Selectmen Approve Warrant

Selectmen approved the Rochester Special Town Meeting warrant on April 14, which features two articles. The first article is for reserve fund transfers to cover bills from prior years and any other unpaid bills that might come before the May 19 meeting, and the second article pertains to the acceptance of a new law surrounding Board of Health members who may install septic systems for a living.

The law would alleviate the seeming conflict of interest by providing independent inspections for work completed by that Board of Health member.

The selectmen will review and approve the Annual Town Meeting Warrant during their April 28 meeting, and the warrant will be subsequently posted.

Also during the meeting, selectmen approved several appointments for the Police Department as requested by Police Chief Paul Magee.

Five patrol officers were appointed for one- and three-year terms, and four reserve officers were appointed for one-year terms.

Sergeant Robert Small was appointed for a three-year term, and three matrons were appointed for one-year terms. The animal control staff was also reappointed for another year.

The Senior Work-Off program was approved for another year, effective May 1. Through the program, senior citizens are granted up to a $750 reduction in property taxes in exchange for volunteer work at local facilities such as the Senior Center, Joseph H. Plumb Memorial Library, and Rochester Memorial School.

“There’s a lot of work that goes on in the Senior Center,” said Town Administrator Richard LaCamera in a follow-up interview discussing the program. He said the program has now been in existence for about seven years.

LaCamera also stated that the State has approved a $30 million pothole fund to repair roads throughout the state. Rochester has been granted $45,000, which LaCamera said is a really good thing. He said the funding is a “one-time deal.”

In other matters, Chief Magee sent selectmen a letter informing them that the Rochester Police Department has been awarded a grant to purchase two automated external defibrillators. This grant will now allow every patrol vehicle to be equipped with a defibrillator, and the two units will cost just over $3,100, with the grant covering half the expense. The remaining portion of the expense will be funded by the police donation account, at no cost to the town.

The next meeting of the Rochester Selectmen is April 28 at 7:00 pm at the Town Hall.

By Jean Perry

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