The Rochester Board of Selectmen on February 29 officially decided to not hold a special town meeting, given that an annual town meeting isn’t too far off.

Town Administrator Michael McCue advised the board that since a special town meeting wouldn’t be possible until some time in late April, it would be prudent and more economical to simply wait until the annual town meeting and hold a special then.

Selectmen had been waiting to schedule a special town meeting until the state legislature passed special legislation to uphold the votes of the June 8 Annual Town Meeting that was discovered to have been held without a quorum. That legislation, although making progress, still has the town waiting.

“Given the unpredictability of determining the date in which the [legislation] we’re waiting on … will come to fruition,” McCue said, advising selectmen to support his recommendation.

McCue said an annual town meeting at the end of May would suffice, and any financial requests that various departments had prepared for articles on a special town meeting warrant have been addressed with the Finance Committee through other means of funding.

A special town meeting warrant would have featured an article to return the town meeting quorum back to 75 from 100 but, as McCue pointed out, holding a special town meeting now would still not be enough time for it to pass through the attorney general’s office for final approval before the annual town meeting.

“As much as we want to make that change, the timing is such that it won’t work out,” said McCue. “It’s my recommendation that we forego it.”

No motion was required, just the unanimous support of the selectmen.

Also during the meeting, McCue said the Town has applied for $37,000 of a $2 million state technology grant to allow for a major upgrade of the town’s email system, which McCue said was “sorely in need of an update.”

McCue is also hoping to secure some funding from the A.D. Makepeace Neighborhood Fund grant for a new thermal imaging system for the Fire Department, funding to offset the rising cost of running the Rochester Country Fair, and for funding requested by the Conservation Commission for the improvement of walking trails in town, specifically near Mary’s Pond.

The next meeting of the Rochester Board of Selectmen is scheduled for March 7 at 6:30 pm at the Rochester Town Hall.

By Jean Perry

Mattapoisett’s Finance Committee met with several department heads on February 24 as they review, question, and prepare budgets for the spring town meeting warrant.

Police Chief Mary Lyons brought a budget that she described as having “no real surprises.” She said wage step increases, longevity pay, and career incentives were all annual standard increases. Lyons also said union negotiations will begin on June 30. But regarding the $1.9 million budget, which is up $33,000 over fiscal year 2016, she explained, “It’s what we function on and we make it work.”

Although the evening was not scheduled for capital planning decisions, Town Administrator Michael Gagne asked Lyons to share what she had placed on that list.

Lyons has asked for funding for a new cruiser along with safety traffic signals for use at strategic locations.

The bike path that passes through Mattapoisett Neck Road and Brandt Island Road are dangerous crossings, as previously identified by residents attending Bike Path Committee meetings.

Lyons said a flashing speed limit sign would be beneficial to increasing motorists’ awareness of the pedestrian and bicycling crossings while also alerting them to the speed they are traveling. She also hoped to replace an ancient mobile traffic safety sign to be used at other locations in town on a rotating basis.

Fire Chief Andrew Murray also offered a budget that didn’t alarm the committee. He did note a request for a full-time clerk. Murray said the current position is only funded for 19.5 hours per week, which is not enough to handle the growing demands of the Fire Department.

But Finance Committee Chairman Pat Donoghue replied, “Once you go over 30 hours, you have to pick up $13,000 in benefits.” The Fire Department’s proposed FY17 budget is pegged at $410,114.

Murray was also asked to speak to capital needs.

Murray said it was time to replace the aging hoses.

“The four-inch hose is over 20 years old,” he told the committee. The total cost to replace the hoses is estimated at $28,000. He is also asking for a second thermo-imaging camera at an estimated cost of $3,500.

Rounding out his discussion, Murray said that Engine 2 is nearly 60 percent through massive repairs and upgrades previously budgeted. Once this engine is back, it should have another 15 years of service he concluded.

Harbormaster Jill Simmons presented a budget worksheet that she described as “different” from the standard worksheet used.

Simmons said that she was closing out some line items and adding new ones in an effort to have better control over spending and accounting for those expenditures. New on the worksheet were such line items as boat maintenance and repairs, boat fuel, dock and float repairs, and pump out expenses. Previously, those types of expenses were rolled into less specific categories, which made it difficult to understand where and how monies were being spent, Simmons said.

The FY16 budget had been $190,342 while the FY17 budget comes in at $249,990.

The harbormaster’s list of capital needs includes $19,000 for repair and replacement of pilings on Long Wharf and $80,000 for dredging between Long and Holmes wharves.

Also present that evening was Highway Superintendent Barry Denham, whose reams of documents helped to illustrate the demands made on his department.

“I’m trying to leave a history for my replacement,” said Denham.

With a budget slightly north of half a million dollars, the Highway Department answers the call in all kinds of weather and for all kinds of assistance.

Denham produced a report that detailed the number of hours and associated costs when his team is dispatched to provide services to the Recreation Department, Natural Resources, Board of Health, Fire Department, harbormaster, Police Department, public schools, town hall, tree warden and, last but not least, the Water Department.

Between July 2015 and February 2016, the Highway Department had clocked in 2,215 hours in aiding other town departments. When asked if his department was reimbursed by the other town departments needing the services of the Highway Department he replied, “I eat it. It comes out of my budget.”

“I need a full-time clerk,” Denham told the committee members. He said there is so much filing and paperwork it can’t be handled in 19.5 hours per week.

When it was suggested by a committee member that he simply hire another part-time clerk, Denham said it really wouldn’t solve the problem because, “We need someone who knows the work … for continuity in the office.”

Again, Donoghue noted the employee benefits associated with adding full-time positions.

Denham also discussed the snow removal budget. He said that, although it has been a mild winter, his team had been out treating roads 17 times. He explained that he is using a combination of straight salt and liquid deicing products to save money and to keep roadways more ice-free. He said this product also helps to eliminate the need for cleaning sand out of catch basins in the spring.

While discussing town roads that are gravel versus asphalt, he was asked if there were any plans to pave the town’s 16 miles of dirt roads.

“We have to get the asphalt roads on a repair schedule before we talk about putting asphalt on dirt roads,” said Denham.

The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Finance Committee is scheduled for March 2 at 6:30 pm at the Mattapoisett Town Hall.

By Marilou Newell