Members of the Barrington Town Council joined a growing number of people who are very concerned about the proposed construction of an asphalt production facility just over the town line in Seekonk, Mass.

At the Feb. 1 meeting, Barrington Town Council President Michael Carroll said he and other members of the council had received many emails from residents who were worried about the environmental impacts that an asphalt plant could have on surrounding property.

The plant, proposed for 45 Industrial Court in Seekonk, would be located a stone’s throw from residential property, a short walk to farm land used by Four Town Farm, and less than three miles from two elementary schools in Barrington.

Mr. Carroll said he had already asked the solicitor to examine the town’s legal options, adding that the council is focused on protecting the health and safety of Barringtonians.

Mr. Carroll cautioned, however, that stopping the project was “a tough hill to climb” because the plant is being proposed in a different town and a different state.

The council president said officials are discussing the situation with Barrington’s legislators, the Rhode Island Attorney General’s office and with the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management.

Barrington solicitor Andy Teitz told members of the council that the Seekonk Planning Board had already heard the proposal, which was filed by the applicant Jeffrey Joaquin/International Paving Corp. He added that the Seekonk Conservation Commission was scheduled to meet on Feb. 8 to consider the wetlands permits Jeffrey Joaquin/International Paving Corp. had applied for. Mr. Teitz said that in Massachusetts, municipal conservation commissions function differently than the one in Barrington, which serves as an advisory board.

Seekonk resident Ann-Marie Cardosi spoke during the council meeting. Ms. Cardosi said she lives near the site of the proposed asphalt plant. She said the Seekonk Board of Selectmen was scheduled to discuss the issue and would invite input from Barrington residents and town officials.

Ms. Cardosi also spoke about the potential effects an asphalt plant would have on the surrounding area — she said people would suffer health problems and the environment would be seriously impacted.

Recorded minutes from a Seekonk Planning Board meeting offered a glimpse of what was being planned — a three-bin batch plant where asphalt and concrete would be produced; the liquid asphalt would be stored in two 20,000-gallon tanks on the property. The plant would operate Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and is expected to produce 300 tons of asphalt each day, according to the plan on file with Seekonk. The plan also states that the plant is an allowable use in the industrial zone.

“Jeffrey Joaquin/International Paving Corp. applicant/owner said …asphalt is made with sand/stone and the drum that turns heats the materials; only moisture comes out of the stack from the heat; the heated materials are mixed with the asphalt cement and stored in a silo,” stated the minutes. “Silos are insulated and closed; there is no odor with current technology…”

That information has done very little to ease the concerns of residents in the area. In fact, thousands of people have signed a change.org online petition titled “Stop the Seekonk Asphalt Plant!”

There is also a Facebook group with the same name that includes people from Barrington, East Providence, Swansea and Seekonk.

During the recent council meeting, Mr. Carroll suggested the council send a letter to Seekonk officials sharing the concerns of Barrington residents and town leaders. Fellow councilor Rob Humm added that Barrington should also request that Seekonk hold off on voting on the issue.

Council member Jacob Brier suggested that the letter include a gesture of reciprocity, stating that if there was a proposal in Barrington that impacted its neighboring communities then the Barrington Town Council would want input from those communities.

Mr. Carroll said he could draft the letter without calling a separate council meeting.

A meeting attendee, Susannah Holloway, spoke about the issue. She said there were many environmental concerns with the proposal. She asked that federal laws may be in play, and suggested that Barrington contact the US Attorney. Mr. Carroll added that he believed it was also a good idea to reach out to Rhode Island’s Senators and Representatives.

The council then voted 5-0 in favor of sending the letter.