's somewhat of a moving target because— and this stuff, we literally— I was at the planning board meeting and had heard that Governor Healey was announcing something that afternoon.

And I, you know, I said that at the planning board meeting, said, I know that something came out today.

I don't know what it is, but it could impact this.

And so I think it's just always tough to legislate in this area where something's hot and kind of still moving.

So I have some questions.

From my understanding, these data centers use a great deal of water, so I'm concerned about the water use because we're already— we have an issue with water now.

That's, that's the other thing, you know, when you kind of boil it down and look at it and look at the infrastructure that's available in town and Seekonk, and from a water perspective, from an information technology perspective, from an electricity perspective, chances nobody's proposing a data center in Seacock.

But does that, you know, does that mean we shouldn't put a buffer in there or put a guardrail in there?

So that, from my perspective, I don't think that we have the infrastructure to support that.

So to a certain extent, maybe it makes sense to put a prohibition in.

So I— but from a, you know, practicality standpoint, nobody's been beating my door down to to come in with.

Well, maybe we could find out what, what other areas, what the usage is in other areas.

You know, if whatever data centers are up and running in Massachusetts, maybe we could get some idea.

The other question I had, um, it says here backup power and emissions, applicant must identify all backup generators.

Any battery storage or anything that's going to be there?

Battery storage, but like, that's, I think, B-E-S-S, I think, so the for it.

Those are covered by the green energy regulations.

So those, you know, you could have a battery storage center that's separate and apart from this, but those are already covered by the, you know, quote-unquote green comprehensive permitting.

But, but they— I don't know if anybody here has paid any attention to the battery storage facilities and so forth that are close to residential areas.

It's, it's not a good— it's not a good mix.

Um, and anytime we look at a solar project, that is always question number one that comes up with the, the boys next door.

Yeah.

And then, um, folks next door.

The other— the next thing fell under, uh, subsection 4, comments on Article 23's approved provisions.

It says sales and use tax exempt.

I'm, I'm sorry, just wasn't following where you're— sorry, under Roman numeral 4, while we approve Article 23, the town should be aware that on June 25th, 2026, Governor Healey issued guidance for data centers, sales and use tax exemptions, and expectations for broader data center development.

Why would they be sales and tax exempt?

Because she says that.

Yes.

Must be nice.

I was going to say that.

I think that's getting right back to what Mr. Archambault was getting at.

Okay.

So those— so and I just want to note that that AG's determination is for the Mansfield kind of regulatory scheme.

Yep.

We would just be putting a flat— what's proposed right now is just a flat add data centers to a— with a definition to our list of prohibited uses.

I say no.

I'd say add it to the prohibited uses, but that's just me.

And just my opinion is, if the Attorney General comes back and tells us we can't do that, then we look at Mansfield.

Right.

But I, I would like to get the input of the other board.

Boards.

Um, so whatever the board does this evening, um, and be— if you— tonight's your discussion of it, that's fine.

But if you could include with whatever you send to us a recommendation that zoning board, conservation, and Board of Health also weigh in— excuse me— weigh in on this, it would be appreciated because sometimes we feel like we're— Holyoke is prohibited.

Holyoke is prohibited.

That's where the definition came from.

Holyoke.

I just have concerns.

It's not like I'm, you know, prohibited.

I'm just concerned.

Yeah.

And I— that I mentioned, like, yeah, like I said, I don't know enough about them to say yes, no, it's a good idea, a bad idea.

Um, but I do know that they're a tremendous energy draw.

I do know they're a tremendous water draw.

Um, and I do know that we don't have a lot of energy and we don't have a lot of water.

So, right, right.

Okay, we're on the same page, Michael.

You got anything?

No.

Chris?

Nope.

Do we want to vote?

What you mean?

Sure.

What's your thoughts?

Do you want to prohibit them?

Please?

Do you want to prohibit them?

I'd like to prohibit them, yes.

Is that your motion?

Make a motion to prohibit data centers in Seekonk.

Well, we just need to forward it down to the— forward it back to the planning board, right?

Okay, that's our recommendation to you.

I'll, I'll take that as a recommendation, and we'll forward it back to the planning board for further discussion.

But I think you have to vote.

I think we have to vote.

I'll second.

Second?

All in favor?

Aye.

Opposed?

So ordered.

Thank you.

Have a good evening.

Thank you.

Thanks, John.

Next, we have a discussion regarding possible changing the time of the select board meetings to 5 o'clock.

So we did it as an experiment.

What's the thoughts of the board?

I'd like to see it back to 6 o'clock personally.

I think it works better for me.

Me and maybe most that attend the meeting.

Okay, Michael, I have no problem with it either way, 5 or 6.

Okay, I can make either one.

Liz, um, 6 works better for me.

I'm neutral to it as well.

5 or 6, it doesn't matter to me, whatever works.

And I mean for the residents as well.

So, all right, well What say you?

Oh, doesn't matter, whatever the board wants to do.

Yeah, well, someone make a motion.

I'll make a motion for the meetings to continue to go back to 6 PM.

Okay, a second.

We're at 6 PM.

Well, temporary is at 5 to— yeah, all right, to stay at— to stay at 6 PM.

Yeah, so Second.

All in favor?

Aye.

Opposed?

Sure, whatever.

Either one of them.

Are you going to vote present?

No, I'm not going to vote present.

Okay.

All right, consider signing the contract with Brewster Thornton for designer services for the library renovation project.

6 o'clock.

Take that item out of turn?

Which item?

The other that we added by the amendment.

The what?

M. M. Can we take M before that item?

Sure, if you'd like.

All right, discussion on setting a policy for the select board prior to voting on municipal contracts.

So I brought this this item up because it's been something the board's been talking about quite a bit.

And I'll just be clear that I'm speaking of the library services design contract tonight.

I'm not talking about other contracts.

Library services going forward, municipal contracts— several of us on the board have spoken to the town administrator.

That we were not— we were not satisfied with the way municipal contracts are being handled with the board and the information we were getting.

So we did have a conversation, and I think it's been pretty fluid.

Sean's been working with us to get us all the information we need ahead of time.

Um, it's my understanding for those conversations with Sean and Town Council that in Secaucus for decades, years and years, the board was satisfied with voting on contracts— the select board— without all the information, with possibly just a blank master contract, no appendices, no attachments, no information.

And I just find that completely irresponsible.

Responsible.

And I think it's laziness on the behalf of the board.

I'm sorry if I offend past board members, but this board is the central awarding body, okay?

It goes from building committee, it's negotiated with our chief procurement officer, our town administrator, and it's for us to vote on it.

Nobody on a board should be voting on a contract if they don't have all the information.

You don't want to have to run into a resident and they start asking you questions about something that you're about to vote on and you don't have the answers.

It's embarrassing to me.

It's wrong.

It's irresponsible.

You know, select board, most of us have jobs.

We're very busy.

It's not a full-time job, but it comes with the responsibility to know what you're doing.

You know, we're, we're committing funds by voting on contracts to the town administrator to sign that contract.

We vote on them, he signs them.

Okay, I'm not saying that we don't trust the town administrator.

You know, very very competent.

He's certified in doing contracts, procuring them.

I'm not saying I don't trust our legal counsel.

I'm just saying the select board is charged with this duty.

We should know what we are voting on.

Simply for years and years to just rubber stamp it, vote on it, and just push the town administrator to sign the contract— I'm not good with that.

The resident comes up to me and says, hey, I heard we're going to spend $920,000, for instance, on a design contract.

That seems outrageous.

I'd like to be able to have that conversation with that resident with context and say— and defend it and say, here's where that number comes from.

Here's why the number is the number.

Okay, this is customary.

This is usual.

This is what this project, okay, warrants this amount of money.

Because when a resident or a taxpayer just hears $1 million to design something for a renovation and they just go wild and they're like, this is crazy, who, who did this?

You should be able to speak to that and tell them where that number is coming from and give them some answers.

I'm not saying we have to tear apart the contracts, you know, Elizabeth's an attorney.

We don't have to tear them apart and go through every inch of it, but yeah, these contracts are massive.

But it's our duty to review these contracts, okay?

Because you have 5 more people looking at them, okay?

Besides the lawyer, besides, besides Sean.

So I think I'm going to pass this around.

It is my outline for policy that I think we should adopt, and we can talk about it.

And these are, these are most of the things that Sean has been working with us since last week to do, so this board has all the information they need to feel comfortable.

And I think with that, okay, people at town meeting will have more confidence knowing that that select board went through those contracts.

They went through all the information.

They're doing the homework.

So the items I have on here— Select Board Municipal Contract Review Policy— prior to taking votes, number 1, Select Board receives master contract appendices, attachments, fee schedules a minimum of 7 days prior to voting.

Now Sean's been working with us and he got that approximately 7 days to us, all the information we needed, so the board members could read through this contract ahead of time.

So we're, we're ahead of the curve on this.

Number 2, all outstanding questions from the select board to the chief procurement officer, Sean, pertaining to the contract will be reconciled before votes are taken.

So we have questions for Sean, he gets back to us, it has to go to legal counsel.

Those are all reconciled days before we're sitting here voting on something.

And number 3, negotiate a contract fee schedules should be defended as customary and reasonable for the project.

For the project that's an agenda item today, all these things have been met for us.

But this is the way, in my opinion, things should be done so we all have all the information here.

And those questions, because we have it a week in advance, are all fettered out.

We get the stuff out of the way so when not here arguing about what's missing, what we don't know.

So again, my words are toward this contract, not another contract, but it's a policy moving forward.

If we want to work on this and do something with this, because I couldn't find anything in bylaws or anywhere that outlines exactly what the select board should be doing, but I just think in all fairness is I know it's a lot of work to redo these contracts, but I think it should be done.

I don't know if anybody has a take on that.

Some people may not feel it's their responsibility to redo these contracts on this board.

I don't know.

I just have to say my piece because I just— I can't in good conscience be voting on things when things are missing.

Did I want to get blindsided by somebody saying, what about this, what about this?

And I have no idea, I've never seen the contract, but you voted on— I can't do that.

I can't do that.

This was perfect what you did, so thank you.

And again, just to speak to what we had mentioned at our last meeting, I think it was you and I, um, yeah, to new different members on the board, we all have different expectations expectations, and there's a learning curve.

So this, this was perfect.

I think I even found a typo.

I did.

I don't know, I'm gonna have you look at it.

Maybe, maybe it's just language, I don't know.

But I looked at it, I'm like, what does that say?

But I, I appreciated the fact that you did this, so thank you.

Thank you.

Okay, I believe he has sent this stuff to us before.

I've seen all these things.

Maybe someone that attends the committee meetings of building projects and stuff, so I see a lot of when they interview designers, everything.

So I see all this information beforehand.

I go to a lot of those, those meetings.

But I believe Sean has always sent us a fee schedule and some of these things that you're speaking of.

Just trying to go back to the past.

But yeah, I believe Sean has given us whatever we've asked for or any of this stuff.

And like I said, it's as attending other building committee meetings, I've seen a lot of these things before it even reaches the select board.

I think you're incorrect, Chris, and I'll tell you why.

My conversation with Sean, he admitted to me that the other boards were fine with not getting all that information.

Okay, I don't— I'm not on all the other committees and get all the other information.

As a select board member, I should receive that information here.

I shouldn't have to go dig for it, but Sean says other select boards have been okay.

That's the way we've been doing things.

Am I wrong, Sean?

No, that's— so, you know, the boards have been comfortable with the fact that we've had building committees, building committees going through that process.

As you can see, it's— I think everything put together was 232 pages, right?

So a lot of it, in fairness to them, was the bid documents and things like that that, you know, they're putting their faith in the building the committees to, to look at.

So, uh, like you mentioned, if there's, if there's a change and this is the process we want to follow, then, you know, that's the way we'll submit it.

Yeah, I mean, it's, it's my opinion.

I mean, there's 5 of us on the board, but I think there should be a, a policy in place.

I don't think it should be up to a new board member to say, I don't need all that stuff, I'll just vote.

I don't think that's right.

I just don't.

I, I can't, I can't, I can't live with that.

Where from board to board, it's up to them if they feel like reading the contract that they're voting on.

Then they should abstain.

If you don't want to do the homework and understand what you're voting on, you shouldn't be doing this.

You shouldn't be approving contracts blindly and just say, the building committee's good, just hey, here you go, vote.

What are you voting on?

Something you don't even know anything about?

It's counterintuitive to me vote on something that you have not reviewed.

Would this go in as an administrative policy?

Uh, it could, yes.

Uh, so if you want, I can just draft it in the form of, uh, the official policy.

The board can review it, and then I'm— well, or you can just— as long as I get this, if we get the stuff to review before we vote, it's up to you if you want to make a policy.

No, I want a policy.

Okay.

I mean, we're not gonna be board members here.

True.

I'm just trying to figure out why we took item M before the discussion of the library designer services.

If no one has a problem with the packet that we got and everything was in it according to Bob's proposed policy, why do we jump down at M and not discuss the designer services contract?

I don't— I'm not understanding.

Yes, it was a segue into into the contract we're talking about.

Okay, which is fine, that's your personal opinion.

And for me to sit here and listen to you tell me and previous board members that we rubber stamp contracts— well, I asked you, Mike, I said I don't want you to be offended, it was my opinion.

That's what I just said, it's your opinion.

Okay, it's your opinion, and don't get offended by my opinion.

Okay, I'm taking offense to what you said, that previous boards didn't just rubber stamp contracts, Bob, right?

We have a person called the town administrator that oversees all of these things.

We have building committees, right?

And just because a previous board didn't want— in my opinion, and I said this to Mr. Kadeem, I think I mentioned to everybody in the board at the beginning of this meeting— don't ever send me this again.

I, I don't want it.

I want the contract.

I don't need to know about an engineer's resume.

I really don't.

I don't.

And why don't we take a vote as to who wants it and who doesn't?

I appreciated everything that you provided because it gives me a little more insight on, on who's going to be doing the work and what else they've done, especially for the town.

But it's a matter of personal opinion.

But I mean, we haven't received this in the past, and we were expected to vote on something, and I'm not going to mention what because it'll just— okay.

And that I wanted more and we didn't get it.

I understand that.

And you got it?

Yeah, and I'm happy with it.

That's why I'm asking the question.

I don't understand.

I know Bob requested it.

I just don't understand why we had to take it out of order to discuss the policy first and to go back to something that everybody doesn't have an issue with, that because we got everything in, in our packet.

But because I think he's just going away.

I understand we hadn't before.

We got it, we got it in our packet.

And you can't, you can't see how the— what we just talked about segued into the lobby services contract?

You don't see how it was precursor to explain what we're doing?

No.

And that because this was done in the conversations that took place with a town administrator led to us getting this.

Without those conversations, without my item on the agenda, Mike, we wouldn't have this in front of us.

I just, I completely disagree.

Really?

You Liz has been asking for this and everything like that, and Sean promised anything going forward he would make— he would change his, uh, direction because it's a request of the new board to provide every document.

So I don't think we need a policy to get every document.

That's just me.

So it's going to happen going forward, Mike.

It'll just happen.

We'll get everything going forward.

We haven't for the last 20 years, but now we're going to get it.

Bob, you presented your policy.

Vote on it, please.

So do you want to put in an official policy and we'll vote on it next time if the board's good with it?

Just, uh, I'm not.

I think it's clear, right?

Am I clear?

Clear.

Thank you.

Very crystal.

I think that's what you're responding to.

Crystal.

So do we want to vote on this policy now, or do you want him to put it in?

You want him to draft it and then we vote on it?

Doesn't need to be modifications.

Does it need a number or anything straightforward?

No, no, but does it need— does this need to be enumerated in conjunction with all our administrative— we'll just get in the standard form and— yeah, that's what I mean.

It'll capture everything that you've had.

And if— listen, if the board wants to take a vote on it tonight, the board can take a vote on it tonight as long as you're good with me just formatting it in the template, and then I can just resend it out.

Good with that.

All right, I'd like to say something too, because— and this is a good segue after we get rid of— we get through the library contract, when we go over your evaluation.

Oh, let's wait till then.

Let's wait, because this is not personal.

Yeah, and people are making it personal.

Okay.

All right, so we're good.

Bob, you're good with that?

He's gonna— good with it.

Format it.

Okay, so then we'll go back to I consider signing a contract with Bruce Mr. Thornton for designer services for the library renovation project.

Mr. Kadeem.

So I sent out an update to the board.

Obviously the board has the actual contract, has the bid document that was proposed which would be part of the contract, has the fee proposal, and then also has There's another one that I'm drawing a blank on.

Bid document, fee proposal— oh, and the actual proposal that was submitted by the firm.

So, worked with CHA, who's our OPM, to work with Bruce at Thornton Group to refine their original fee proposal that was developed.

They came back with a more accurate number, because we had given them a quick turnaround time, and they had to work with their subcontractors, so there was a lot out there that they weren't able to flesh out.

So there was a lot of items that were kind of below the list, below the line, that would be additional costs that we weren't sure if we were going to need.

So they were able to tweak that.

So the actual fixed fee cost is $983,515.

There's an additional $31,000 in allowances, so that allowances were significantly reduced.

The biggest piece is if there's any additional site work because of the landfill that was there.

There is also, depending on how the structure itself is designed, there may need to be additional bracing may be needed for the building.

So that is going to be some additional scope.

So we will be working with the architect and the engineers to try to do everything we possibly can to reduce that cost.

So overall, I did have a conversation with the OPM and CHA, so as a rule of thumb, I'm typically used to seeing anywhere between 13% to 25%.

Renovations, as you know, are just more costly than new construction because once you start opening up the walls, you don't know what kind of problems you run into.

So with all that, the size and the scope of the fixed fee was at 14%.

When you add the allowances, the $31,000 in allowances, it brings it to the 14.5%.

So that's within that 13 to 25% that I have— kind of the rule of thumb that I have worked with.

I also spoke with CHA just to kind of get their feel to make sure that they were comfortable with the proposed fee.

Megan, who is our point of contact, has indicated that with the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, their renovation projects are usually between 10 to 15%.

This is not an MBLC We're not getting any funding for this.

But that was a good range between 10% to 15% that they view as reasonable and defensible.

And then obviously she also pointed out that because this is a small to medium-sized renovation project which included multiple consultants and disciplines, that those costs do not necessarily scale appropriately— proportionately, I should say, with the construction costs.

And they do result in a higher design fee.

So at the end of the day, she was comfortable with the, you know, the 14%, 14.5% that was submitted.

So our recommendation in the Building Committee— I know there are a couple members here from the Building Committee.

I don't know if they want to speak on the matter, but they're supportive of this contract moving forward and getting approved by the board.

Okay.

Does the Building Committee have anything they want to say?

1,000 words or less.

1,000 words or less.

Oh, that's easy, that's easy.

No, I just wanted to say I'm the chair of the building committee and 4 of our members are here tonight for this.

We've been waiting for this for about a month, um, but I wanted to let you know that we were all together, all 5 of us were together in the interviews, and, um, it was a unanimous vote for Brooster Thornton.

Where is— is the location known where you're gonna move the library?

No, that is— that's a big stickling point, only because we're not ready to move them yet.

But we have been investigating several, several, at least 15 places that people have come up to us about to see if we can use that place to move the library to.

One of the sticking points of the library is that you have to make sure that the floor is weight-bearing because the stacks of books are very heavy.

So some of the places weren't weight-bearing.

Some of the places— I have the whole list and I'm sure you'd love to hear me say them all, but I won't.

Some of them were very expensive even though they may be still available.

'Cause we were trying to get the best for our buck.

The less we spent on renting something, we can spend on the renovations.

Some places already knew, had a prospective client, let's say.

One of the locations said because of the contract they had with other retail in the same plaza, they couldn't have us in there.

Have us meaning the library.

Um, some places were way too small because you also have to look into, uh, parking, and they have approximately 12 employees.

So if a place, even if it was too small, if there's no parking, then it's kind of— you can't use it.

Um, I take any suggestions from anybody out there.

We've looked— I've even looked in Rehoboth, uh, building that was close to our line to see if possibly we could, you know, possibly rent that.

And of course, unfortunately, that fell through also because zoning issue or something.

Um, but right now we have been working on this, the relocation, for a while.

We may not need a relocation until sometime next year.

Um, I'm hoping for the spring to go into full renovation mode and, and have some place to put them.

So we're, we're looking— any suggestion?

I've got a whole folder here full of places I've looked at, we've looked at.

I'm not the only one.

Some other people have come up with places too.

Okay, very good.

So we need to approve the contract, correct?

I'm just getting that correct.

Okay, what's the pleasure of the board.

Make a motion to approve the contract for Brewster Thornton for designer services for the library renovations.

That's my motion.

Okay, is there a second?

Second.

Moved and seconded.

Any questions?

Any comments?

Just had a couple of questions, but we— I meant, I asked earlier what a teen adolescent quiet room— is that what I said it was?

Yes.

What is that?

That's just what it is.

It's a quiet room where they can go and read or study.

Acoustically separated teen space.

So that's like a quiet study area?

Yes.

Okay.

We're also looking into, um, yeah, pods.

They're separate pods that we, that we had seen too that would be for everyone, not just teens.

I've read that the other way, someplace they could be loud and no one else would hear them.

Sorry, I did.

I— well, it's— yeah, that— no, I know, but that's the concept.

That would probably be right.

Yeah, well, that's why I, I thought that way, because it can work either way.

Yeah, exactly.

I don't want to interrupt.

I just— but, um, that would— I would just— Richard Eisen on the Board of Library Trustees.

That is actually more accurate description.

The teen room would be to allow the teens to have a space where they can interact where they can study after school and acoustically separated.

In that case does mean so the rest of the library patrons don't hear it all the time.

That's what I thought.

That's what I thought.

So that is the way that works.

But then the study pods would work opposite where it keeps the noise from the outside out and they— and that would be a smaller quiet space.

And then the only other question I had, and this is just— excuse my I don't know, consultant coordination.

Who would be— who would— what would we need a consultant for, just out of curiosity?

So they, they have a library consultant on the, on the job.

So Bruce of Dawn Group.

Oh, okay.

So one of their retired libraries, because I did look at other jobs they've done and all that.

So yes, okay, that's it for questions for me.

What was the idea for the, uh, the outside programming?

What was the main idea for that?

Right now it's very— it's up in the air, basically.

But we want to have an outside area like that goes out towards the meadows in the back, a patio that is also available.

Wi-Fi would be available out there.

And on good days, if we have any, to go out there and do some, some activities that the library has.

And, or, you know, some of the groups in there could go outside instead of stay inside.

That type of thing.

The library already does some programming that incorporates the meadows.

We just like to have that access, right, be a little more flowing and just trying to get the square footage and include the outside, bring it inside.

So similar to like when you go to the Martin School, they have the outdoor classrooms and things of that nature.

So it's similar concept.

So just trying to utilize the space that we have out there.

You mean A Kim School?

I'm sorry, you're aware of this?

Library that's available.

What additional parking behind the library?

Okay, when they have the landfill, yes, it's got a liner on it, right?

And there's additional parking that could be had behind the library, but they'd have to be special pavers.

We were going to do that before with— I don't believe the study that was done does not require any additional parking to meet our needs because we're not increasing.

You really should, because when they have concerts They're in violation of their zoning permit.

They were supposed to address the parking because you got cars all over the place.

And I believe there is an adjustment to the existing parking, but there has not been funds that were— that was not part of the original discussion of, um, like repaving or resetting parking.

But it certainly can be brought up in the building program.

I will add it to my list.

Yeah, we can talk about it, but that's not something something that was— that was never brought up.

I've never heard that before.

So, but Mr. Cabral might have a plan on that.

It makes mention in the appendix on a permeable parking lot.

I couldn't find any other detail on it.

Are they changing?

Is that parking lot getting all ripped up?

It will— that, I believe that's the discussion with the water use and the water, um, right?

Yeah, it's just the green energy component of it.

So we're not sure yet if that's going to be done.

Yeah, they have a— the Brewster Thornton has a lady that was amazing who has to do with the landscape architect, and she was talking about not only— not necessarily solar energy, but sunlight energy.

And then when the water comes through the gutters, that maybe we could reuse that to, to, uh, furnish, uh, to water the surrounding area and water.

Yeah, all that.

And it may have to interfere with the existing parking lot.

It may have to be changed because we're going to change the entrance, right?

So I like that.

Yeah, so it's all, and it's all conceptual right now because we're limited to the $7.2 million, um, in terms of construction costs.

So depending on where the estimates come in, where we're going to have, uh, some additions.

And okay, and that is a typo, by the way.

Is it?

Okay, I'll have to bring it to their attention.

All right, so okay, anything else?

We have a motion and a second.

All in favor?

Aye.

Opposed?

So voted.

Okay, thank you.

All right, discussion of the town administrator's evaluation.

Okay, so there's a set process how this has to go, isn't there?

Uh, no, so the board just needs to accept it, and then it's up to the board how you want to handle it.

So I accept.

I just have a— at the end, or whatever, whichever way we go, I just have a prepared statement, I guess, I want to read.

So that's— sure, that's all.

Okay.

Can I make a statement just to put some— I don't know if she's still here.

She may have left.

Just, just to put Miss Hines at ease, I know when it was time for comments, I did put I haven't spent enough time on the board to render an opinion on this.

So it's not like if I didn't have the experience working with you, Sean, under something, I basically put it down.

Anything else that I put down you want I can talk about.

It's not a big deal.

But just like with the contract here, it's all good.

The rubric was set up just for that, for a new member.

Yeah, pretty much exclude themselves from that category if they didn't observe it, right?

Yep.

Yeah.

Okay.

So if I— I want to make sure I do this correctly.

This does not become a public document, but Uh, the average score does.

The individual evaluations do not.

Okay.

Yeah, so we just accept it.

We don't have to— I don't have to read anything, right?

No, unless you want to.

Nope.

It's here.

Uh, did you want to make a comment?

If you don't mind.

And I don't usually prepare statements, but I just want to get this for the record.

And, um, just bear with me, it's about page and a half.

I'll try to read it quickly.

So first, I want to thank the board for taking the time to complete my evaluation.

For those that know me, you know I take constructive criticism seriously, and I've taken time to reflect on my own evaluation and my own performance.

And I, I know none of us are perfect.

There are things I feel I do well, things I can do better, and things I continue to learn even after 12 and a half years as a town administrator.

As you know, or I hope you know, I care deeply about this community, this organization, and the people I work with.

That doesn't mean I always get everything right, because I haven't.

I make mistakes.

I've learned from them, and I'll continue to do that.

I believe an evaluation is meant to be a development tool.

It should recognize what is working, identify areas where improvement is needed, and help establish expectations moving forward.

For me, the biggest takeaway from this evaluation is the importance of improving communication, not just between the board and me, but about, uh, among board members as well.

There will be times when the board and I disagree.

That's part of the job.

We don't have to agree on every issue to work well together.

What matters is that we communicate openly, understand each other's expectations, respect our respective roles, and continue working together even when we disagree.

Because at the end of the day, our goal is same, and I truly believe that— doing what is best for SEACONC and the community we serve.

I also recognize that the makeup of the board changes, expectations can change, and part of my responsibility is to understand those expectations and adapt when necessary.

But to do that, we need to communicate openly about what those expectations are.

Throughout my career, I have always believed that an employee should not be surprised by something they read in an evaluation If there isn't a concern, I believe it should be discussed when it arises so there is an opportunity to understand it and make adjustments when necessary.

In fact, the final question I ask every employee I evaluate is, what can I do differently and how can I improve our working relationship?

I believe that question is just as important for me to ask now.

I mentioned that— I mentioned that because there are concerns raised in this evaluation that I have not previously been discussed with, with me.

Some comments do relate to matters that are outside of fiscal year 2026 evaluation period.

I wish I had heard some of these concerns sooner.

I can't change that, but what we, what we can do is improve how we communicate moving forward.

For the benefit of the public, our evaluation uses a 4-point scale.

1 means needs improvement, 2 means meets job standard, 3 means exceeds job standards, and 4 means outstanding.

My overall average score is a 2.95.

There are areas where I believe additional facts and circumstances are important to understand what occurred, and I will provide that context where appropriate.

But I don't want the focus to simply be on individual scores or disagreements over particular comments.

I think more important— the more important question is what we take away from this evaluation and what we do with it going forward.

Most personnel matters allow for a degree of confidentiality where concerns can be discussed openly and directly.

The evaluation of the town administrator, like the superintendent, is different because it is conducted publicly.

While I understand and respect that process, it doesn't always lend itself to the kind of frank conversations that I think is important when discussing performance and expectations in areas of improvement.

That's why I'd like to meet individually with each member of the board.

I want to— I want to take the opportunity to listen, better understand your expectations of me, discuss any concerns, and talk about what I can do differently or better.

I also recognize that communication goes both ways, and I have a responsibility to make sure I'm communicating effectively with the board as well.

We aren't always going to agree, and I don't expect us to to, but disagreement shouldn't prevent us from communicating openly, respecting one another's roles, and maintaining a productive working relationship.

And at the end of the day, I believe we all want the same thing, and that's to do what's best for the town of Seekonk and the community we serve.

The better we communicate and work together, the better positioned we are and will be to do that moving forward.

Thank you.

Very well said, Mr. King.

Yep.

All right, so if you would provide a copy of that to all of us.

Yes.

And here's the evaluation.

Okay.

All right.

If we have to, we have to vote to accept.

Oh, yes.

Okay.

The average, the average score, right?

Right.

That's the public record one.

One vote.

Yeah, we need to approve the town administrator's evaluation on the average scores, because that's the public record.

Okay, you want to make the motion?

Yeah, I'll make a motion that we approve the town administrator's evaluation based on the average scores.

Okay, second.

Second.

Moved and seconded.

All in favor?

Aye.

Opposed?

So moved.

Okay.

Discussion of speeding complaints on Cole Street.

I wondered why you were still here.

Well, just in case anyone had any questions.

To be honest with you, I watched the meeting after I had left, uh, was the 16th, I think, and I heard this come up, so I wasn't sure.

And then I saw it on the agenda exactly.

Exactly what it was, the concerns were.

I did, uh, ask, uh, check the log, ask the department if we've received any complaints, Cole Street, and there really hasn't been any.

So if there's some information that can help me better— I think it's been since school has started, um, somebody that lives on Cole Street reached out to me and said that they were concerned of the traffic, the, the speeds of the vehicles between 7 and 9 because of the school children, um, waiting for the bus or walking to school, that people have been driving pretty quickly through between 7 and 9 AM.

Okay, um, so the schools start at different times.

We have offices, uh, at every school they have their cruiser lights on for visibility to try to mitigate any of those issues like that.

7 o'clock's a little bit early because I think that school starts at like 9, but I can have a midnight shift spend some extra time over there and give it some attention.

Maybe just the appearance of, you know, having somebody sit there during school, you know, while the kids are on their way to school.

And I know this is like one of those things with like new board members too, right?

So I know folks call you regarding speeding, things like that.

In the past, we kind of handle it— the information would go to Mr. Kareem and he would send it over to me, and that way I can address.

And if we can have conversations, at least I have some information to pass on to you folks, what we've done, what we're seeing, and things like that.

So if we could kind of get back to that, that would be great and easier for all of us.

Can I just ask, is it just Cole Street or is it Anthony too?

Just Cole.

Just Cole.

This person lives on Cole, so— right.

Yeah.

But it was primarily, or is primarily, because of the little school kids, you know, or kids waiting to get to school or whatever.

Just once school starts, all the challenges start.

There's always been an issue on New Minav with the middle school.

I think we've made some changes over there that have helped.

Unfortunately, it's rush hour, main roads, schools, and we have a lot of parents who insist on bringing their children to school instead of taking the bus.

So that adds to the congestedness, but we're doing everything we can to make it as, as best we can.

I said I would mention it, and that's— I did.

So thank you.

Okay, thank you, Chief.

All right, consider accepting the open session meeting minutes of August 19th and September 2nd.

Make a motion to accept the meeting minutes August 19th and September 2nd.

Second.

The second.

Second.

Okay, I have to recuse myself or abstain from the 19th.

I wasn't here, so just make the note.

All in favor?

Aye.

Opposed?

And I'll abstain.

Okay.

All right, Community Speaks.

I know you got one more on September 2nd, Gary, plus you got One more item.

Oh, September 2nd.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Okay.

All right, so entertain a motion to accept September 2nd.

So moved.

Second.

Second.

All in favor?

Aye.

Opposed?

So voted.

Okay.

Oh, discussion on bond ratings, I'm sorry.

The other question on this, Sean, I know we talked about the Quad Board meeting, the bond rating where we're AA+.

So let's look at the criteria, 'cause we're going to have some bonds coming up in the next few years.

Have we ever entertained AAA, or we just don't have the growth for it?

So we always strive to get a AAA.

And, you know, one of the biggest hurdles that we had to get over was just getting the financial policy that was internally.

So for any individual credit profile, there are 5 equal factors that Standard& Poor's will look at.

So, and they're all rated again equally at 20%.

So for 4 of them we can control.

The 5th one we don't control.

So the first one is financial performance.

So they'll look at town management governance, and they also look at continuity with the town management as well.

Second one is reserves.

So stabilization account, we always— I think everybody knows that that has an impact on our bond rating.

So we can control those factors.

Then we also have the liquidity management.

Making sure that there is some liquidity with regard to the money that we have in case that, you know, we have to pay a major bill or something unforeseen happens.

And then the fourth one is debt and liabilities.

So the one we can't control is the economy.

So that's where the other 20% comes in.

And so in talking to our bond advisor year over year, we've had that conversation.

So there's nothing else internally that we can do to really control it.

So it really is up to the other component.

And so the initial economy assessment considers income level and then economic output.

So they look at the real gross state product per capita versus the percent of U.S. real gross domestic product.

They'll look at the real gross county product versus the U.S. real GDP.

Then they look at economic volatility and concentration, and they'll look at economic growth prospects.

So that, that kind of really is what's hindering us in terms of, you know, getting that AAA rating.

So think about looking at historically, if we ever had a AAA.

No, we've never had— I don't know if we've ever— yeah, I don't know if we've ever had it.

I have to go back.

We haven't had it for a while.

I know that.

So I don't know if we've ever held it.

I was trying to search it, like there wasn't enough information going back far enough.

I didn't know.

Yeah, when you, when you start to get, uh, the AAAs, it's, you know, north of Boston when you've got a lot more, you know, economic development going on and things like that.

So heavy affluence, right?

Yeah.

And then obviously, uh, income levels, that's, you know, something we can't, we can't control.

So, okay.

All right, all set.

Community speaks.

Hello, just sharing some good news.

Um, the War Dog Memorial that you all supported went before the library trustees this evening.

I got a text from Mark Drapo and Mr. Perrault, and they were told that it was very favorably approved, and we are going to have an addition to the Veterans Memorial Park coming soon.

So thank you to you for supporting it, Mr. Kadeem, for coordinating it.

I know I bothered you through email, but I got a phone call asking if there was an agenda, what was this, what was that.

And I mean, I just look up agendas, but most people don't.

So yeah, I let them know that the trustees were meeting tonight and if they wanted to go, to go.

And you paved the way.

Thank you.

And we're gonna have an addition today, a nice war dog memorial.

It is.

And it's not gonna cost the town of Seekonk anything according to Mr. Perrault.

It's all bought bought and paid for.

It's long.

That's great.

And thank you again, thank you, committee, for the Purple Heart signs.

Oh, anything for our veterans, I swear.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Is there any— anyone else?

Too many wheels.

I just have to say I'm appalled at your evaluation of the town administrator and the average that you just voted on, 2.9.

His last evaluation was 3.5, and I can assure you that Mr. Kadeem's job performance and activity has not failed or changed since his last evaluation.

The only thing that's changed since his last evaluation is this board, and you should be ashamed of yourselves.

Okay, ready then.

Anyone else?

Good evening.

Anne Miller, 25 River River Street.

Mr. Chairman, Mr. Khadim, select board members, first I'd like to start out by congratulating you on signing the library design services study.

And so I would like to say please do that again for the Medeiros Farm project.

And I'm here to advocate again for you to pick that document back up, uh, finalize it, and get going on that project.

And just as a reminder, nearly 5 years have passed since we bought the property, and I don't believe the residents purchased the land for the farm to lay fallow.

We want a space that everyone can enjoy.

But instead, this project has faced one challenge after another.

It's a pattern.

As soon as one concern is resolved, another one takes its place.

But the standalone traffic study contract failed to advance, and so it's time to move on now to the schematic design.

Yep, we can get the traffic details that you need in your following the standard procedure as part of the schematic design.

There is a long way to go before any of the plan can be realized, but we can't even seem to get started on the first step.

So I would like to understand, can we just pick it up from where we left off in June?

Where do we— where do we go and how do we get the design contract signed?

Can we just pick up the one that we had and you've got all the information that you need, you read through it, we get the 10-year-old in here to rewrite it?

What do we need to do?

What's that comment?

Well, I remember that was one of the comments that a 10-year-old could have written that contract.

So I think let's get a going.

Let's get it done.

Let's get it moving.

Let's pick it up where we left off and move on.

Can we do that?

Or like, where do we start?

Where do we go from— from like, it's an open field right now.

The traffic study is done.

The contract is done.

So which one do we pick up?

How do we get going?

And what do we do?

What do we need to move the project forward?

Well, it didn't pass last weekend.

It's not even started.

Right.

So, so So do it as part of the design review standard process, normal way.

It's not a standard process, no.

I know you're passionate about it, but you don't understand a lot of things when it comes to development.

I agree that I do not have your standing in the community.

I agree that I do not have your history.

But I do understand the steps that are involved in proceeding with a project.

And the next step for most of the projects in the Commonwealth is to design study review.

And we've approved the funding for it.

It went through the RFQ process.

There was a contract ready to sign.

There was disagreement about the contract.

So you figure out what to do with the— I'm asking, can we use that contract to get started?

Because, you know, like rather than starting over again.

If there were issues— if there were issues with the contract, deal with those issues and get going.

When it's time for Selectman's comments, I'll make my comments about Madeira's Farm and might answer some of your questions.

Okay.

Is there a— is there a procedural answer, like in terms of the steps?

When it's time for Selectman's department's comments, I will make my statement, and hopefully it'll answer your questions.

Okay, thank you very much.

Okay, thank you for your time.

Anyone else on this side?

Okay, Doreen.

Different chair.

Same fat Danny, sorry.

Doreen Taylor, 101 Foresight.

Um, I just want to ask a question and then I have a comment.

When we purchased the Madeira Spa, um, 5 years ago, were there restrictions applied to the use of that property?

Maybe Mr. Kadeem, you're the only one— well, no, Mr. Zorra and Mr. Healy were involved quite early, 2021.

You say restrictions.

Were there restrictions on the deed as to the what could or could not be used, that property could be used for, like developments?

Wasn't there a restriction against developments?

So my understanding that the Medeiros— is it Anthony Medeiros?

Yes, sir.

Clear.

And many people in this building knew it, that they never wanted to see that property developed as a residential subdivision.

Okay.

That was a restriction that the family put on, and I don't think it was recorded anywhere, but it was honored by the heirs, and it, it— and it was honored by Paul Medeiros, correct?

Yes.

Okay, I got home last meeting and I heard commentary made that— and Paul Medeiros was mentioned by name, and I took great exception to these comments because his asking price for the property had nothing to do with the appraisal process or the subjected emails to community preservation people in Boston about what we could or could not do.

Had nothing to do with it.

And comments were made that Paul Medeiros was, um, approached by a developer or 2 interested in purchasing the property.

Now, having known Mr. Medeiros nearly all my life, he would— and I do not want to see legacy tarnished to hide the misgivings or misdoings of anybody involved with this process early on.

And I took exception to those comments because of the upstanding man that Paul Medeiros is.

And it just strengthens my suspicion suspicions that from 2021 forward there was enough backdoor baloney that went on before anyone in the public knew what was going to happen with that property once it was deeded to the town of Seekonk.

It's written in executive session minutes.

There are people who commented on how many fields— yes, it was you, Mr. Zorra, you can— can we add more fields if we want to?

Because that was part of the negotiations.

That was all part of the negotiation.

Planning had nothing to do with the negotiations.

He dictated what we could do on that property, what time lights could come on.

It was all part of the negotiation from a gentleman who's lived here all his life, and he may have had desires years, but you made plans.

You made specific plans behind closed doors.

That's false.

Anybody want to see the executive session minutes?

There were no negotiations, sir.

In the future, could we add more?

Mr. Medeiros basically dictated what he wanted on that property with the lights in the back part.

Yes, that was all part of the negotiations.

He wasn't going to sell the Medeiros was not in that meeting.

He was not in those meetings.

Mr. Gadeem talked to Mr. Medeiros.

He had written down things that he would go through.

You're not gonna play this at Mr. Medeiros' school.

I'm not gonna play this.

Mr. Zohar, Mrs. Zohar, I brought it up last meeting.

Our job is not to argue with people come up during community speech.

It's to set the fact.

Okay.

The facts are in writing.

Chris, Chris, it's community speech.

Let her speak.

Let her have her time.

Listen to her.

I just don't see Mr. Medeiros's legacy tarnished by anybody involved with this early on.

Okay, your point is well taken.

Thank you.

Thank you.

The only thing I would say that I encourage people to educate themselves and read the appra— no, no, read the appraisal.

Read the appraisal because we overpaid for that piece of land based on the appraisal.

Okay, is there anybody else?

Yeah, if you like.

This is not as exciting as the previous questions, but I drive up and down Lincoln Street all— oh, Susan Reddington, 799 Reed Street.

I drive up by the farm all the time.

It's a lovely place, and I compliment DPW in keeping it in the state that it is, but it's beginning to look neglected in the sense that the paint is getting old, and that's not helping both the property physically and in terms of keeping the public interest going.

So I sort of second the previous statements that say please get it going again.

But think about its appearance.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Well, Mr. Chairman, John Alves, 25 River Street.

Obviously, I have a comment on the, uh, the Madeiras Farm.

Um, the lady that just left told me that I used Paloma Madeiras.

I dispute that.

I wish she was here.

I would dispute it in her face.

I did not.

The price— and I, I don't understand the chairman's comment about the, uh, we overpaid based on the, uh, the appraisal.

The appraisal said it was worth $2 million as a residential subdivision.

The highest and best use is as a residential subdivision and identified 9 to 11 lots, and it said as the highest and best use, it's at $2 million as the highest and best use.

Yes, with the restrictions put on it, $1 million would have been the max.

However, but you know what, the town— that was under 61A, right?

The town has the right of first refusal.

So we were in the driver's seat, but everybody was in a hurry to hurry up and get it because let's call it what it is, that's a soccer complex disguised as historical preserve.

How can you shake your head?

It's not a soccer complex, it's recreational fields.

Look at the master plan that was developed.

Why don't instead, Mr. Chairman, can I go back to my original statement?

Mr. Chairman, we can have this conversation, and I'd really like to have a conversation because it pertains to some, some of the comments that some of the other residents made.

Community Speaks is for community to come up and speak.

It is not our job to to sit there and argue with them.

I'm not arguing because— or have a conversation with them and go back and forth.

They're up here to make a comment, we're to listen, and then we take what they say to us and we discuss it if we want to on an agenda item.

We don't go back and forth on that argument all night long about something that wants to come up and make a comment about our meeting, something's on the agenda or something's on their mind.

That is just my opinion.

And I'll tell you, this has gone on for a month and a half now.

There's absolutely no decorum during Community Speaks.

Zero.

We don't let anybody finish.

We interrupt them.

We're going to make statements.

We got to do this.

We got to have a conversation.

It's— to me, it's absolutely sickening.

This board has got to such a low level, in my opinion.

I haven't seen this type of activity on a board in years, and I've been around a long time.

You've been involved in town politics a long time, and I apologize, Mr. To Alf, and I apologize to everybody else that comes up during community speaks, whether I'm in favor of what you're saying or not.

There's a way people should be treated, and what we're doing is wrong.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Perhaps one last question: is there a plan to move forward?

I will discuss that on the selectman's comments, but then we don't have an opportunity to, to really fully understand.

If we happen to disagree with whatever your comment is, then we wait.

I doubt you'll disagree with it.

Then we'll— I guess we'll wait until the next Board of Selectmen meeting to make comment on, on what you're not willing to say until, uh, Selectmen comment.

So there I sit.

Okay, thank you.

Is there anyone else?

Last chance.

Okay, other business.

Discuss other topics not reasonably anticipated by the chair 48 hours before the meeting.

I know of none.

Okay, town administrator's report?

Uh, nothing at this time, Mr.

Chair.

Okay, accounts payable warrant is all set.

TV9?

Nothing at this time, Mr.

Chair.

Okay.

Crystal County Advisory?

As of 4 PM today, the minutes are still not posted from August 6th, 6 PM.

So what can I tell you?

Madeira Farm Committee?

It's a loaded question.

No, um, nothing.

I'll, I'll reserve my comments for when we can give of our own comments.

Nothing so far, but I do have something under discuss other topics if we could put something on for our next meeting.

And that is, um, making the front door, uh, handicap accessible.

I know we're in compliance with the back here, but I've had complaints that that front door, we should have the, uh, handicap push thing to open because the doors are very heavy for some people, elderly.

Southie, I'll double-check it's working.

Yeah.

So, yeah.

Okay.

All right.

That's it for that.

All right.

Selectmen's comments.

Bob, do you have anything?

Uh, yeah, yeah.

Um, I think it's unfortunate that a board member would say this board is stooped to an extremely low level of in 30 years, but there's been some tension tonight.

Wasn't trying to offend anybody, but they were the facts when I spoke earlier, as I see them.

And I just find it— I don't want to get your blood pressure up here, Mike, but I find it hard for someone to defend to me that They've had the information they needed.

Chris, you made a comment and I told you I thought you were wrong.

You're telling me that you've been receiving all the information, and we found out that this board has not been receiving all the information.

Okay, so I don't want people to be upset about it, take it personal.

But, you know, I've got to say my piece, and I just— again, I do not know how anyone can defend a counter-argument to getting all the information you need before you vote.

You know, a comment was made, well, the committees do their piece, they're responsible for their piece, town administrator does his piece, and procurement, why should the select board have everything?

I don't— I know, Mike, you said, I don't want to receive this stuff ever again.

I'm not saying we have to have all the resumes for everybody in there, but I think the town administrator did a great job in response to what we were looking for.

So I thought it was lacking in the And the evidence was, if I talked to Mr. Cadime and counsel, well, this is the way SEACONC's been doing it.

They were okay with it, and it became standard practice of everyone not getting all the information.

And Chris, I don't think it's good enough to get the information if you go to all the other committee meetings, okay?

That information should be presented to us as a select board, even if you're not on another committee.

You shouldn't have to go looking for that.

We didn't have to go looking for it this week.

Everything we needed for library services to design a contract was presented to us.

We had everything we needed, and that's the way it should be going forward.

So I don't want people to be tense about it.

I don't want people to feel they were offended by my comments.

Obviously they were, but You know, I think this board is a very good board.

New members on it trying to move forward.

Mike, you've been around, he said, for 30 years in politics.

Elizabeth and I been here for 5 months.

Okay, like Mr. Kadeem said, there's always room for improvement, the things you do.

I make mistakes, we all make mistakes, but, um, I don't think I made tonight in my comments.

I'll leave it at that.

Okay, very good.

Chris, you have anything to say?

Yeah, so just a rebuttal, Mr. Archambault.

When I was thinking about it after, when I said Mr. Cadime has furnished me with all those papers, I thought about it.

It was when I've been going to the building committee meetings and he's been making prints for all the members that are on the board, and I've been in the audience.

He's been giving me packets too, as we were going to get it anyways.

Well, we were supposed to get it anyways.

That's where lot of the stuff I have has been going to these actual board meetings, or committee meetings I should say, building committee meetings.

That's why I've retained a lot of this information in, um, with the pictures of what they've done in the past, their resumes from different people.

That's where I've gotten a lot of my things from.

So you'll admit that the actual board, because you've been on the board for a while, the board as a whole, select board, has not been receiving all that information that you were getting?

I can't say that because I've had the information.

I don't know if they've had it distributed in their packages.

Well, that I can't, because Mr. Khadim confirmed that when I asked him.

But I can't confirm that.

I just know I have stuff at my house from conceptual drawings to all types of things from building committees.

But I don't know if other members have received them either.

A lot of members I know didn't want paper stuff.

They wanted it through the Dropbox or emailed to them because they wanted to be green and not waste a tree.

So I don't know if they've received other things, but I know I have when I've been to board meetings— well, committee meetings, I should say.

That's all I have.

Also, yeah, Michael?

I'm good, thank you.

All right, 2 things.

Um, for the next meeting, Sean, if you would put on that we take a vote and, uh, ask the Historical Commission to certify the cemetery as historical, and that should help with the CPC money for renovations or rehab.

And I'd like you— that'll be 9:30, right, that we're meeting September 30th?

Is that the date?

Yeah, yeah, yep.

All right, I'd like you to invite the Madeiras Farm Committee here, and I want to have a conversation with them and ask them to vote to take the project to zoning and to push forward with the traffic study that you did the design for.

Oh, okay.

Are you done?

Did you have something else you want to say?

Oh, I have quite a bit to say, if it's okay.

Okay, I'll make it short.

Okay.

All right, I'd like to respond to some of the comments that Jackie Prew made.

Um, I couldn't be more in agreement with pretty much everything you said.

Okay, um, it's the first time we've heard about putting in a butter on, um, the committee.

I think that would be a great idea.

But getting back to what prompted me to say something to Mr. Zorra, this report that, that was done, this master plan, if look at it doesn't allow for that much room for all of these things that you said, Miss Pru.

Okay, nothing to me would make me happier than to see some of what you said, uh, a place to display art, um, a museum.

I think a workable— a working museum would be perfect for younger children.

Okay, but again, and I said this at another meeting, this project, when you look at that master plan, is nothing but athletic airfields.

There's very little room for the rest of it.

So just leaving that there, but I am in agreement with what you said.

I think it sounds like a perfect project.

Could I just make one comment?

Sure, um, yeah, thank you, if the— if we're allowed.

I'm not— it's not to go back and forth.

I just wanted to say, why don't you come up so everybody at home can hear, and then we'll end it at this.

Yeah, thank you.

Um, I just wanted to say that in my experience of being— I've been on a few building committees or feasibility studies, and the master plan, as you had, was to get people started thinking about what you would do with a project, any project we do.

But the bottom line is, to me, when you put the building committee together with the design team, the architect or whatever, what you do is you end up talking to other people in the community, you end up talking to all the people and stakeholders involved, and you come up with a strategic plan that's actually, um, more— I would say more in line with what you want.

So when I made those suggestions, that actually came from one of the community meetings we had a long time ago, a couple of years ago, where everybody in the community first heard what possibilities were.

And I think some of the buildings— there was one building that was looked at that could be a community center, basically, for the culture and the art stuff or whatever, you know, a community thing.

And, you know, the guy— so when when you talk about community garden space or a fitness trail or whatever, to me that master plan you're looking at was to get the conversation going, to get a building committee going, and it worked.

I mean, we went to town meeting and— or I can't say we, I'm not involved in that.

I was— I mean, anyway, long story short, and we've probably been here long enough, um, whatever you go with from here, I just see the actual schematic design can be very different based on the input of all the people involved— the current building committee, if you add one for the, the, um, abutters or whatever— for everybody to have a voice and come up with a plan that's workable for everyone.

All right, so I don't see that as a final plan.

That's all I'm saying, which means— which allows for a building committee with a design team.

That's why you bring in the architects who do all these other studies and possibilities.

Anyway, I don't want to keep any longer.

That's what I was thinking.

Thank you.

Second, um, Miss Banno, I'm available to get together anytime you want, just have a sit-down.

I'm— I, I would love that opportunity.

So whenever you're available, I'll try to make myself because I have a crazy schedule, but I'm more than happy to do that.

Okay, lastly, or 2, just 2 more things.

As far as Sean, your evaluation, I'm, I'm very much in agreement with you.

I see it as a workable project.

This is a new board, we all do things differently.

I don't see it as like you're not doing your job well.

I, I think I tell you all the time, or I take the opportunity to tell you.

But anyway, um, it's— I, I just find to— we can't take things personal.

And I did read through the comments, and I don't know who it was, but someone said that someone has a personal agenda.

And quite frankly, I'm really tired of hearing that because I just want to work for Seaconch and make it as best as it can be.

So there are no personal agendas.

Lastly, um, about Community Speaks, Um, you say that this board is at an all-time low.

When have you ever seen social media blow up the way it has?

Now, I'm just— hear me out on this.

We have a ghost docket that comes out with a new edition the day after every single meeting, okay?

I get torn apart, Bob gets torn apart.

I, I don't take it personal.

It's just somebody that has way too much time on their hands.

But I am going to rebut, or I am going to set the record straight.

When, when, when people are going to come up here or people are going to read into whatever is being written and said, I, I think I have the right to defend myself.

I'm not going to argue with anyone, but, um, there has been a personal agenda from day one, even before the election.

So, um, I, I think we're well within— or I'm well within my rights if I want to defend myself.

So that's all I want to say.

Okay, thank you.

So with that being said, our next board meeting is September 30th, 2026.

It's 6 o'clock here, so, uh, I would entertain a motion to adjourn and to reconvene after a 5-minute recess into executive session To reconvene in open session for potential contract approval.

A discussion— no need to come back in.

No, no.

Okay, all right, we won't be reconvening.

All right, so discussion of an Open Meeting Law complaint filed against the Select Board by Christopher Zara, Seacock Select Board, dated August 6, 2026, received on August 6, 2026.

Acknowledge receipt of complaint, review, and discuss response and authorized submission of response by Town Council under Purpose 1, General Law 30A, Section 21A1.

Votes may be taken.

To conduct strategy sessions with respect to negotiations with the Building Commissioner, Zoning Enforcement Officer, per MGL 30A, Section 21A2, is having the discussion open session with be detrimental to the litigation or bargaining position of the town, and to consider accepting the executive session meeting minutes of August 19, 2026, and September 2, 2026.

So moved, Michael Healy at 8:47.

Second.

Second.

Second.

Roll call vote.

Robert Oshimo, aye.

Elizabeth Almeida, aye.

Chris Orr, aye.

Michael Healy, aye.

Gary Singh.

All right, okay, we are adjourned and we will be in recess for 5 minutes.