In a stunning plot twist, the Rochester Board of Selectmen came out of executive session 14 minutes into its September 1 public meeting and eventually announced that the two-acre parcel of land adjacent to Town Hall, for which it had unsuccessfully offered First Congregational Church of Rochester $150,000, is no longer of interest.
Board of Selectmen Chairman Paul Ciaburri explained that after walking through the land with Rochester Conservation Agent Laurell Farinon, it is “not in our best interests to purchase the property.”
The reason: A vernal pool that borders the property, “not exactly on it – needs to be surveyed – good possibility,” according to Ciaburri, “makes this property not a worthwhile buy for us.”
While it was possible the town would buy the land but never build on the land, a vernal pool poses complications to any such plan so, without making the purchase, it is unlikely there will ever be construction on the parcel in question.
Only two weeks ago the land was considered to be of significant value to Rochester, and in the last Board of Selectmen meeting on August 17 members Brad Morse and Woody Hartley engaged in a heated debate.
As the deal was apparently dead over a $10,000 negotiating impasse, Hartley expressed outrage, citing what at the time seemed an inexplicable squandering of a rare opportunity to nearly triple Town Hall’s footprint with $160,000 available funds that had been authorized by public vote at the June 22 Town Meeting. Morse, who at the time protested that the discussion belonged in executive session, noted that he had received an appraisal at $125,000 and therefore felt his $150,000 offer was as generous as the town should be.
First Congregational, which had planned to use the money to fund church-building upgrades, had obtained an appraisal at $160,000. Before Rochester secured the more recent appraisal at $125,000, the town in April had received an appraisal for the land between $155,000 and $162,000, prompting the selectmen to bring the matter to Town Meeting vote where a purchase for up to $160,000 was approved.
Town Counsel Blair Bailey was away for the August 17 meeting, but he was present on Tuesday night and advised the board to state on public record the town’s appreciation of the opportunity to purchase the land.
Richard Cutler, who represented the church in the prior negotiations, was connected on the Zoom for Tuesday’s meeting but did not speak.
In her Town Administrator’s Report, Suzanne Szyndlar recently attended a Zoom meeting with Plymouth County CARES Act and was pleased to report an additional Phase 4 funding of $246,670 so the total for Rochester Phase 4 funding is $726,694 (including the schools).
Szyndlar suggested the selectmen vote to establish September 16 as the deadline for article submission for the November 16 special Town Meeting. The vote was unanimous in favor.
Finally, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and lacking a backup plan, Szyndlar told the selectmen Rochester needs to appoint a local builder/alternate building inspector. The selectmen voted and signed onto the appointment of James Marot, who has served as building commissioner and inspector for Acushnet, as part-time building commissioner for Rochester.
The next meeting of the Rochester Board of Selectmen is a hybrid meeting scheduled for Tuesday, September 8, at 6:00 pm accessible via Zoom.
Rochester Board of Selectmen
By Mick Colageo