Rochester’s Board of Selectmen Monday closed and signed the warrant for the January 27, 2025, Special Town Meeting after a preliminary review of its 17 articles. It agreed, however, to delay until a later date voting on whether to recommend or not recommend the articles.
The first seven articles are spending proposals that the select board said need to be vetted by the Capital Planning Committee. Town administrator Cameron Durant agreed but noted the Capital Planning panel will not be able to fund all of these requests because it does not have the budget for them.
The money articles voters will be asked to consider cover nearly every town department. The police department is asking for $120,000 for new police cell doors that roll rather swing open, a safer option. The Plumb Library requests $3,225 for the town’s share to purchase a new state-of-the-art library book depository that won’t damage books being dropped there; the Friends of the Library donated 50-percent of the $6,500 cost for this item.
There also requests for: $175,000 to convert the police station attic into office space, $30,000 for Council On Aging senior center kitchen upgrades, $100,000 for a new or used Highway Department sander, $26,500 for landfill monitoring, and $55,000 for fire station construction site work.
The remaining articles include proposals to change the Town Clerk to an appointed position; a bylaw codifying the duties of the Town Administrator; proposed changes to Large Scale Solar Photovoltaic Installation regulations that strengthen the conditions for adequate screening, new battery storage systems regulations, new regulations for accessory dwelling units and short-term rentals, and eliminating Use Variances from the zoning bylaw.
The longest discussion came with the board’s review of the accessory dwelling unit regulations. Bylaw Review Committee member Mark Wellington said the Planning Board, particularly chair Arnold Johnson, are not in favor of recommending that this measure be proposed at this town meeting. The town, Wellington elaborated, is reacting to new state regulations stating property owners have a right to establish accessory dwelling units. But the state is currently in the process of changing the regulations that will go into effect on February 2, 2025. Johnson wants the town to wait until the new regs are final. But town regulations need to be in place to protect the town’s interests, Wellington noted. The Select Board responded that it will ‘move forward’ with this zoning article and keep it on the warrant.
Durant said there will be a joint meeting between the select board and the Finance Committee on these articles on December 30.
In other action, the board confirmed police chief Michael A. Assad Jr.’s appointment of Roshawn Groce as a new part-time Rochester police officer. Assad noted Groce’s experience includes serving on the Provincetown, Aquinnah, Wellfleet and Tisbury police departments and the Curry College public safety force.
The board endorsed chief Assad’s promotion of police officers Zachary Dupere and Conner Leddin to Patrol Sergeant. Assad said Dupere comes to Rochester with 13 years of experience in the Fall River Police Department. The highlight of Leddin’s experience is eight years as Barnstable Correctional Facility officer.
The board approved Assad’s recommendation to change the job title of Rochester Police Lieutenant and department veteran Don Kemmett to Captain, after Assad praised Kemmet for guiding him through his first year as Rochester’s chief.
The board approved a new Rochester Police towing policy that would regulate the towing companies the town uses. Driver must look and act the part, Assad said. The policy requires proper licensing and insurance and bars use of any controlled substance, cannabis or alcohol on the job.
The board approved the Class II license renewal of Murphy’s Auto Salvage, Inc.
The board appointed Donald Spirlet as a member of the new Events Committee.
The next meeting of the Rochester Select Board is scheduled for Monday, December 30 at 6:00 pm at 1 Constitution Way.
Rochester Select Board
By Michael J. DeCicco