Rochester’s Select Board began its busy meeting Monday by hosting Plymouth County Treasurer Thomas O’Brien’s presentation of over $32,000 of ARPA funds to the town.
O’Brien explained before posing with the oversize facsimile of the check with Select Board members that the $32,382.71 the town is receiving actually combines two checks responding to recent town applications for the funds. He noted with pride that this is actually the second ARPA fund check the county has been able to award the town since the program began last year.
The Plymouth County Commissioners awarded the town $62,226.33 in August of 2024 to fulfill two funding requests last year, $218,000 for revenue replacement and $384,800 for a new ambulance. This year’s money will be used for a power lift for the town ambulance crew and an emergency generator for the Council on Aging.
Selectman Paul Ciaburri thank the Plymouth County Commission for its help with the town applications. “With all the help you gave us you made it easy.” “This was a good way to chop down our list of needs,” Chair Adam Murphy added. “Thank you.”
Next, the board reviewed but would not immediately agree to a request from the developer of the plan to construct a new Old Colony Regional Vocational-Technical High School to waive a portion of the building fees that will be required. Chad Crittenden and Walter Hartley of PMA Consultants pointed out that the recent Bristol-Plymouth Regional Vocational-Technical High School construction project received such waivers from district member towns. They said the next budget meeting on the project will be on September 3 at Old Colony. Their request for permit waivers was in anticipation of that meeting. Permit waivers would keep the overall cost of the project down.
The Select Board tabled a decision, saying they need the input of Town Counsil first. “We have to represent and protect our residents first,” Member Brad Morse said. Old Colony Superintendent Aaron Polansky elaborated that interested officials from relevant departments of all the member towns are invited to attend the September 3 meeting, and he will reach out to the member towns for their input as the planning process continues.
Following this agenda item, the selectmen approved the appointment of two new, highly experienced Rochester Police Department reserve officers, Garry Turgiss and Todd Bazarewsky. Before they were sworn in by Town Clerk Marjorie Barrows, Police Chief Michael Assad announced that Turgiss is a retired Massachusetts State Trooper after 20 years of service. He has served with Yarmouth, Dennis and Rochester police departments and is a Gulf War veteran. Bazarewsky is a retired police lieutenant. His career began in 1988 with the Wareham Police Department, followed by service on the Middleboro Police Department. “It is an honor to welcome you both to Team RPD,” Assad said.
In other action, the Select Board reviewed complaints from neighbors of 0 Walnut Plain Road who say squatters who are not the property owners of that address are residing in campers and being a neighborhood nuisance. Abutter Mike Reed said this has been an on-going problem for over 20 years and police and town inspectors have not been effective in helping them. Durant said the main complication is that the town does not know who the owner is. Murphy said the town is taking steps through the court system to resolve the issue. He advised the abutters to lodge formal complaints that town police and inspectors can follow-up on.
The board approved New England Rodeo’s request to extend its season at 65 Pine St. into the first and third Saturdays of October. The board gave Town Administrator Cameron Durant the go-ahead to draft the extension language into the town’s agreement with the rodeo organization. Durant encouraged the move, saying the rodeos have been “am overwhelming success. No concerns with safety. Police and fire chiefs report no problems.”
The board approved the CRW Cranberry Century Club Cycling event’s route through town on October 12.
The board approved a request to close town hall at 11:00 am on September 12 for the Employee Appreciation Luncheon.
The next meeting of the Rochester Select Board is scheduled for Tuesday, September 2 at 6:00 pm at Town Hall, 1 Constitution Way.
Rochester Select Board
By Michael J. DeCicco