Selectmen called for a Special Town Meeting for May 19 at 6:45 pm, just before Rochester’s Annual Town Meeting that same evening at 7:00 pm. Article submission deadline was set for Friday, April 10 so selectmen can review the articles at their April 14 meeting.
Town Administrator Richard LaCamera said only a few reserve fund transfers would likely appear on the Special Town Meeting warrant at this point.
Also during the meeting, LaCamera announced that a Tri-Town joint meeting of the Boards of Selectmen is scheduled for April 10 at 7:00 pm at the ORR High School media center room. LaCamera said the ORR School Committee would also be present at the meeting to discuss the investigation of the 2011 cyber-theft of at least, but possibly more than, $100,000.
In other news, the ice and snow removal budget is up to $41,000 and is expected to climb with the anticipated Wednesday, March 26 snowstorm.
“It just isn’t gonna end,” said LaCamera. “It’s really a little discouraging at this point.”
Later, selectmen received a letter informing them that if the Town had adopted the Community Preservation Act and charged residents a CPA tax, the Town could have received another $27,000 in CPA funding in addition to the taxes collected. The $27,000 amount is based on the real estate transactions for 2013.
Selectmen announced a Rabies Clinic set for April 27 from 12:00 to 2:00 pm at the Rochester Grange located at 205 Hartley Road. The cost is $12 per shot. Dogs must be leashed, and cats must be confined in a transfer cage.
Selectman Naida Parker reminded residents that on April 9, the Rochester Annual Election Day, polls are open from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm. Absentee ballots are already available at the Town Clerk’s office, and the only two contested races are for the Board of Health and the Rochester School Committee.
The board also proclaimed April 8 “Equal Pay Day” in Rochester, joining the rest of the nation in bringing awareness to the disparity in wages for women in comparison with men.
The next public meeting of the Rochester Board of Selectmen will be April 7 at 6:30 pm at Town Hall. The selectmen are meeting in executive session with the Finance Committee on March 31. No public meeting is scheduled for March 31.
By Jean Perry
