Seekonk Selectmen Connecting Power for Storm Shelter, New Senior Center

Seekonk selectmen decided to proceed a plan to connect the public safety center with the town hall, the animal shelter and the new senior center currently under construction.

“We’ve awarded a contract to Vincent Delorio for a plan and specs to run some lines underground from the existing generator in the public safety complex,” said Seekonk department of public works superintendent Robert Lamoureux. “I think we can take these plans and specs and move forward to have this work done.”

The idea was originally thought of during the last heavy storms, especially the Feb. 8 storm and Hurricane Sandy. Some residents, during these storms, complained the capacity of the generators for the middle school were not enough to keep comfortable during those storms. Taking the shelter to the new senior center and the town would allow Seekonk to have a storm shelter as apposed to a storm warming and charging center.

Lamoureux said the generator in the police and fire station has a capacity of 300-kilowatt hours, which is more than enough for the buildings. He said currently the highest the generator has ever run for the safety complex has been about 80-90 kilowatt-hours.

“It’s well-oversized for the building,” he said.

Lamoureux added the generator has had some problems because of the fact that the generator hasn’t been running near its full capacity.

“It’s not good for the generator, it causes problems,” he said.

Lamoureux said they have not yet received an estimate from Delorio that would allow the town to go out to bid for the project.

“We’d like to put this out to bid for the 2013 town meeting,” he said.

He added he will be notifying and working with the Seekonk Council on Aging for the new senior center construction.