It looks like Acushnet, Carver, Lakeville, Mattapoisett, and Rochester, the five members of the Old Colony Vocational Education District, will not support the district’s $289 million  building project.

            In a ballot question election on June 20, Rochester went thumbs down on the construction plan with 831 votes “no” and 579 “yes” votes. Plus, town voters decided against paying Rochester’s share of the project costs with a Prop 2 1/2 debt exclusion. This partial override bid lost with 833 no and 580 yes. A total of 1413 residents went to the polls, or roughly 29% of the town’s total of registered voters.

            Anticipating that the other member town would join Rochester in the negative column, Rochester representative on the Old Colony building committee, David Hughes, said, “We gave it our best shot. It’s a little disappointing it didn’t pass. I guess we’ll have to renovate the old building. We’ll still have to find the money.”
            The project would have built a larger, more modern building that would replace the serious infrastructure deficiencies of the current facility at 476 North Avenue in Rochester. Under calculations presented to member towns last year, the state School Building Authority’s reimbursement for the new school’s price tag is projected to be $129M. The remaining total cost that the school district members would share was estimated at approximately $159M. Rochester’s share of that price tag would have been $28.4 million. But both the $289 million request to fund the building project and a proposal to pay for Rochester’s $24 million share of that cost with a debt exclusion resulted in a resounding “no” vote in the November 2025 Election, leading to Old Colony’s move to revote the question on June 20.

            The towns of Acushnet, Carver, Lakeville, and Mattapoisett also voted on the new Old Colony build the same day, yielding a majority “no” vote across the five towns. Superintendent-Director of Old Colony Aaron L. Polansky offered this public statement following the vote:

            “Today our ask for support of a new building was voted down. We respect the decision made by the voters of Acushnet, Carver, Lakeville, Mattapoisett and Rochester and appreciate everyone who participated in today’s vote.

            Following last fall’s vote, the School Committee determined that it was important to provide residents with another opportunity to consider the project and the District’s long-term needs. Over the past several months, community members have had the opportunity to review updated information, attend meetings, ask questions and make their voices heard.

            Today, the voters have spoken, and we respect that decision.

            While the outcome is not what the District had hoped for, the challenges facing the current facility have not changed. Old Colony’s building remains more than 50 years old, and significant investments will still be required to maintain and operate the school in the years ahead.

            Our responsibility now is to carefully evaluate the options available to the District and determine the best path forward for our students, staff, taxpayers and member communities.

We remain proud of the educational opportunities that Old Colony provides and grateful to everyone who participated in this process. Regardless of today’s outcome, our commitment to serving students across the District remains unchanged.

            Thank you to everyone who contributed to our effort. We are grateful for your support and willingness continue working on behalf of the best interests of our Old Colony Community.”

Rochester Special Town Election

By Michael J. DeCicco

Rochester’s Conservation Commission began its meeting Tuesday by approving a Certificate of Compliance for the completed construction of a single-family home at 15 Cross Road that required work within the buffer zone to a cranberry bog. This vote came quickly after Conservation Agent Merilee Kelly confirmed the project was complete.

            Following this approval, the Public Hearing on the Town of Rochester’s Notice of Intent to utilize a harvester to cut and remove aquatic weeds from Snipatuit Pond, a hearing that had been continued for months as the commission considered alternatives, led Tuesday to a discussion with Josh Burnside, a Northeast Technical Specialist of Water Diagnosis and Restoration.

            At the conclusion of his options list, Burnside advised starting with a chemical treatment, followed by mechanical and diving harvesting next. He implied the harvester treatment should not be the first step.

            Burnside added, however, that the best start should be creating a comprehensive management plan. Commission member Matthew Bache asked for an annual cost estimate of the chemical-treatment option. Burnside answered his company manufactures the chemicals. He could not provide “fair” application costs, he said. What should be the town’s next step? Bache then asked. A comprehensive plan, Burnside concluded.

            A commissioner then asked if there is a viable plan for a water body that supports cranberry bogs and wells. Burnside promised to provide the board with a list of similar water bodies to Snipatuit and the type of chemicals that have been applied successfully in those places.

            Asked if the point of eradication of the weeds will ever be reached, Burnside said that point will arrive, but boat launches would then need to be monitored, he said. Burnside, lastly, promised he will provide the board with management-company recommendations for the town’s next steps.

            Next, the board issued an Order of Conditions for the Notice of Intent Public Hearing to construct a four-bedroom, single-family home with septic system on Robinson Road across from Lloyd’s Market within a 100-foot wetlands buffer zone.

            In other action, the commission continued two Notice of Intent hearings for High Street Solar 1 and 2 at 0 High Street to July 7.

            The commission continued to July 7 a Request for Determination of Applicability to town-wetlands regulations for renewal of the wetlands delineation within the vegetative-management plan of a Massachusetts Coastal Railroad right of way in Rochester.

            The commission continued to July 21 the Notice of Intent hearing on constructing a solar array on Walnut Plain Road.

            The commission continued to July 7 the Notice of Intent from John and Stephanie Sullivan of 485 Neck Road to install a metal, retractable deck in Snipatuit Pond and an access ramp to the dock from the bank of the pond.

            The board continued to July 7 the Notice of Intent for the Buzzards Bay Coalition’s ecological-restoration project of former cranberry bogs at 0 Wolf Island Road after chair Christopher Gerrior requested a site visit be scheduled.

            The commission approved a Notice of Intent to alter an area subject to wetlands-protection regulations by cutting trees behind a garage near wetlands at 653 Walnut Plain Road.

            The next Rochester Conservation Commission meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 7, at 7:00 pm at Town Hall, 1 Constitution Way.

Rochester Conservation Commission

By Michael J. DeCicco