It did not take long for the Rochester Finance Committee to give the thumbs up for several articles involving financial matters on the Fall Special Town Meeting Warrant during discussions with the Rochester Board of Selectmen on October 6.
During a follow-up interview with Rochester Town Administrator Michael McCue on October 7, McCue said the Finance Committee voted unanimously to endorse the six out of nine articles pertaining to account transfers and financial appropriations that McCue referred to mostly as “simple housekeeping.” The remaining three articles relate to amendments of the Town’s Zoning Bylaws and are not subject to Finance Committee endorsement.
Both the Finance Committee and the selectmen reviewed the warrant with Moderator Greenwood Hartley III in preparation for the October 20 Special Town Meeting scheduled for 7:00 pm at the Rochester Memorial School cafeteria.
Plumb Corner Market will now be allowed to sell alcohol on Sundays between the hours of 10:00 am and 11:00 pm, now that the board has approved the store’s new amended liquor license application.
The law will change as of October 23, 2014, allowing off premises retailers of alcohol to begin selling alcohol at 10:00 am on Sundays. Although the right to sell alcohol is granted by the Commonwealth and not by the local authority – the Board of Selectmen – the store was required to inform the selectmen and amend their liquor license hours of operation.
Also during the meeting, Library Director Gail Roberts briefed the board on a new grant the three Tri-Town libraries have received to fund a new program entitled “In My Own Back Yard: Exploring the Ecosystems of Southeastern Massachusetts (MOBY).” The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners is funding the grant.
The agenda was light, resulting in a brief meeting during which the selectmen voted to sign the warrant for the Massachusetts General Election on November 4.
The next meeting of the Rochester Board of Selectmen is scheduled for October 20 at 6:30 pm at Rochester Memorial School just before the Fall Special Town Meeting at 7:00 pm.
By Jean Perry