Rochester’s search for a new Town Planner is under way, three months after John Charbonneau left to take a position with Raynham.
The search committee will include Planning Board Chairman Arnie Johnson and member Ben Bailey, in addition to Town Administrator Richard LaCamera and Selectman Bradford Morse.
“We’ll meet the week after next to whittle down the candidates,” Johnson said. “Hopefully we’ll start the new year off with a planner.”
Like Charbonneau, who split his time in Rochester with similar duties in Wareham, the next Rochester planner will be part-time.
In other news at last week’s Planning Board meeting, Johnson announced that member Mike Murphy had resigned from both that body and the Rochester Zoning Bylaw Subcommittee.
“I’m sorry he’s gone, because he was a real asset to the board,” Planning Board member Susan Teal said. “He was a walking encyclopedia.”
Elsewhere on the agenda, the Planning Board continued once again the public hearing for the proposed Covanta Energy CNG Fueling Station, this time until December 10.
In addition, the Planning Board scheduled a December 5 site visit to the Little Quittacas Solar Project at 33 North Ave. to inspect the constructed berm and storm-water drainage basins. Currently, Rochester holds a $495,000 bond to ensure specifications are met. Johnson said that the berm and basins are at or near completion, as well as in compliance, but there are areas where grass has not sprouted. The plan, Johnson said, is to release upward of $490,000 of the bond back to Little Quittacas, holding on to about $5,000 the Planning Board can do a final check on the premises.
By Shawn Badgley