Rochester's new Town Planner may not officially start work for another two weeks, but he knows what his responsibilities are.

"My job," Steve Starret stated, "is to make sure the the Planning Board is prepared to make the best decision possible for the good of the town."

Starret's resume suggests that doing so shouldn't be an issue. Early on, he worked for his father Charles Starret, a well-known builder in Middleboro and the tri-town.

When Starret graduated college, he joined Shell Oil and worked in exports for several years. He also worked at Raytheon in export trading, and was formerly the president of Wain-Roy Inc., a construction machinery company based in Hubbardston.

Starret's expansive resume has given him one trait among many that he thinks is exceptionally useful as a town planner. "I've dealt with all levels of people and contractors," he explained. "I'm well-prepared to meet anyone coming into town. I want them to understand exactly what's expected of them from the very beginning."

He's working on hard on learning all the responsibilities of the position. Friday morning, Starret rifled through a large stack of papers  - Rochester's bylaws - and said cheerfully, "Weekend reading!" He wanted to be familiar with the bylaws, he noted, by his first day - he won't officially begin until June 5.

Though Starret resides in South Dartmouth, he's no stranger to Rochester. "My dad and I always went fishing over at Quittacas Pond," he said. "I love the rural feel of the town. It's a very specific feeling, what Rochester has, and it's important that we maintain that."

His longtime enjoyment of the town, he says, also means he intends to stay in the role as long as he can. "I'll commit for as long as I enjoy it and as long as it is good for both the Planning Board and I."

A paycheck was nice, he admitted, but at this point in his life, it wasn't a primary factor in the job. "I want to contribute," he said. "I want to be challenged."