A quiet meeting of the Planning Board turned into a semi-heated debate over the potential for a Community Preservation Act in Rochester, with some Planning Board members speculating that the Conservation Committee had used town personnel and funds to mail flyers that they say are fully in support of the CPA.

“The Planning Board does not support this,” said Chairman Arnold Johnson, who argued against the CPA along with Ben Bailey and other members of the Board. The only member of the Planning Board present to support the Article, which will be voted on at Town Meeting later this month, was Susan Teal.

“In the towns where it’s been passed, it’s been considered a moderate success,” Teal said. “There are other examples where it’s worked, so I think we should give it a try.”

Bailey said that a flyer fully in support of the CPA had been created by the Conservation Committee, which Teal said was published with funds from the Buzzards Bay Coalition, had at least been reviewed by paid employees of town, as well has having been mailed on the town’s postage permit.

“It was reviewed by Town Counsel – that’s tax dollars,” he said. “That doesn’t sit well with me.”

Johnson said that though there’s noting wrong with a committee being in favor of an article, they’re not permitted to use town money to push for it.

“When we were pushing for [Rochester Memorial School], they had to fund [informational brochures, etc.] without having any of us [the Planning Board] on it,” said Johnson, who added that a separate group was formed for fundraising and promotion for that issue in particular.

Johnson and Bailey also said that the brochure, which was mailed to residents, was deceiving because it did not provide anything negative about CPAs.

“The brochure is misleading because it doesn’t provide all the info,” Johnson said.

“There were no cons,” Bailey agreed.

According to Teal, the added tax for residents with a vote in favor of the CPA would be about $54 dollars per year, and that money would go into a rolling fund, upward of 27 percent of which  is matched by the state for preserving things like historical buildings and open space in town, as well as potentially providing funds for affordable housing and other projects.

In other news, the board discussed tree removal along Route 105, which is considered a Scenic Highway, which means the they must first approve any tree removal along the road.

“Some neighbors aren’t happy that a house is being put in there,” said Johnson, who said they must have a hearing, which will take place at the next meeting of the Planning Board, before any trees can be removed. “We’ll have a hearing to cover the basics for the town and the applicant.”

The Board also voted to continue the public hearing for Covanta Energy regarding the future construction of a CNG Fueling Station on Route 28, noting that the next meeting could eventually be the last in a series of public hearings, at which it’s likely they approve the final plans for the site.

“I didn’t see anything earth-shattering [in the latest plans],” Johnson said.

The next meeting of the Planning Board is scheduled for November 22.

By Nick Walecka

Like most schools, Rochester Memorial School has shown both strengths and weaknesses in their 2013 MCAS results, and from those results, the administration has identified areas that need more focus in the future.

“There’s good positive trends with a good majority of our students,” said Principal Derek Medeiros, who took over in September.

Medeiros and Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum Elise Frangos have identified writing and math as two key areas that needed improvement at the school.“We’re hyper-focusing on writing,” said Frangos, adding that “we’ll be exploring other more optimal ways to present mathematics to students.”

Overall, the school saw 73 percent of students score either advanced or proficient in English and Language Arts (ELA), and 68 percent of students score either advanced or proficient in Math.

One area that Frangos noted needs improvement is in the fifth-graders’ Science and Technology scores, where just 32 percent of students scored advanced or proficient, but Frangos cited the implementation of a new program at the school last year.

“Last year was a year where we significantly shifted [the science and technology program],” she said. “There was a big shift during the year, and we had a lot going on.”

Another area notable of being in need of improvement was fourth-grade Math, which showed 45 percent of students in that category.

As far as student growth is concerned, students’ scores reflected 58 percent growth in both Math and ELA.

“We are above the state average, which is 50 percent growth each year,” Medeiros said.

The Committee discussed the possibility of departmentalization for teachers at the school, but said that they didn’t foresee any changes in the near future. Currently, teachers are responsible for teaching across the disciplines, though some members of the committee and the community have expressed a need for dedicated teachers for each subject area.

“Although we have talked about departmentalizing, I’d like to talk to the teachers before we do that,” Medeiros said.

In other news, Facilities Manager Gene Jones said work is being done to the school that will allow those in the office to control the locks for the entire school.

Also, Superintendent Doug White said that an opening for the Business Administrator at the school has not yet been filled.

“We’re trying to find someone with some experience,” said White, who noted that he’d received some interest from retirees looking for part-time work, but not yet for a full-timer. “This is really a position that needs a full-time person.”

By Nick Walecka