Rochester Town Administrator Suzanne Szyndlar reported to the Rochester Board of Selectmen during its November 2 meeting that plans were in place for the town’s residents to use Marion’s Benson Brook transfer station. With the nearly complete collapse of the former Carver-Marion-Wareham Regional Refuse District, towns have been developing new plans to handle the age-old problem of where to put the trash.
Szyndlar explained that Marion had offered the use of its Benson Brook facility, but that associated costs were pending. When asked the current status of the former CMWRRD, Selectman Brad Morse, the board’s representative, said that there was still no outcome achieved. “Nothing has changed.”
Selectman Woody Hartley said that the board’s attorney had their opinion and asked, “Have we issued an opinion yet on our right?” He pressed, “Have we notified them that, if it is open, we want to use it?” His concern was that “things could change” and suggested that something be put in writing now. The board agreed to put the matter on the December meeting agenda.
Szyndlar also reported that plans were moving forward on the proposed 40R subdivision planned at the intersection of Routes 58 and 28. She said that meetings with the developer, Steen Realty and Development Corporation, had been taking place. “The developer should have everything by February in order to begin,” she said.
On the matter of the upcoming November 16 Special Town Meeting, the board discussed the need to change the quorum from 50 registered voters down to 30, which is currently allowed by state statue due to the impact of the pandemic. While the selectmen encouraged voters to attend the meeting, they also accepted the likelihood of low voter turnout. All agreed such a change was necessary to keep the town’s business moving forward. Their intent to vote on the matter will be posted in the November 12 meeting agenda, Szyndlar confirmed, but an exact date and time were not moved by the board.
The selectmen also met briefly with Don Voner of Verizon regarding the installation of a new pole on High Street. Before concluding this piece of business with the utility representative, Morse asked about the possibility of having several critically damaged poles replaced and removed throughout the community, noting, “There are a lot of public safety issues.”
Voner agreed to pass along the need to review these issues with the appropriate staff members at Verizon. “I’ll get the ball rolling,” he said.
The next meeting of the Rochester Board of Selectmen has not yet been scheduled.
Rochester Board of Selectmen
By Marilou Newell