Seekonk Select Board Launches Fire Chief Search

The Seekonk Select Board has launched a search for a new Fire Chief following news of Sandra Lowery’s resignation in February. The decision was made to look within the department for a replacement.

Lowery has been out on sick leave since mid-September. The town’s first female fire chief has been serving in the position since October 2021.

Lowery had previously served as Interim Chief. Lowery had been a member of the department for over 20 years. Lowery’s predecessor, David Rave, served in the position for a year.

Town Administrator Shawn Cadime proposed hiring a firm to assess potential candidates for Fire Chief. The cost would be as much as $15,000. The firm would release assessments on the top candidates.

“They do an initial vetting process,” Cadime explained.

“It works, it helps streamline the process,” Selectman Justin Sullivan said. “It’s worth its value.”

 “The history of hiring people from outside this community has never worked well for either department on public safety,” Chairman Michael Healy said. We had a candidate internally who finished number one in those assessments. He was never even considered to be the Fire Chief and that’s a shame.”

The town has had three Police Chiefs in the last five years. The Fire Department has had similar turnover.

“To me it’s a little disturbing that we’ve gone through two Fire Chiefs in three years,” Healy noted. “And we still have no Deputy (Chief). Other departments, as soon as their assistants have left or change has been had, we’ve made appointments. Think about how that affects the morale and the personnel in the Fire Department.”

Conditional offers of employment were made to four new firefighters at Wednesday’s Select Board meeting.

An interim Fire Chief will be named at a later date.