By DONNA KENNY KIRWAN

SEEKONK — A three-way selectmen’s race and two ballot questions — one to eliminate a residency requirement for municipal department heads and the other aimed at funding community preservation — are up for voters to decide at Monday’s town election.

Polls will be open from noon to 8 p.m. at four locations: North School on North Street, Seekonk Public Library on Newman Avenue, Town Hall on Peck Street and Martin Elementary School on Cole Street.
In the selectmen’s race, where two seats are up for grabs, voters will choose between incumbents Michael H. Brady and Robert L. Richardson and challenger Francis M. Cavaco.
Brady and Richardson are running as a team, promoting their experience and knowledge of the issues facing the town, while Cavaco is positioning himself as a new voice and a champion of fiscal accountability.
Brady, 46, of Cypress Road, is a lieutenant on the Rehoboth Police Department who also practices law.
Richardson, 51, of Pershing Avenue, works for Amica Insurance and is a former School Committee member.
Cavaco, 53, of Kent Drive, is a retired UPS employee who serves on the town Finance Committee.
Also on the ballot is a three-year term on the Planning Board,, where incumbent John Monk faces Lee B. Dunn.
Two other candidates on the board are running unopposed: David F. Viera for a five-year term and Sandra Foulkes for a two-year seat.
On the Library Board of Trustees, three candidates, Deborah Bostian, Laura Calverley and Cheryl A. Faria, are vying for two seats with three-year terms.
Another contest is over one seat with a three-year term on the Board of Assessors, where incumbent David A. Pitassi faces a challenge from Arthur R. Foulkes.
Running unopposed for one three-year term on the School Committee is William A. Barker. He will take over the seat that is being vacated by Paula K. Roberge, who chose not to seek re-election.
Other unopposed candidates on the ballot include incumbent William C. Sloyer, for a five-year term on the Housing Authority; incumbent Janet Parker for a three-year term as town clerk, David Parker for a three-year term as town moderator; Philip G. Campbell for a three-year term on the Board of Water Commissioners; and incumbent Robert T. Fuller for a one-year seat on the Board of Water Commissioners.
Voters will also consider an initiative to remove the longstanding residency requirement for the positions of town administrator, schools superintendent, police chief and fire chief.
At last fall’s Town Meeting, voters overwhelmingly supported dropping the requirement — but the charter change must also be approved by the town electorate.
For several years, the Board of Selectmen has been pressing for the change, saying a residency rule is unnecessary and that it could limit the pool of candidates for the town’s top jobs.
Town Administrator Michael J. Carroll and Schools Supt. Emile Chevrette live outside of the community per provisions in their respective contracts.
The other ballot question would establish a Community Preservation Act (CPA) fund subsidized by a property tax surcharge.
The preservation act allows cities and towns to add a surcharge of up to 3 percent to support open space, historic preservation and affordable housing efforts. The state offers a dollar-for-dollar match in CPA funds.
According to Town Clerk Janet Parker, the local initiative would exempt those residents who currently qualify for low-income or elderly housing. It also would calculate the surcharge only after excluding the first $100,000 of assessed property value.
For example, Parker said, a house valued at $300,000 would be assessed at $200,000 for surcharge purposes, with an extra charge to the homeowner of between $30 and $40 a year.
Parker said the plan’s supporters hope to use the funds primarily to purchase land to keep as open space.