Get ready for some ropin’ and ridin’ on Pine Street. Rochester’s Select Board Monday reviewed a proposal to allow a rodeo this summer at the former Country Fair campgrounds at 65 Pine St.
Kelly Pina of New England Rodeo, an officer with the group offering the plan, said it would like to put on a rodeo show on its 18.6 acres one Saturday each in June, July, August, and September. But it would like to take possession of the property in May to begin setting up the parcel for that use.
The board concluded that before voting its approval a public hearing would be needed first to gauge public reaction to such a plan. That hearing was scheduled for its next meeting, April 28, at 6:10 pm.
Select Board Member Adam Murphy suggested led to that conclusion after New England Rodeo owner Elias DaSilva said the organization’s other rodeos have attracted around 1,000 visitors to each show. Murphy said he wanted to make sure how the neighbors would feel about such an event coming to their neighborhood and whether the town’s public services, fire, police and Emergency Medical Services, can handle such a crowd.
Pina promised that public safety and community involvement would be the group’s priorities. New England Rodeo will invite local groups and charities to participate and do fund raising at its rodeos. Speakers will be pointed away from residential neighborhoods. Medical services will be on-duty and safety protocols in place.
Town Administrator Cameron Durant reported that town council has advised him the arrangement for using the site should be a license rather than a lease. A lease agreement would require going out to bid for other interested parties, he said.
Selectmen chair Brad Morse asked if the group was aware of future plans for the site, a new fire station. Pina said the group was aware and that it required only an ‘interim’ use of the property.
Earlier Monday, the board continued another big review to an April 28 hearing. Durant revealed that the 24 articles proposed for the May 19 Annual Town Meeting include the FY26 budget (a number that has yet to be finalized), spending $363,000 on Capital Improvement funding, a proposal to allow town employees to opt out of the town’s health insurance plan and revising the 40R Smart Growth Development District on Cranberry Highway to encompass an additional parcel. He said the Select Board will need to meet jointly on April 28 with school officials and the Finance and Capital Planning committees regarding town budgets.
In other action, the board approved the Mattapoisett Land Trust and Friends of the Mattapoisett Rail Trail’s request to run a charity bike event, ‘Tour de Creme’, through town on June 1.
The board voted against exercising the town’s Right of First Refusal to purchase 0 Walnut Plain Road, which is being converted from Chapter 61B forest and horticultural land protection for residential use.
Morse announced the town’s receipt of the SEMASS Payment In Lieu of Taxes payment for March 2025 of $412,890.
Durant reported the Highway Surveyor Jeff Eldridge will be clearing the brush behind the town office building to extend parking there.
The board approved Town Clerk Marjorie Barrows’ request to allow in-person early voting on Saturday, May 24 and during normal business hours on May 26.
The board approved the FY26 Cost of Living increase for municipal employees’ salaries to 2.5 percent, a jump that was recently endorsed by the Finance Committee.
Murphy informed the board he is speaking to stakeholders to find an alternative to utilizing the Regional Old Colony Communications Center Dispatch Call Center in Duxbury should the town’s contract with that organization not get renewed. The board agreed to allow Murphy to continue as the town’s liaison on this discussion.
The next meeting of the Rochester Select Board is scheduled for Monday, April 28 at 6:00 pm at the Council On Aging senior center, 67 Dexter Lane.
Rochester Select Board
By Michael J. DeCicco