Town Administrator Suzanne Szyndlar summarized Town Meeting warrant articles for the Board of Selectmen during its June 1 remote access meeting. The board will hold at least one more meeting before the Monday, June 22, 7:00 pm Town Meeting at Rochester Memorial School.
The annual operating budget will see a 1.97 percent increase for FY21 to cover general government, public safety, public works, human services, cultural and recreation programs, fixed costs, debt and insurances. The total is approximately $22,200,000. “FinCom worked very hard to get this budget; it covers the needs as well as our fixed costs,” said Szyndlar.
Szyndlar’s rundown of warrant articles yielded the following highlights:
Article 10 addresses capital funding from the Capital Improvement Fund: Among the six items recommended are: technological upgrades at Rochester Memorial School in excess of $26,000; an HVAC rooftop compressor; town hall basement work at $7,000; a message-board trailer $16,000, a walk-in refrigerator; and a gas-burner for the Council on Aging.
Article 11 is a highway excavator at $99,500 that would be paid for with free cash. Capital planning had it as a recommendation but there is no funding source.
Article 12 proposes a change to the date of the town election to the fourth Wednesday of May, which would schedule the election after town meeting in a departure of the tradition. (Due to circumstances falling out from the coronavirus pandemic, this year’s town election will be held on Wednesday, June 17, with town meeting on Monday, June 22.)
Articles 16 and 17 proposed the town’s acceptance of changes to Forbes Road and Douglas Corner Road. Town Counsel Blair Bailey said the Planning Board will hold a public hearing on the matter on Tuesday, June 9, and the Board of Selectmen will need one more meeting before town meeting, then town meeting votes on acceptance. Bailey clarified that the two roads affect one section of the Connet Woods development and that the Planning Board will vote on whether the proposal is complete enough to accept.
Article 18 proposes an easement at Ryder Road and Old Middleboro Road for access to Seaboard Solar Holding LLC. Bailey said the affected stretch of Old Middleboro Road is considered an “ancient way” so the work would not be allowed unless improved to a standard set by the Planning Board. Old Middleboro Road’s traditional route comes close at one point to a wetland. The Conservation Commission was asked by the applicant to encroach town property abutting Old Middleboro Road in order to avoid wetlands. Selectman Brad Morse asked if the easement would result in better access to Rochester’s town-owned property, to which Bailey answered, “Yes. It’ll go far beyond our piece.”
Article 19 proposes crediting firefighters with up to five years of service toward retirement benefits for years of “call duty” before officially becoming town employees. Bailey explained that several former call firefighters now work for the Department of Public Works or the Highway Department, and this would credit those employees as though they were officially in town employment during their call-firefighting careers.
Morse and Woody Hartley sought more detail in terms of number affected and financial impact. Exact numbers were not available, but Bailey said it was not many. “We have to know that,” said Morse, who said he is “in favor of it” but that the selectmen have to do their homework and be able to defend the approval at town meeting.
Article 21 will see the town vote on whether to appropriate $300,000 instead of the originally planned $100,000 addition to the stability fund. “Because of the environment that we’re in and uncertain budget cycles, we need to be prudent and put as much as possible into our stability fund,” said Szyndlar.
Article 22 is a citizens’ petition to transfer from free cash $50,000 in order to reduce the tax rate.
In her Town Administrator’s Report, Szyndlar reported having recently received a Green Communities grant contract. Rochester applied for $136,000 to assist with energy conservation measures, lighting controls, spray valves, technical assistance at the Council on Aging, Fire Department, Library, Police Department, Memorial School, and Town Hall. Once the state’s Department of Energy Resources responds, Rochester can approve the targeted projects that were voted forward at last fall’s town meeting. None of the projects, said Szyndlar, fall under the capital funding category.
“It’s important that we walked through the list,” said Szyndlar. “This money is going to carry over the next few years.” She added a longer-range dimension to their significance in terms of value and “biggest bang for the buck” because Rochester in this scenario is more likely to be granted approval by energy resources. “Some of these seem minor,” she said, “but it’s really gearing up for the future contracts that we have.” Conservation Agent Laurell Farinon played a role along with vendors and consultants. “We did some really great research and made some really good decisions. It was a good team,” said Szyndlar.
As of June 1, half of Rochester’s early-voting applications had been sent out with the remaining number expected to be received by Thursday, June 4.
Szyndlar reported that town buildings remain subject to restrictions and protocols including 25 percent occupancy and six feet of personal separation. “Until we can meet these requirements, Town Hall and the Annex will postpone interactions with the public except by appointment only,” she said.
The town website will soon have details regarding access to Town Hall, Annex, Council on Aging, and Library. “We have to keep the employees safe as well, so we really have to give this some detailed thought here,” said Szyndlar, alluding to the challenge presented by the confined spacing in the town’s public buildings.
The board went into executive session to discuss the potential purchase of land at Rounseville Road, and came back to public session to vote to approve an order not to exceed $160,000 in an effort to make that purchase.
Hartley reported a positive meeting with other town department heads, along with an online training he attended on COVID-19 as it affects elections and town meeting. “We spent most of the time (in the multi-department meeting) talking about COVID-19, but it was well attended and a well thought out meeting. It was a good meeting to attend. (It) made you feel good about our town,” he said.
The next meeting of the Rochester Board of Selectmen will be held on Monday, June 8. Typically held at 11:00 am, the meeting will be held at 6:00 pm to include the Finance Committee, Capital Planning Committee, town meeting moderator, and the town clerk for final town meeting warrant review and recommendations, after which the Board of Selectmen will presumably sign the posted warrant.
Rochester Board of Selectmen
By Mick Colageo