ROCHESTER — Voters will make a decision on the role of the Town Administrator, short term rental and solar development restrictions as well as spending for several projects at the Monday, Jan. 27 Special Town Meeting at 7 p.m. in Rochester Memorial High School.

Town Meeting will also address local gun restrictions, a vehicle purchase and investing the town's funds. 

All of Rochester’s registered voters are eligible to attend, participate and vote.

The first decision voters will make on Jan. 27 is whether to transfer money from “available funds” for seven projects and purchases.

The projects and purchases are as follows: 

Cell renovations. The cell doors at the Rochester Police Station currently swing inward toward the occupants. Voters will consider approving the transfer of $120,000 to renovate the cell area and change the doors to slide as opposed to swing. 

Town Administrator Cameron Durant said the doors are a safety concern. 

“When that building was designed over 20 years ago it was designed with a flaw,” Durant said. “Someone could barricade themselves inside, someone could pass out and you’d have to hit them in the face with the door as you open it.” 

Police station second floor renovations. Voters will also consider transferring an additional $175,000 to renovate the attic of the police department. Currently, the basement of the police station houses the armory, evidence and server room. The basement has had issues with flooding in the past. 

If approved, the town would spend the money on renovating the second floor of the police station, transitioning the space into storage and offices for patrol officers. The additional space would allow the items stored in the basement to move onto the main floor of the building. 

Proposed fire station. In order for the plans for the new fire station to move forward, the town needs $55,000 for additional engineering and site work on the property. The land for the station is approximately 18 acres, owned by the town, and is located across from Rochester Memorial School, at the site of the old Rochester Fair Grounds. The current fire station was built in 1883 and according to Fire Chief Scott Weigel is severely outdated and lacks proper decontamination bays, EMS storage and training spaces. Additionally, the facility does not meet ADA standards and has ventilation issues as well as inadequate living space for staff. 

“Funding the engineering costs for a new fire station is a vital first step towards designing and building a facility that meets our current and future needs,” Weigel wrote in a press release. “Without it, the safety of our firefighters, EMS personnel and the residents of Rochester could be compromised.” 

Transfer station chemicals. If approved, the town would spend $26,000 on monitoring the levels of PFAS, also known as forever chemicals, in water around the transfer station. The state required monitoring is part of the process of “expanding and legitimizing" the station, Durant said. 

COA Kitchen. The Council on Aging kitchen requires new floors and upgraded grease traps, according to Director Eric Poulin. If voters approve the article, the town will transfer $30,000 to make the changes. 

“It’s a very busy kitchen facility and the floor obviously takes a beating,” Poulin said. 

Library book deposit. The current book deposit at the Joseph H Plumb Memorial Library is more than 20 years old. If voters approve the article, the town will transfer $3,225 to purchase a new book deposit system. 

Durant said the new system would prevent the spines of books breaking as they are deposited. 

Sander truck. Rochester’s fleet of four Sander trucks, used for salting roads, is one short. If approved, the town will transfer $100,000 to purchase a used truck. A new truck cost upwards of $250,000, Durant said. 

Voters at the Special Town Meeting will also make several decisions regarding town employees. Those decisions are as follows:

Town Clerk. Voters will consider changing the position of Town Clerk from an elected position to an appointed one. If voters approve the change at Town Meeting, they will have to do so again at the ballot box this year. The current Town Clerk will finish the remaining time in their elected term before seeking appointment. 

Personnel bylaw.  Voters will consider making extensive changes to the bylaws governing town employees. The changes primarily involve transitioning the responsibility of hiring and firing from the personnel board to the Town Administrator. 

“[In the proposal] there are lots of responsibilities that shift away from this board,” said Personnel Board Chair Kristine Nash. “In my opinion as the chair, those responsibilities rightly belong with the individual who is the Town Administrator and who basically is in charge of personnel in the town.” 

The article also includes a change to the Personnel Board itself. The proposal adds a new member and makes the employee representative who sits on the board a voting member. This change would increase the total number of Personnel Board members from three to five.

If passed, the article would also increase the number of town employee sick days from 12 to 15 and the amount of educational assistance employees receive from $1,000 to $2,500. 

Role of Town Administrator and Select Board. Voters will make a decision on an article that codifies the roles and responsibilities of the Select Board and Town Administrator. Durant said the article “defines what is current practice” and is something that should have happened many years ago. 

Short-term rentals.  Voters will consider two proposals that make changes to the zoning bylaws and would significantly regulate short-term rentals. 

The first zoning bylaw change voters will consider creates specific guidelines for the owners of short-term rentals, such as Air-BnBs and VRBOs.

Although Rochester only has one known short-term rental within the town limits, Durant said the guidelines would “get ahead” of any potential issues.

The second article voters will consider lays out the implementation of the Affordable Homes Act, which the state passed in August.

The act amended zoning laws statewide to allow properties zoned single family to have a second independent living space, commonly known as an accessory dwelling unit. These residences can be attached to the property, such as attics and garages, or detached like small outbuildings and must be no larger than 900 square feet.

This proposal specifically prohibits renting accessory dwelling units on a short term basis.

Solar batteries. Voters will consider an article that provides standards for the placement, design, construction, monitoring and removal of large batteries used to store solar energy. 

The proposed bylaw includes requirements for a site plan review for battery storage. It also includes protections for habitats, animal species and scenic views. 

Screening large solar projects. If passed, a Special Town Meeting article would require all large scale solar structures be “visually screened.” The article stipulates that some combination of existing vegetation, fencing and new landscaping should screen the solar structures from abutting properties. 

Fund investment. Voters will decide whether or not to approve an article allowing the town to invest “trust funds.” The investments would follow the prudent investment rule, meaning the strategy would emphasize diversification, risk management, and long-term financial health to avoid undue risk or loss.

Gun restrictions. Voters will consider an article aimed at reversing a recent state law that bans licensed gun owners from carrying firearms in municipal administrative buildings. 

The state law, named An Act to Modernize Firearms Laws, took effect on Aug. 2, 2024 and prohibits firearms on all government properties with the exemption of state-owned public land used for hunting. 

Municipalities have the option to also exempt municipal administrative buildings, such as libraries, police stations and Town Hall for licensed owners.