Ten years of discussion on an expansion of the Senior Center on Dexter Lane are apparently coming to fruition. Eric Poulin, executive director of the Rochester Council on Aging, presented a concept on building expansion to the Select Board during its Monday night meeting.
The plan calls for a 10-foot bump-out from the side of the building facing the baseball fields and a 30-foot bump-out from the front of the building facing the parking lot. A building subcommittee came up with the concept, and the COA Board of Directors voted to approve its presentation to the Select Board.
Poulin said that the COA hosted 100 people for Thanksgiving activities and said things have become “very tight in the large room.” It is rearranged several times a day, and a divider is used so more than one activity (such as exercise classes) can take place at the same time.
“We’re doing our best to make the space work,” said Poulin.
The Select Board was not asked to take action beyond approving the COA’s next step to hire an architect to examine a volunteer’s drawing of the concept. “We’re not asking the town for funding right now,” said Poulin, noting that the funding for the COA’s design effort, estimated to range between $25,000 and $35,000, was approved on December 8, 2021.
Poulin said the COA may select an architect soon. He said that 14 firms were contacted and that a few quotes have come back. The subcommittee, he said, identified a firm it would like to use. If the COA Board of Directors approves with its vote, the COA will approach the Friends of the COA.
It took several meetings to achieve agreement on a concept, the construction cost of which is not yet determined. Poulin stressed that the town will not incur any cost to find out.
Select Board member Woody Hartley discussed the importance of the social aspect of the building expansion, and Select Board member Brad Morse asked if the expansion would infringe on the parking lot. Poulin estimates that up to four parking spots could be lost according to the current concept drawings.
Part of the construction would include making the door facing the parking lot into the main entrance. Under the current circumstances, visitors bypass the main activity room to reach the office in order to check in for tracking-information purposes.
“We would like to put all that at the entrance from the parking lot,” Poulin explained.
Select Board member Paul Ciaburri asked if a protocol has been established for building usage. Town Administrator Glenn Cannon and Town Counsel Blair Bailey have discussed the matter and the importance of consistency in its application.
“If this expansion is able to go forward … I think the concept being supported is the ideal one. I think it would solve everybody’s issue,” said Poulin.
Cost is the big question facing the COA, and Poulin said the stakeholders are taking a professional approach, going one step at a time. The architect chosen will presumably make sure the COA complies with ADA standards.
The Select Board approved the COA’s pursuit and current path.
In his Town Administrator’s report, Cannon announced that Tuesday, June 14, has been penciled in as the day of the recount for the May 25 Town Election that gave Morse a 582-580 victory over challenger Adam Murphy.
Murphy turned in the required petition to request the recount.
Cannon explained that, if the result were turned over, Murphy would be sworn in as the town newest Select Board member, replacing Morse. If the recount produces a tie, a special election would be held.
Hartley asked if the board has the authority to create a bylaw that would allow the town not to hold a “runoff” election? Bailey explained that, because Rochester is not a charter town, there is no mechanism to create any local control that would change the election law that comes down from the state. Some town charters have such a provision, said Bailey, but Rochester is not a charter town so state election law prevails.
To assist himself and improve overall communications, Cannon put together an organization chart of Rochester town government with assistance from Bailey and former Town Administrator Suzanne Szyndlar.
The goal, explained Cannon, is to more easily direct traffic not only for the sake of authority but for communications protocols.
“If we have to discipline an employee, we want to make sure we’re doing it right,” he said.
Hartley applauded the effort.
The Select Board reorganized, voting in Hartley as the new chairman effective Tuesday, the day after the meeting. Morse served out Monday night’s meeting as the chair. Ciaburri was voted vice chairman and Morse clerk.
The town is entertaining a proposal for a recreational-marijuana dispensary to be located on land behind the 40R housing development at Routes 28 and 58.
Bailey said that the town would derive 3 percent of the business’s gross earnings. “They’re taxed considerably,” he said.
The building would be situated a fair distance behind the 40R, the back lot of which is planned for commercial use. Bailey said that before applying to the Zoning Board of Appeals for a special permit, the applicant needs a host agreement with the town.
While Rochester has two years to use its designated American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, favored projects are invariably “shovel ready” so discussion about a new, $750,000 salt shed must take that into consideration, according to Hartley. Cannon brought the matter to the board’s attention.
Citing residential expansion, Hartley further suggested that the town needs to be more active regarding water-related projects. Bailey pointed out that ARPA funds “wouldn’t be close” to paying for water-related projects, but he and Hartley agreed that the communities sending children to Old Colony Regional Vocational-Technical High School should look at the issue and plan together.
In concert with Planning Board and Conservation Commission recommendations, the Select Board voted not to exercise its right of first refusal on Parcel A, a 1.5-acre lot that is part of a 33.25-acre parcel off Mary’s Pond Road owned by Decas Cranberry Company LLC.
Upon the sale of the property at 40 Cranberry Highway, the board approved a Change of Name application for a Flammable Fluid License from Zero Waste to Harvey Recycling.
In response to Article 18 of the Town Meeting warrant, Rochester voters approved the appropriation of $12,000 for design of the Town Hall parking lot so as to more safely reroute traffic. Citing approval of the concept plan designed pro bono and the designer’s familiarity with the project, Cannon proposed hiring the same person to do the official design work.
Relative to Article 19, the Transfer Station, Cannon said the town needs to establish a subcommittee that would include himself and a Select Board member (Morse.)
The board approved of Fire Chief Scott Weigel recommendation that the town add Lauren Eldridge to the department. Eldridge, the daughter of Highway Surveyor Jeff Eldridge, put in numerous hours in preparation for her new job and was congratulated by the members of the Select Board.
The Select Board approved a change in the Building Department’s proposed fee schedule to charge for an occupancy permit.
George Owen was appointed to the Historical Commission.
The board approved the Buzzards Bay Coalition’s Annual Watershed Ride to be held on October 2.
Hartley said the Select Board can do a better job welcoming people and teaching them about Town Meeting, can improve seating to better encourage participation and recommended publishing a selectman’s guide to town meeting. He suspects public involvement would increase if Cannon, for instance, welcomed attendees before turning over the podium to moderator Dave Arancio.
The board entered executive session and did not return to public session.
The next meeting of the Rochester Select Board is scheduled for Monday, June 27, at 6:00 pm.
Rochester Select Board
By Mick Colageo