Grant Writer Pamela Marean volunteered to change her employment conditions after the controversy surrounding her performance came up during budget season when the Finance Committee wanted to cut the position, citing less than favorable results from Marean.

“I’ve never had someone question my ability as a grant writer,” said Marean. She proposed changing her salaried 20-hour workweek position to an hourly as-needed position as grants come up that department heads want to pursue.

The possible downfall to her proposal, she stated, could be department heads not taking the initiative in reaching out to Marean to work together on researching and pursuing grants.

Board of Selectmen Chairman John Henry said the board responded favorably to Marean’s proposal, and voted to accept her offer. The board will now take current tentative grants for projects under advisement to see which ones Marean will continue to work on with the Town.

“I want to thank you for accepting me for another year anyway,” said Marean, who had the board’s support throughout the prior discussions with the FinCom. “I think this is going to be a win-win situation.”

Also during the meeting, the board voted to follow town counsel’s recommendation to pursue legal action regarding the 3 Cottage Lane matter, voting to seek legal action against the homeowner in hopes that it will compel the homeowners to comply with the Board of Health’s and the building commissioner’s orders to clean up the property and make the structure safe.

Town Administrator Paul Dawson said the 60 days given to take action to improve the property was up as of that evening on June 17, and Dawson said the Town had hoped for significantly more progress than what has occurred up until now. He added that if the structure is not improved, it could be torn down.

The board approved seeking a temporary restraining order and getting a Land Court-ordered time frame for compliance.

“This is not about punishment,” said Dawson. “This is not about singling them out … It’s about compliance.”

Both the Board of Health and Building Commissioner Scott Shippey recommended the action.

“As a town, we’ve been more than lenient and understanding and we have some expectations,” said Selectman Steve Cushing. “We have neighbors that have very legitimate concerns … and it’s a balancing act.”

In other news, Dawson briefed the board on the Sprague’s Cove situation, which now entails that selectmen receive proposals from the Conservation Commission and the Open Space Acquisition Commission as to how to best manage the parcel of wetlands. Selectmen will then have to make a recommendation to Town Meeting as to who will be granted jurisdiction over the future of the wetlands.

Town Meeting back in May denied ConCom’s request for funding to actively manage the wetlands, and a petition has been circulating around town regarding ConCom’s authority over the matter, asking that jurisdiction be given to the Open Space Acquisition Commission.

Dawson said both commissions have two different schools of thought on how best to manage the wetlands, with ConCom wanting an active approach and Open Space preferring a more laissez-faire approach.

The matter will be discussed at the next Board of Selectmen meeting.

Henry brought up a meeting he had on June 9 with Dawson and FinCom Chairman Alan Minard regarding Minard’s concerns over the budget formulation and the relationship between the committee and department heads during the process.

Henry said there is no budget formulation process, per se, and he supports the role of the Finance Committee and values its concerns.

Henry also brought up recent contention between the FinCom and the Fire Department that was stirred up by comments FinCom members made about the fire chief during a prior FinCom meeting. Henry said at that informal meeting with Dawson and Minard, he “fired a warning shot across the bow” of the Finance Committee regarding its criticism of the fire chief.

Having said that, Henry later added, “I had no intention of overthrowing the Finance Committee … I’d be a fool to do that…”

Henry said he did not feel the issue was fully resolved, but he shook hands with Minard and the meeting did not require “fist fighting or calling the cops.”

In other matters, the board approved Shippey’s new fees for solar array installations, following Town Meeting acceptance of the new solar facilities by-law.

Shippey said he researched fees adopted in other Towns and chose the middle road when he set Marion’s solar array building permit fees.

For residential, the fee is set at $60 for the first four panels and $2 per panel thereafter. The commercial fee is set at $100 for the first four panels and $3 per panel thereafter.

The board discussed at length their discomfort over a June 25 circus event planned for Washburn Park, of which some board members were unaware until that evening.

The three selectmen felt that, because the event is a significant event, some sort of permit should have to be issued, or at least the trustees should have to come before the board to announce the event.

In other news, the board approved the transfer of a surplus police vehicle to the Fire Department, and the board heard from Will Saltonstall, an architect representing Tabor Academy, which intends to build a new dormitory and also to tentatively purchase 114 Spring Street as long as the house can be tied into the sewer and water line.

Both Tabor matters will be discussed in detail at the next Board of Selectmen meeting on July 15.

By Jean Perry

After narrowing it down to two candidates, Rochester selectmen on June 16 held final interviews for the two finalists to replace Town Administrator Richard LaCamera, and then chose current Town of Avon Town Administrator Michael McCue over Newburyport’s Director of Policy and Administration Peter Lombardi.

After concluding the interviews, Selectman Richard Nunes was first to speak up in favor of McCue because he has experience working as a town administrator for a smaller town, saying he thought McCue’s transition to Rochester would be more “seamless.” Plus, he added, he only lives 40 minutes away.

“[Lombardi] is personable, smart, and knowledgeable,” said Nunes, “but I just think it’s a different system where he’s coming from…”

“It’s a small town and Avon is a small town,” concurred Selectman Naida Parker, who thought McCue was a better fit for the Town. “You’re not going to get anyone like Richard (LaCamera),” she added. “You bring something to the table that is unique,” Parker told Town Administrator Richard LaCamera during his last official Board of Selectmen meeting.

Chairman Bradford Morse favored Lombardi and abstained from voting after Nunes made the motion to appoint McCue.

McCue told selectmen, “I’m the type of person that believes it’s always worth a second look,” he said describing his experience with budget issues. “I believe the budget in any town … is the reflection of the policy of the board and Town Meeting.”

The appointment is subject to contract negotiations, and McCue would begin by August 1 should he accept the position.

Also during the meeting, selectmen received a presentation from ABC Disposal, Inc. representatives before signing the ten-year contract for automated trash and recycling services from ABC.

Residents will receive a 65-gallon cart for trash and a 95-gallon cart for single stream recycling. Trash pick-up will continue on a weekly basis, and recycling will be picked up every other week – both on Friday.

Once the final design is approved, ABC will mail an informational flyer to Rochester residents detailing the new process that is slated to begin on January 1.

LaCamera said the Town would save $15,000 the first year and $17,000 the second year, making the contract “well worth the investment in this program.”

In other news, Standard & Poor’s Rating Service issued a summary dated May 21 explaining why it increased Rochester’s bond rating from “AA” to AA+,” citing a strong economy, strong financial management, very strong budgetary flexibility, and the Town’s “strong debt and contingent liabilities position.”

“Basically, they said the Town has done an outstanding job,” said LaCamera.

LaCamera was, however, disappointed that the Town’s bond rating was not raised to the coveted “AAA” rating, frankly stating that it was because the assessors didn’t send the tax bills out in time, resulting in the Town having to borrow short-term money.

“The bond rating itself is very good,” said LaCamera. “We can’t complain about that.”

Also during the meeting, Sharon Lally from the Council on Aging presented a sketched floor plan of the proposed new layout of the Senior Center on Dexter Lane, highlighting a larger-sized activities room for the placement of fitness equipment, something Lally said COA members have been requesting for some time.

Lally said the COA had acquired a full set of fitness equipment from a fitness club that went out of business.

“Any costs that we incur from this … is going to come out of the Council on Aging donations account,” said Lally. The only cost to the Town, she said, would be the work hours Town Facilities Manager Andrew Daniel spends assisting with the renovation.

LaCamera pointed out that an engineer would be required to design the handicap accessible walkway leading out from the proposed activities room into the parking lot, and a trained staff member must be assigned to remain in the room during all times that guests are using the fitness equipment.

The board approved the plan as presented, and Lally said renovations should begin some time in July.

School Superintendent Doug White asked the board to support potentially leasing out vacant space at Rochester Memorial Elementary School in accordance with the Rochester School Committee’s building use policy.

The space would be rented at $75 per day plus a $25 utilities fee, and only educational programs would be allowed to lease the classroom space at RMS.

The board agreed with White that the space should be leased on a year-to-year basis to see how it goes, and to monitor the population fluctuation at RMS that might require the classroom space in the future.

Before adjourning, LaCamera brought to the attention of the board a sum of $1,035,000 in money to repair roadways, which has “been sitting there” for far too long. He said residents are asking when road repairs will begin, and LaCamera advocated that the taxpayers have a right to know the details on when and what will happen regarding road repairs.

LaCamera thanked the board for their support during his years working for the Town of Rochester, saying, “It’s been a terrific opportunity for me … I’ve met some great people. This is a great town.”

“Enjoy your retirement, it’s well deserved,” said Morse.

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

By Jean Perry