Rochester Select Board Chairman Brad Morse took the opportunity of Verizon New England’s appearance at a 6:05 pm appointment to reiterate an important message.
“Before we approve the motion, I want to mention problems with poles around town,” said Morse, describing “lots of double poles, to the tune of about 20, and some hanging poles as well.”
In a public hearing, Verizon New England sought and received approval to install new utility poles (Nos. 47.5 and 47.5s) to serve a new residential construction at 990 Walnut Plain Road. There were no comments from the public, but Morse made sure the word got back to the office that the Town of Rochester is still waiting on longstanding requests.
Nonetheless, Morse and Select Board member Woody Hartley voted their approval of the application. Select Board member Paul Ciaburri was unable to attend on Monday.
The Rochester Country Fair is looking to make a comeback on the August 20-21 weekend after the event’s cancelation in 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Event representative Kelly Sullivan-Morgado told the board that many businesses shut down due to Covid. “We’re trying to fill our agenda and fill it tight and get all the old-time favorites in there,” she said. Hartley asked about the setup schedule, and Sullivan-Morgado said the event will seek permission to conduct set-up all throughout the week leading up to the Saturday-Sunday event.
Meantime, much in the way of maintenance on the grounds needs to be done, including portions of the fencing that have come down and work on the track, another activity requiring permission. Town Counsel Blair Bailey was assured that all the workers will be volunteers.
Sullivan-Morgado is in discussions with the Acushnet Lions Club regarding the possibility of selling alcoholic beverages on the grounds.
“We need to notify the abutters ahead of time. We always take care of that and give the town a copy when (the notice) goes out,” said Sullivan-Morgado. She said the mailing will be out by June 20.
In a 6:25 appointment, the board voted to approve Police Chief Robert Small’s request that Richard Heslin be appointed a full-time officer. Small told the Select Board that Heslin has earned a master’s degree and that it is nice to “have someone onboard who can assimilate quickly” and help mentor younger people.
The Select Board voted to approve the Rochester Cultural Council’s request that Erica Rys be appointed to membership. The board also voted to declare some old computers as surplus.
In her Town Administrator’s Report, Suzanne Szyndlar told the board during that the annual audit (FY21) has been completed and can be found on Town Counsel Blair Bailey’s page at townofrochester.com.
Szyndlar announced a recent grant, telling the board that Town Planner Nancy Durfee applied for a public-safety feasibility study under the state’s Municipal Vulnerability Program (MVP) and also applied for a $15,000 in Master Plan matching funds to be voted on at Town Meeting.
Citing the January 29 snowstorm, Szyndlar thanked town personnel for a great job.
Noting that the submission deadline for applicants for the job she will vacate on June 30 was February 4, Szyndlar said she will be scheduling interviews. Rochester is also looking for a new building commissioner.
Under Old Business, Hartley told the meeting that he and Town Planner Nancy Durfee recently attended a circuit meeting. “It makes us much stronger for keeping up with grants,” said Hartley. “It was really good having her there to ask good questions and understand the language much better than I ever have.”
The board entered executive session to discuss strategy relating to negotiations with union and non-union personnel and did not return to open session.
Citing personal conflicts, the board did not settle on a date for its next regular meeting. Monday, February 21, is Presidents’ Day.
Rochester Select Board
By Mick Colageo