Rochester’s Select Board Monday learned doubly good news regarding the plan to upgrade internet technology for town offices.
Town Administrator Cameron Durant announced the town has received $236,000 from Governor Maura Healey and Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll’s Office of Community Compact Municipal Fiber Grant Award Program. But the even better news is that the quote to install a fiberoptic system for all of the town’s municipal buildings came in at $130,000, he said, meaning that $100,000 can be set aside for a future related use. Plus, the $150,000 appropriated at last month’s Town Meeting for the project will be more than covered.
Durant said this new internet technology system will connect the main Town Hall, the Town Hall annex, the COA Senior Center, the Police Station, Rochester Memorial School and 65 Pine Street. The installation, he said, will mean “better and safer service for the town offices.”
Also Monday, the Select Board approved Verizon New England’s proposal for a new mid-span Eversource utility pole on the west side of Cushman Road, two weeks after helping an abutter to address his objections to the plan. At the Select Board’s last meeting, 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 and almost right outside his front door. Then-Chair Bradford Morse noted such a pole can be moved and motioned the hearing be continued until Eversource could speak to the problem.
On Monday, Eversource representative Steve Delsonno said the company has considered the abutter’s comments and redesigned the installation as a result. The pole, he said, will be moved 300 feet from its original location to a location in front of a large, wooded area. “Your comments were taken into account,” he said. “We have submitted a re-design and hope the board will approve it.” After the Select Board unanimously endorsed the new location, Snider and his wife thanked Eversource for being willing to work with them on this solution.
In other action, the board announced and signed a proclamation that honored former Memorial School teacher and Rochester School Committee Chair Sharon Hartley. She recently retired from the school board, declining to run for re-election after more than 50 years in education.
The board approved Jerelle Jesse as a new Conservation Commission Associate member and Meredith Rousseau as a new member of the Personnel Board.
The board approved David Arancio’s Letter of Resignation from the Zoning Board of Appeals and Brian Porter’s letter resigning from the Public Safety Facility Building Committee.
The Select Board re-organized, appointing Adam Murphy as the new chair and Paul Ciaburri as new vice-chair.
The board approved the Rochester Firefighters Association’s request to donate a cargo van for carrying ATV equipment to the Rochester Fire Department.
The board appointed Durant as the town’s representative on the SRPEDD Joint Transportation Planning Group.
Morse announced there are vacancies on town boards that need filling, and the town would like to hear from interested candidates. There are open seats on the Zoning Board of Appeals, the Soil Board, the Historical Commission, the Historic District Commission, and the Cultural Council.
The next meeting of the Rochester Select Board is scheduled for Monday, June 16, at 6:00 pm at Town Hall, 1 Constitution Way.
Rochester Select Board
By Michael J. DeCicco