ROCHESTER — City Manager Blaine Cox and Mayor Caroline McCarley wish to provide regular updates to the community regarding the City’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic as officials continue to monitor the crisis locally and nationally.
Property Tax Relief
Some property owners may be able to apply for property tax relief through the New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration’s Low and Moderate Income Homeowners Property Tax Relief program. Residents can apply for a reduction in the state portion of the education property tax, which will then be provided as a property tax rebate. This program is available for those who own a homestead whose annual income is under $20,000 if they are single, or $40,000 if they are married and the head of the household. The filing period is open from May 1 through June 30 following the due date of the final property tax bill. Claimants must include a copy of their final property tax bill and 2019 income tax filing. More information can be found online here.
Parks and Recreation Programs
Staff are continuing to monitor and follow any state guidance regarding Parks and Recreation programs, and make any necessary changes to their programs and activities.
As of now:
- All spring activities, events and facility rentals have been cancelled until further notice. This includes April and May Teen Nights.
- All pending facilities rentals have been put on hold.
- Rochester Summer Camp will still be held and registrations will open online in early June.
- Teen Travel Camp has been cancelled this summer.
- The tentative plan is to offer swim lessons later in the summer.
Updates regarding Parks and Recreations programs will be posted regularly to keep residents up to date on any changes or cancellations.
The most recent update was published on Tuesday, April 21 and can be found here. The next update will be issued on May 11.
Residents can visit www.RochesterRec.com or visit the department’s Facebook page.
Trash Pickup
Trash and recycling pickup continues as normal, and all items must be placed at the curb on by 7 a.m. of the scheduled trash pickup day for your area. Residents are reminded that all trash must be bagged and placed in trash totes, and recycling must be loosely placed in recycling totes. Bulky waste pickup will be held during the second full week of the month and those items will be picked up on your regular trash pickup day.
The residential drop-off facility remains open to residents during the following times:
- Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Fees for bags and stickers are currently waived for residents to drop off household waste.
For additional information click here or call Waste Management at 603-332-2386.
Remote City Meetings and Services
Many city meetings are being held remotely and specific information about each meeting is being posted on the City of Rochester website. Public Input will be accepted prior to meetings through email, voicemail or the mail and the specific telephone numbers or email addresses to use will be listed on the agenda.
A tentative Fiscal Year 2021 City Budget presentation schedule, including virtual meeting dates, has been posted online.
Residents will be able to submit comments by emailing PublicInput@RochesterNH.net by 5 p.m. on the day of the meeting or by leaving a voicemail at 603-330-7107 by 12 p.m. on the day of the meeting. Comments can also be mailed to to City Clerk/Public Input, 31 Wakefield Street, Rochester, NH 03867.
The first City Chat virtual community meeting hosted by City Manager Cox and Mayor McCarley will be held on Friday, April 24 at 3 p.m. These sessions will allow residents to ask any questions they have about city services while city buildings are closed to the public and staff are working remotely to ensure continuity of operations.
Residents are encouraged to submit their comments or questions by emailing CityChat@RochesterNH.net or leaving a voicemail at 603-332-1167 by 1 p.m. on the day of the meeting.
The public can call in to listen to the meeting live at 1-857-444-0744 using the conference code 843095. The meeting (audio only) will be broadcast live on Atlantic Broadband Cable Channel 26 and live streamed on www.RochesterNH.net.
Information about future calls, which will be held on Fridays at 3 p.m., will be posted on the city’s website.
City staff are available to residents by phone, email or online while city buildings are closed to the public. For a list of services available online or to reach our departments by phone or through email, click here.
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