From cemetery expansion to marijuana dispensaries, Swansea selectmen list priorities to tackle

SWANSEA — Two selectmen want to collaborate with Somerset officials on finding favorable reuse options of the former Brayton Point Power Station's 300-acre waterfront site.

Two others cited establishing a personnel policy, which could include having a human resources manual and uniform hiring standards.

Another two selectmen agree redevelopment of the Swansea Mall is a priority.

While selectmen Derek Heim, Steven Kitchin and Christopher Carreiro verbalized their choices for the first time collectively on Tuesday night, this was identified as an important task since Heim was made chairman in April and even the year before that when Carreiro held the helm.

The three selectmen agreed this week they need to consolidate a list that includes six areas by Heim, nearly a dozen by Kitchin and a good 20 from Carreiro.

When that is accomplished, the goal is for them to discuss one priority at each selectman’s meeting to make the most progress, said Heim. He’s a president/CEO of the boys and girls club in Brockton and is in his second year on the board.

Besides adding human resources expertise that could aid the workforce, collective bargaining and town committees, Heim wants a capital improvement plan with milestones at three, five and 10 years that show the needs and resources to do them.

He wants to dispose of or repurpose town properties like the Gardner House, old fire house and old ambulance building.

Heim listed increasing access and function of the town website and assigning management of it, which Kitchin also identified. He reiterated a priority to “develop a comprehensive and complete plan” for public right of ways and public water access.

Along with the Swansea Mall, Heim also named the vacant Capaldi and Negus Lumber properties on Route 6 as tracts for attracting commercial business.

Vice Chairman Kitchin, in his first year on the board after many on the town finance committee, who works as a vice president for corporate education and training at a Rhode Island technical college, joins Carreiro in wanting to see the permitting process streamlined.

He wants to see surplus properties sold and the revenues used for the town’s many capital needs – not for expense operations.

Kitchin lists priorities to review the boat ramp parking policy, planning for future cemetery expansion, having town committees develop a “clear mission and purpose,” add tax relief programs for seniors, veterans and others and continue to review traffic enforcement.

Looking well up the road, he’d like a “Swansea 2050” vision of what the town might look like in 30 years.

Carreiro lists completing safety work on Cummings Road and Stevens Road/Bark Street/Main Street as one of his “unfinished initiatives.” Two others in that stage are the town having an operating agreement with the Swansea Ambulance Corps and setting policies and procedures of the Board of Selectmen.

Carreiro, an attorney in town specializing in real estate, in his third year on the board after several on the School Committee, broke down new initiatives into economic and governances/policy.

He’d like to establish an economic development committee; set a policy for supporting marijuana dispensaries; rezone waterfront areas for economic revitalization; map and market commercial parcels; explore how to bring sewerage to Route 6; improve Route 103 sidewalks; and reach out to the Pawtucket Red Sox with availability of 50 available acres just off Interstate 195, among his economic initiatives.

On the town governance and policy side, Carreiro lists a long-term capital improvement plan, providing child care at town meetings; prohibiting smoking on town recreational areas; using social media for general and emergency announcements; creating a bylaw for private road improvements; and adding software for the building department.

Carreiro would like to see his board hold joint meetings with the Planning Board as well as the Town Hall Building Committee, which selectmen formed and he serves on.

Email Michael Holtzman at mholtzman@heraldnews.com or call him at 508-676-2573.