Monday was a busy evening in the town office building meeting room. First, Rochester’s Select Board met briefly to refer to the Planning Board a proposed zoning change to the 40R residential/mixed use project at Cranberry Highway and County Road, one that would expand the plan onto an adjacent parcel.
Town Administrator Cameron Durant explained before the vote that the developer had asked for this change to open up financing opportunities for the project. The advantage to the town, he added, is that when the project is built Rochester would reach the state-mandated goal of having 10-percent of its housing stock affordable. The vote was needed now so the measure can be on the warrant for the May 19 annual town meeting, he said. The vote means the Planning Board will hold its public hearing on the proposal at its April 22 meeting.
He noted that under this change, the number of units the project is proposing, 208, will remain the same but the developer will simply utilize an additional parcel to accomplish the total plan. The two selectmen present, Adam Murphy and Paul Ciaburri, approved referring the proposals to the Planning panel without further comment.
Next, the Select Board approved a new two-year contract for Financial Director Suzanne Szyndlar after learning that Szyndlar has delayed her recently-announced plans to retire. Szyndlar, who at one time had served as the town administrator, had originally planned to retire as Finance Director on June 30.
“She will be staying on,” Durant was happy to announce. “She has agreed to stay on for an additional two years.”
On a personal note, Durant added, “It means a lot to me to still be able to have coffee with the former town administrator and get her input.”
Murphy said, reading from his letter on the subject, “Suzanne’s decision to extend her commitment is truly invaluable to the town. Suzanne’s unwavering commitment and deep understanding of municipal finance makes her an irreplaceable asset to Rochester. We are incredibly fortunate to have her guiding our financial future.”
When the Select Board adjourned, the Park Commission opened a meeting that approved the plaque for the new Gifford Park Playground. Commission chair David Hughes announced the plaque will read “Dedicated to All Children… funding provided by Town of Rochester and the Tri-Town for Protecting Children.” He also announced the new playground will likely open in May.
The move ends months of pushback from town residents who believed that “Tri-Town for Protecting Children” is a divisive, politically-motivated group and should not have been the lone group to donate money for such a park. The 3,649 square-foot playground’s full cost is $81,724.68. While half of that cost is being borne by the local non-profit “Tri-Town For Protecting Children”, the other half is being paid for with the town’s ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds.
The next meeting of the Rochester Select Board is scheduled for Monday, March 31 at 6:00 pm at 1 Constitution Way.
The Park Commission did not set its next meeting before adjourning.
Rochester Select Board & Rochester Park Commission
By Michael J. DeCicco