It is what it is, is how Selectman Bradford Morse put it, after hearing that Rochester’s snow and ice removal budget, as it stands now, is about $20,000 to $30,000 over budget.
“And that doesn’t include last week’s expenses at this point,” said Town Administrator Richard LaCamera, “so, hopefully it stops snowing soon.”
LaCamera commented that the Town has to do what it has to do to remove the snow and ice from the streets, to which the selectmen concurred.
Transferring surplus money from different accounts in the budget will likely fund the over-expenditure of the snow and ice budget. If there is not enough money from these areas to cover it, then the Town will likely have to withdraw from the reserve fund.
In other matters, he was two days too late to appear on the ballot for the open seat on the Planning Board, but Lee Carr wrote a letter of interest on February 20 to the Selectmen, asking for their endorsement as a temporary appointee to fill Bob Francis’ empty seat on the board, while running as a write-in candidate for the two-year seat.
Selectmen Chairman Naida Parker said it would be a good way for Carr to “get his feet wet,” and expressed her support for Carr, adding that she will attend the February 25 Planning Board meeting in order to do so.
“I don’t have a problem with it,” said Selectman Richard Nunes. “It’s fine.”
The board will recommend Carr to the Planning Board, and then vote during the Planning Board meeting to formally appoint Carr.
Also during the meeting, LaCamera gave a brief overview of the Emergency Medical Service (EMS) fiscal year 2015 budget, saying there was a bit of relief now that revenue is picking up and revenue projections are getting closer to the projected numbers for FY14.
“It’s moving in the right direction,” said LaCamera. He added that they are averaging 20 ambulance transports for projected revenue, which is a conservative number, but better than overestimating.
The Board of Selectmen will meet on March 3 for executive session only. The next public meeting is scheduled for March 24 at 6:30 pm at Town Hall.
By Jean Perry
