Fund Transfers Approved at Seekonk Town Meeting

Voters at Monday’s Town Meeting approved several fund transfers including the sum of $676,544.40 from Free Cash to the Stabilization Fund, the sum of $676,544.40 from Free Cash to the Municipal Capital Stabilization Fund, the sum of $967,420.40 from Free Cash to the Building & Infrastructure Stabilization Fund, and the sum of $676,544.40 from Free Cash to the Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB) Trust Fund.

Other warrant articles which were approved:
• transfer a sum of $40,000.00 from Free Cash to the FY 2024 Town Meeting Operating Budget Line Item #71 (Conservation Expense) for consultant fees related to the finalization of the Town of Seekonk’s Open Space and Recreation Plan.
• a vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $25,000 to fund the cost elements of the first fiscal year of a three-year collective bargaining agreement between the Town and the Seekonk Public Library Employee Association, MLSA, AFT, AFL-CIO, for a term covering the period of July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2026.
• a vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $70,000 to fund the cost elements of the first fiscal year of a three-year collective bargaining agreement between the Town and the United Steelworkers AFL-CIO, Local 9517-09 (Supervisory), for a term covering the period of July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2026.
• a vote to accept as public ways the roads known as Stone Ridge Drive and Brady Lane, as heretofore laid out by the Select Board, copies of which are on file with the Seekonk Town Clerk, for all purposes for which public ways are used in the Town of Seekonk, and to authorize the Select Board to acquire by gift, purchase, or eminent domain any necessary easements.
• a vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $70,000 to fund the cost elements of the first fiscal year of a three-year collective bargaining agreement between the Town and the AFL-CIO, Council 93 Local 1701 Department of Public Works, for a term covering the period of July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2026, or take any other action relative thereto.
An effort to amend the town’s zoning bylaws failed to get the two thirds necessary for passage. The tally was 57 in favor and 44 in opposition.
One of the proposed bylaw amendments would have allowed for up to eight accessory residential units “per building” versus the current eight total per lot and would allow for such units by right in the highway business district. As stated in the warrant, ‘the amendment is intended to allow for more mixed use development within the Town and particularly within the highway business district consistent with recent economic development plans.”