Rochester’s Select Board met Tuesday to award citations congratulating four local Boy Scouts for achieving the rank of Eagle Scout.
Noah Bellesville, Logan Empey, and Reece Bethoney of Troop 31 were present to receive their honor in person. The fourth honoree, Quinn Thompson, was unable to attend.
“While it’s a rare honor, it’s not so rare in Rochester, “Town Administrator Cameron Durant said when announcing the presentation. He noted multiple young scouts have earned Eagle Scout status since the local troop began in 1961. “It says a lot about the values of the people of this community.”
After the presentation, Empey told The Wanderer the project he completed to earn his badge was building an archery and ace practice board for the Mattapoisett YMCA. Bethoney’s project was to build community boxes for storing recreational gear, one for local pickleball play equipment and the other for beach balls at Silvershell Beach. Bellesville built a picnic table for Old Colony Regional Vocational-Technical High School.
In other meeting action, the Select Board approved and signed a contract with Indus for seal-coat services on the town’s roads. Durant said the contract price is $14.47 per gallon of seal coat. He said the final cost will not be known until the total project is complete but will be paid through town and Chapter 90 funds.
Durant announced the Old Colony Regional Vocational-Technical High School District is conducting a regional meeting at the school to vote on the district’s plan to fund a new school facility on November 10. He noted the town website will post important information on this plan.
Durant also announced the next Select Board meeting will include a joint meeting with the Water Commission on how to solve the problem with invasive milfoil weeds growing in the town’s ponds. Options include herbicide treatments and renting or buying a harvester to stop them from choking off the ponds.
The next meeting of the Rochester Select Board is scheduled for Monday, September 15 at 6:00 pm at Town Hall, 1 Constitution Way.
Rochester Select Board
By Michael J. DeCicco