Rochester receives state grant for coronavirus

Apr 23, 2020

ROCHESTER — In an April 23 Board of Selectmen video meeting, Town Administrator Suzanne Szyndlar told Selectmen the town received a grant of $4,100 from the state under the CARES Act to address issues with coronavirus. The town must use the funds by December 30. 

Szyndlar also said she spoke with Rochester Fire Chief Scott Weigel about installing protective clear shields at public-facing desks in town buildings when they are reopened. The idea is in the planning stage and it is unclear if it will be paid for by the grant funds.

Before moving on to non-virus issues, Selectman Woody Hartley said the board must move forward with normal operations over Zoom because, “this is our life now.” 

One topic was approving the town’s readjusted FEMA maps, which may be an issue in the near future, as the deadline to submit is July 22 and approval is needed at June 22’s Town Meeting. 

The maps help residents understand which areas of the town are prone to flooding and help assessors determine if property owners need flood insurance, how much it will cost and how buildings will be constructed. The maps are adjusted are adjusted every five years using input from the community, and if the maps are not changed within that five-year window, FEMA will declare the flood risk in the area as unknown.

Town legal counsel Blair Bailey said that FEMA cannot extend the deadline, but Congressman Keating’s office will tell him if that changes.

In regards to Town Meeting, Selectmen discussed, but did not approve, draft articles for the warrant. Notable articles include $97,426 for capital improvements, a stabilization fund increase of $100,000, and a petition from a resident to lower taxes by $20 for each resident through the use of $50,000 in free cash.

Szyndlar opposed the people’s petition. She said that the stabilization fund is important to have because it will help the town “stay strong through events like ones that are happening now.” She said that the fund currently is at $1.3 million, and the goal is to have two to three million dollars in it. 

In other news: 

  • - Selectmen approved a potential alternative date of Sept. 5 for East Freetown’s Patriot Half-Triathlon which makes two loops through Rochester.
    • - Rochester Council on Aging director Cheryl Randall-Mach reminded residents that are in need of food to reach out to the Rochester   Council on Aging (if they qualify), the Congregational Churches in the town, the Middleborough food bank or the Greater Boston food   bank.
  • - Selectmen also reminded residents that the apartments to be built near Plumb Corner will be a privately-owned, 55+, non-affordable   housing development.