Rochester Board of Health — September 15, 2026

The Rochester Board of Health met on September 15, 2026, opening with the approval of amended previous meeting minutes to include staff member Matt's full name and position. The board first reviewed a request for 0 Robinson Road, presented by attorney Nicholas Gomes on behalf of Matthew Botello of Botello Custom Homes. The applicant sought permission to move forward with drilling a 500-foot potable drinking water well on property located near the town's former salt garage. The board confirmed no variance was necessary and agreed the applicant could proceed with drilling, subject to standard testing requirements including potability, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and synthetic organic chemicals (SOCs) before building permits proceed.

During the Health Agent's report, staff reported on a residential sanitation and safety concern following a police report, noting plans to obtain an administrative warrant to inspect the premises after an unsuccessful visit. Staff also noted that Mark Galen of the Massachusetts Tobacco Cessation and Prevention (MTCP) program will be sworn in at the next meeting to conduct local tobacco inspections. The board reviewed town nurse statistics, noting tick-borne infections including 12 cases of Lyme disease, one case of anaplasmosis, and one case of spotted fever, along with upcoming senior center flu vaccination clinics scheduled for September 30.

The board held a detailed hearing on variance requests for 18 Rounseville Road, presented by engineer Brian Grady of GAF Engineering alongside broker Kate McGregor. Grady presented a revised plan downsized from four bedrooms to two. Addressing concerns raised in a letter from abutter Jason Loss of 33 Rounseville Road, the board voted unanimously to approve a variance reducing the required 100-foot well-to-well separation to 60 feet, with the condition that GAF Engineering test the baseline potability of Loss's existing well prior to drilling. The board also voted unanimously to approve a setback variance allowing the new well 10 feet from the street line and 17 feet from the property line instead of the town's 25-foot requirement. Following a discussion on scheduling and updating local well bylaws, the meeting was adjourned to October 6.

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