Let them buckin’ broncos loose! Rochester’s Select Board Monday officially approved the license agreement for the rodeos that will come to the former Country Fair grounds this summer.
New England Rodeo, which is currently headquartered in Norton, proposed holding a series of rodeos every other Saturday from June to September at 65 Pine St. earlier this month. The board Monday endorsed the agreement for leasing the 18.6-acre site for that purpose after one question from Select Board Chair Brad Morse.
Morse asked who will police the requirement that the site be left clean after every rodeo event and how that policing be done. Town Administrator Cameron Durant said New England Rodeo has agreed to clean the site within 24 hours after each such event, and he and other town officials will walk the site the next Monday to verify what was done. He explained that New England Rodeo did not want to create the late-night noise of cleaning up on the same evening after one of its 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm. events.
As another nod to New England Rodeo’s sensitivity to neighbors’ concerns, Morse noted the company has agreed to meet with all parties in town involved and affected after its first rodeo to gauge the first reactions.
After the approval vote, Durant elaborated New England Rodeo has agreed its first rodeo will be in June and it will hold only one final rodeo in September. The company will pay for its own use of utilities. It will make sure the events are covered by its own liability insurance. It will provide its own bathrooms, likely porta-potties. It will allow community groups to fund raise during its events.
Elsewhere on the agenda, the Select Board approved Verizon New England’s proposal to install a new mid-span utility pole on the east side of Snipatuit Road and its request to withdraw ‘without prejudice’ its petition for a new pole on Robinson Road. But after an abutter expressed concerns, the board continued until its next meeting the company’s proposal for a new mid-span utility pole on the west side of Cushman Road.
Scott Snider of 149 Cushman Road said he wanted to know why a new pole was needed on his street, less than 200 feet from existing poles. He complained the new pole would be almost right outside his front door. “Couldn’t it go somewhere else?” he asked. Morse explained Eversource needs the pole for the heavier cables the new solar array on Cushman will need. But such a pole can be moved, he added. He motioned that Eversource officials be requested to attend the board’s next meeting to provide more information.
In other action, the board approved the warrant for the May 28 annual town election. Morse noted the warrant includes one ballot question: whether to change the town clerk from an elected position to an appointed one.
The board reported that the SEMASD PILOT payment for April 2025 is $303,401.
Sharon Hartley of the Events Committee reported changes in this year’s Memorial Day parade celebration over last year’s event. The parade on Sunday, May 25 will begin at the COA senior center on Dexter Lane and end at the town office building. First, at the COA, the local singing group, the Showstoppers, will sing the Pledge of Allegiance. Then the parade route will march from the COA to where the Rochester Memorial School Band will be playing at town hall, then to the Civil War monument at Daggart Square Square, then back to the COA.
The board approved amending a new street name at a new subdivision, Freetown Farms, off of Dr. Braley Road. The street will be known as Gates Farm Road.
The next meeting of the Rochester Select Board is scheduled for Monday, June 5 at 6:00 pm. at Town Hall, 1 Constitution Way.
Rochester Select Board
By Michael J. DeCicco