The Rochester Select Board on Monday scheduled a Special Town Meeting for January 25, 2027.
Before the approval vote, Town Administrator Cameron Durant said he should have enough warrant article material for that date. He hinted the warrant might include measures to fund a consultant to help with the transition when long-time Financial Director Suzanne Szyndlar retires next year, as well as the proposal to acquire the YMCA property on Snows Pond. But he offered no further details on town meeting plans.
In August, the select board began considering purchasing the 29-acre property on Snows Pond Road at Snipatuit Pond for $1.3 million to preserve it as conservation land. At that meeting, Durant announced that the regional YMCA, which bought the property from the Fairhaven Unitarian Church and used it for a boys’ camp, was looking to sell it.
The Special Town Meeting was set for January 25, 2027, at 7:00 pm in the Rochester Memorial School cafetorium at 16 Pine St.
Monday’s meeting began with the board approving an addendum to Facilities Director Andrew Daniels’ contract that will allow him to oversee all Parks Department property maintenance, a task that was previously the responsibility of the Park Commission.
In May, Durant explained the Park Commission needs help with the department’s daily operations because one member of the commission has decided against running for re-election and another member wishes to retire. Durant’s proposal to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOI) with the commission that will give the select board the ability to manage the park’s day-to-day operations has since been finalized.
On Monday, select board member Adam Murphy asked if there had been any complaints since the change. Daniels answered that the Park Commission used to have older, retired members who were able to supervise day-to-day maintenance. Now it has younger members with jobs and families who can’t get to the parks daily to make maintenance is happening. New staff is filling that need.
In other action, Durant updated the board on the Flock camera issue. In early October, the board suspended the use of the AI-powered Flock cameras scattered around town that video-record car license plates and, townspeople complained, spread their private data. Durant said Monday he has reached out to the Flock camera company for answers. He said he expects a resolution to the townspeople’s concerns more than 30 days from now. This will take time, he said.
Durant also announced that a subcommittee will be considering appointing Dr. Michael Amato to a vacant seat on the Finance Committee on Monday following the select board meeting. The hiring committee, which includes Select Board Chair Paul Ciaburri, Town Moderator David Arancio and FinCom Vice-Chair Anthony Ruocco, considered Amato for the seat in early October. The appointment stalled then because Amato was unable to be present, as he is also an on-call firefighter.
The board announced that the October SEMASS in lieu of taxes payment to the town is $385,199.
The Rochester Select Board did not set its next meeting before adjourning.