Rochester council approves routine business, parking rules and donations; names police spokesperson

Rochester Borough Council handled a series of routine administrative and public-safety items at its March 16 meeting.

The council approved the minutes of the Jan. 29 regular meeting and the reorganization meeting and voted to pay submitted bills. The general fund checks totaled $339,451.67; payroll and related payments for Jan. 15 through Feb. 27 totaled $279,416.67.

Council agreed to split the $1,606 cost of new No Parking signs with the Rochester Sewer and Maintenance Authority; the borough's share is $803. The council also approved Resolution 2026-4 to enforce dates, days and hours for parking prohibition tied to street cleaning and leaf pick-up.

Council accepted a $4,000 donation to the Rochester Public Library that members said they had not previously been informed of, and approved a separate $500 donation to the Rochester Girls Volleyball Booster Club (motion by Don Brothers, seconded by Toni Bucher). Council designated Chief Dawn Shane as the borough's official spokesperson for public communications requiring clarification or response on behalf of the borough.

In reports, the Public Administration chair reported a resolved office disturbance and announced a joint Summer Youth / 250th Anniversary event planned for June 14, 2026. Chief Dawn Shane reported six applicants took the full-time police test and the borough submitted paperwork for a $75,000 grant; she said one new hire offer is possible in May and that a new Explorer vehicle is having equipment installed.

The meeting went into executive session at 8:40 p.m. and adjourned at 8:58 p.m.