Rehoboth Gets Donation from Local Developer

The town has received a $160,000 donation from a local developer after the Planning Board agreed to waive certain requirements. The funds will be put toward road maintenance.

Selectman Lenny Mills made the announcement at Monday’s Board of Selectmen meeting.

“You can’t force (a developer) to do it, but we don’t have to waive things either,” Mills explained. “The developer was very understanding that the town is pressed for tax dollars. We’re trying to be fiscally responsible. We’re looking for creative ways to supplement the Rehoboth taxpayer.”

Selectmen Chair Skip Vadnais praised the decision.

“I think that was a very good move on the Planning Board’s part, and that’s saving taxpayers close to $200,000,” Vadnais said. “This Board of Selectmen is focused on finance, innovative ways of financing this community and moving ahead. There’s a lot happening in this town that will be coming to fruition very shortly.”

Mills said the developer is also donating a five acre piece of land with road access for public use.

“It was a good team effort,” Mills added. “We’re working really hard for our fellow residents and try to keep these taxes under control for as long as we can. We’re getting some results more and more.”

“The Planning Board has the authority to waive a particular requirement in exchange for the developer to contribute to a designated fund,” Town Administrator Sue Pimental said Tuesday. “They can only ask the developer if he would be willing to contribute to a designated fund if the Planning Board waives a certain item when reviewing the plan.  Anything that the planning board waives, will go into a fund that can only be used to maintain roads, (whether its’) equipment or product.  The developer is typically building a road and those funds can be used to maintain/repair any road in town in addition to the Chapter 90 funds we receive from the state,” Pimental added.