The Town’s new regionalized 911 emergency response system will likely be online before the May 21 Annual Town Meeting, expected to start on May 15 as the newest participant in the Regional Old Colony Communications Center in Duxbury.
In preparation for the switchover, ROCCC dispatchers have gone on over 20 ‘ride-alongs’ with Rochester officers to learn the various areas of Rochester and the landmarks and features unique to each part of Town.
Town Administrator Suzanne Szyndlar told the Rochester Board of Selectmen on April 23 that Rochester emergency responders have been meeting regularly with ROCCC representatives in Rochester for training and operations and protocol review sessions, and also to hold a meet-and-greet event to familiarize the staff from the Town and the ROCCC as they work closely together, even if remotely.
Szyndlar asked the board to attend any of the upcoming meetings as well to make for a more cohesive Town presence, and Szyndlar said she would be posting these meetings as selectmen meetings in case more than one arrives, constituting a quorum.
Also during the meeting, Szyndlar announced that the residents of the Annie Maxim House, a senior assisted living center, made a $400 donation to the Town in gratitude for making them feel “safe and sound.” The donation will be divided equally amongst the Fire, Highway, Police, and Ambulance Departments.
“That’s very kind of the residents at Annie Maxim,” said Selectmen Chairman Greenwood Hartley. “I’m sure each department will put that to good use.”
Although it was on the agenda, the Old Colony R.V.T.H.S District Committee Appointing Authority rescheduled for a separate special meeting with the selectmen for committee appointments on Thursday, April 26 at 6:00 pm at the Town Hall.
The next regular meeting of the Rochester Board of Selectmen will be May 7 at 6:00 pm at the Rochester Town Hall.
Rochester Board of Selectmen
By Jean Perry