Mark your calendars. Rochester’s Board of Selectman Monday approved May 19 as the date for the 2025 Annual Town Meeting and May 28 as the date for the Town Election.
Town Administrator Cameron Durant was happy to report that town council and Rochester Memorial School, where the town meeting will be held, have both agreed to that date, and town moderator David Arancio is “ready to go” as well.
The board also learned of plans to turn the Church Wildlife Conservation Area near the Pines into expanded walking trails and to make them handicapped accessible. It endorsed the Rochester Land Trust’s application for a $50,000 FY25 MassTrail Grant to make the plan a reality.
Land Trust president Wendy Keeler said the application was due that same day, February 3, but the board’s signature was still needed. She explained the work will make the trail compliant with Americans With Disabilities Act regulations. It already has long trials, but right now they are very unusable by people with disabilities and senior citizens.
Because these trails abut the Pines, she added, residents will be able to cut across their housing development to access the walking paths. This, she said, will be an advantage on the grant application. She noted this will be a reimbursement grant, meaning grantees must first pay for expenditures and then submit for reimbursement using the required documentation. It is also a matching grant that requires proponents to provide a minimum of 20 percent of the total project cost. Here, however, she had good news. The trust does have its account the $5,000 that will be needed for the town’s share. After the select board’s approval vote, fellow Trust member Russ Keeler elaborated that the plan is to expand the trails, install park benches, post informational signs and level the trail grounds.
In other action, the board approved and signed a new Inter-municipal Agreement for the Marion waste disposal transfer station and appointed Board chair Brad Morse to work with the town administrator and Marion officials to complete this agreement.
The board appointed Sydney Lewis as a new member of the Historic District Commission.
Durant reported news on the personnel front. The town is currently in contract negotiations with its choice of Town Planner. However, he declined to reveal the winning candidate’s name until negotiations are complete. Meanwhile, Corey Pereira has started working as a new part-time administrative for the Highway Department.
The next meeting of the Rochester Select Board is scheduled for Monday, February 17 at 6:00 pm at 1 Constitution Way.
Rochester Board of Selectman
By: Michael J. DeCicco