Rochester’s Board of Selectmen Monday tabled one of its biggest agenda items for an executive session, a review of a new contract for the Council On Aging Director, Eric Poulin.
The board began the discussion in open session in response to a letter from the COA Board supporting a new employment pact for Poulin. Board member Sue Norton said Eric is too humble to list his own accomplishments and needs, but she and fellow members fully support him continuing as director because he’s made Rochester’s one of the busiest senior centers around. “We are coming here to answer any questions,” she said.
“We want you to look at his contract with an open mind,” said fellow board member Pat Joy. “There are opportunities for growth that we don’t want to lose.”
Board member and town clerk Marjorie Barrows added, “You should see the senior center’s activities board. It’s completely full. Attendance is off the hook. It’s huge.”
Acting Select Board Chair Adam Murphy quickly noted any discussion of a contract such as this should be done in executive session. He agreed that Poulin has done a great job as COA director, but executive sessions are the way the town has always handled contract negotiations, he said. He motioned to table discussion until the next meeting, on December 2, in a private session, and fellow selectman Paul Ciaburri affirmed that move.
The meeting began with a moment of silence for long-time Assessor Debra Lally, who recently passed away. Town Administrator Cameron Durant then reported an update on the Special Town Meeting scheduled for January 27. The warrant will consist of 14 articles, five of which are from the Planning Board or about zoning, he said. Others will be small capital improvement items.
Next the board tabled a second agenda item, a request for building fee increases from Building Commissioner Paul Boucher. Here too Murphy basically said, not so fast. Murphy said Boucher had provided the select board with a new fee schedule based on the rates charged by Building Departments in neighboring communities. But the board first needs to look at the town Building Department’s operational costs, he added.
“Permits are down,” Murphy said. “I don’t see a spreadsheet of department costs. That’s what I want to see before raising fees for the general public.”
Town council representative Jane Medeiros Friedman echoed this approach. She noted that such fees must be justified based on the costs of the department and what it costs for that particular kind of inspection. “Other town’s needs are different,” she said. The board agreed to wait for this data, and it postponed action until December 2.
In other action, the board agreed to Durant’s proposal to create a Town Administrator bylaw or set of regulations, “to codify the Town Administrator position,” he explained. “I want to make sure some guard rails are set.”
Friedman of town council said she has provided the board with samples of what such a bylaw or “special act” would look like. Here too, the board agreed to continue discussion to its next meeting.
The board also approved placing a “No Parking” sign in front of town hall after Durant reported cars have already parked on the new brickwork in front of the veterans’ memorial. Murphy reported that engineers are looking into a solution to the road hazard the configuration of Constitution Way creates. Ciaburri admitted to once almost being hit by a vehicle passing by the town hall front entrance.
The board approved a five-year extension of the SEMASS Waste Disposal Agreement with the town, which will continue to include an annual $5,000 donation.
The board announced this year’s Tree Lighting Ceremony will be held on December 9 starting at 5:00 pm at Rochester Town Hall.
The board announced the Fire Department will be the new drop off spot for safe sharps disposal. The Wanderer recommends seeing the town website for details.
The board approved a new wine pouring fee of $250. The board at first debated what rate to impose. The town’s only holder of a wine making license, Anthony Ruosso, protested that any higher fee would be ridiculous because he can only sell what he bottles, he does not run a bar with other offerings.
The next meeting of the Rochester Select Board is scheduled for Monday, December 2 at 6:00 pm at 1 Constitution Way.
Rochester Board of Selectman
By Michael J. DeCicco