Rochester Select Board Tuesday approved amendments to the Senior Tax Work-Off Abatement Policy that will decrease the age and increase the income level that qualifies a senior to participate in the program.
Council on Aging Executive Director Eric Poulin told the Select Board that the town’s regulations state that the starting point to qualify for the program is age 62 or older. He and the COA board recommend Rochester amend its language to say “60 or older,” the age limit other towns have.
He added that the town should raise its cap on the number of seniors who may qualify for the program from 20 to 25, explaining the town will get more seniors interested in joining with the above change in policy. He then noted that a senior resident complaining about her property-tax bill researched the income limit accepted by other area towns – $75,000 per year. Rochester’s limit is $47,000. “We’re one of the lowest around,” Poulin said.
The board approved all the recommended changes in a unanimous decision. Seniors age 60 and older and with a maximum yearly income of $75,000 will now qualify to work off up to $2,000 worth of their property-tax debt, and up to 25 seniors will be allowed on the program per year.
The board also endorsed the Buzzards Bay Coalition’s request to amend the Sperry property Conservation Restriction on Marion Road by increasing the property to 16 acres.
BBC representative Allen Decker asked the Select Board to sign the amendment to add 2.38 acres east of the Elliott Farm to the 1.5 acres that town and BBC have co-owned under a Conservation Restriction since 2005. Decker said the additional land was purchased by the current, private owner in 2019. The additional acres will be used for the same purpose as the original CR, he said. It consists of good farmland soil.
Asked by Select Board member Adam Murphy if he was certain the new acreage will become farmland, Decker said, “I don’t know, but they have the ability to farm it and they intend to do so.” The board then swiftly approved the amendment unanimously.
In other action, the board appointed Paul Ciaburri as the Select Board’s new SRPEDD representative.
The board agreed to sign the purchase agreement for new salt sheds for $75,000. Town Administrator Glenn Cannon said the two sheds will be placed at the Ryder Road DPW location after a separate installation contract has been finalized.
Cannon announced the Select Board will meet on Monday, April 22, to review the May 13 Annual Town Meeting warrant.
Cannon announced vacancies on the following boards that need to be filled: Zoning Board of Appeals alternate member for the Soil Board, Cultural Council; Historical Commission and Historic District Commission.
The board approved the annual morning Frosty Runners Road Race route around Old Colony Regional Vocational-Technical High School property and necessary road closures on January 25, 2025.
The board approved the Old Rochester Youth Baseball Parade route through town on Saturday, May 4, starting at 9:00 am.
The Rochester Select Board will meet next on Monday, April 22, at 6:00 pm at the Senior Center, 67 Dexter Lane.
Rochester Select Board
By Michael J. DeCicco