Tuesday, Rochester’s Planning Board chair Arnold Johnson had to tell a hearing room packed with residents that the panel couldn’t hold its regular meeting because it lacked a quorum.
“Sorry, folks,” Johnson said. “We can’t open the meeting. We can’t talk about anything on the agenda.”
Johnson, Ben Bailey and Michael Murphy were the only members present. Being a seven-member board, four members are required to be in attendance to reach a quorum, Johnson explained. Town Planner Nancy Durfee tried unsuccessfully to reach by telephone the panel’s absent members to attend.
Johnson quickly promised, however, that everything on the October 8 agenda will be on the agenda of the next meeting on October 22. Left on the docket for that meeting will be an approval request for a preliminary subdivision on 28 acres at 386 Snipatuit Road. The proposal would add two new homes to a parcel with an existing dwelling unit.
The board is also slated to review the Cushman Solar LLC’s plan for an Eversource electrical service pole placement on Cushman Road. One attendee Tuesday said she was there because of the solar project but would not elaborate further.
The Rochester Planning Board’s next meeting will be Tuesday, October 22 at 7:00 pm at Town Hall, 1 Constitution Way.
Rochester Planning Board
By Michael J. DeCicco