The Rochester Board of Selectmen was notified during its December 21 meeting that the Town of Freetown had joined the Bristol-Plymouth district, declining the October 27 invitation made by the Old Colony Regional School District.
The notification, received on December 14, means that students from Freetown currently attending Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School will be the last allowed to make that choice. Had Freetown accepted Old Colony’s invitation, the town’s addition to the district would have required a unanimous vote in Rochester’s spring Town Meeting.
In other business, Rochester Town Counsel Blair Bailey told the selectmen to anticipate the Planning Board’s official approval of Ken Steen’s 40R residential project on Route 28 and a selectmen’s vote at its next meeting.
Meantime, Phil Cordeiro, who has represented Steen throughout many Planning Board and Conservation Commission meetings, has requested an increase over Steen’s original request for water allocation.
Selectman Woody Hartley asked how this request will affect Rochester’s water agreement with the Town of Wareham and whether Rochester should ask Wareham for more water.
Bailey reported a discussion earlier in the day with Town Administrator Suzanne Szyndlar.
“Given this project’s numbers, I think what we have to do is move forward with it and, yes, if it turns out they are using that much (water), then I think we do need to go to Wareham,” said Bailey. “I think the issue is every engineer I’ve spoken to says that those are [MAssachusetts Department of Environmental Protection] numbers that bear absolutely no resemblance to the actual water usage of the project.”
Bailey advised that the project be permitted, and then see how much water is actually being used. “Wareham has said to us they’re absolutely willing to give us whatever water want to use,” he said. “I think we need numbers from them on their … three commercial sites that they want to [establish].”
Szyndlar reported from a conversation with Cordeiro that his projection of over 29,000 gallons per day was based on all the future build-up scenarios that would not be completed for at least two to three years.
On Friday, the Town of Rochester received stickers for the use of the Benson Brook Transfer Station and beach stickers from the Town of Marion. Szyndlar anticipated that Rochester’s website would post access information over the next day or two.
Benson Brook is scheduled to open on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm, but the days and times are subject to change. The cost for stickers will be $70 for Rochester residents and $60 for seniors, with administrative costs tacked onto previously announced costs.
Also, in her Town Administrator’s Report, Szyndlar reported that Delta Dental has given relief of 35 percent of the November premium adjusted invoice to subscribers who are town employees, the second time they have done so.
The selectmen will sign the annual Town Meeting and Election warrant as one combined document.
In a 6:10 pm continued hearing for a street name change, Rochester resident Thomas Cullen was granted a request to change the name of the road that serves his home only.
“It’s just a personal reason. My wife of 16 years and I have been driving down this road named in my ex-wife’s maiden name (Duhamel),” explained Cullen, who wants to celebrate the paying off of his mortgage.
The new name will be Patty’s Way. Cullen would like a street number as well, something he will request from the building commissioner.
Hartley reported to the board on two grant pursuits, one aimed at CARES Act funding for the development of year-round outside activities, and another for a canopy solar array in the parking lot at Rochester Memorial School.
The selectmen voted to accept Annie Maxim House donations and send a letter of thanks on behalf of all town boards that received a donation. The donations included: $750 to the ambulance service, $1,000 to the Police Department, $500 to the Fire Department, and $250 to the Council on Aging.
The selectmen voted to sign the Lakeville Animal Shelter annual agreement.
The board broke off into an executive session to discuss negotiations with vendors and a strategy for negotiations with non-union personnel.
The next meeting of the Rochester Board of Selectmen is scheduled for January 4 at 6:00 pm.
Rochester Board of Selectmen
By Mick Colageo