Rehoboth: The Year in Review

2025 was notable for leadership changes in the town’s Public Safety departments.

Police & Fire 

Louis DiBacco was appointed as the new Police Chief last July after serving on an interim basis since January 2024. DiBacco signed a six year contract with the town. DiBacco has been with the Rehoboth Police Department since 2012, when he was hired as a part-time reserve officer. He later held the rank of Sergeant.

Mark Haskell became the new Fire Chief in October following the retirement of Frank Baressi. Haskell had previously served as the assistant fire chief for the department. Haskell has been a member of the department for 34 years.

The Town of Rehoboth entered into a new three-year contract with Rehoboth Ambulance. Under the terms of the contract, which was signed by the Board of Selectmen on February 3 and runs through June 30, 2026:

• Rehoboth Ambulance shall acquire, maintain, and pay all attendant vehicle costs necessary to comply with this Agreement.
• Rehoboth Ambulance shall assume all costs of its staffing, supplies, telephone, diesel fuel, gasoline, oil, maintenance, materials, communication system, equipment, and all other items required in the proper operation of the service. Rehoboth Ambulance shall maintain all mobile radios, portable radios, pagers and other notifications, apps or devices to the latest system capability.

“We’re excited to start moving forward to continue providing the service that we’ve been providing to the town,” Director of Operations Reuben Fischman said. “I think we have a good agreement,” remarked Selectmen Chair Skip Vadnais.  In October 2024, the town was awarded Bristol County ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds to purchase a new ambulance. Rehoboth Ambulance will be able to use it as they see fit.

Dighton-Rehoboth School Department

Last August, Dighton-Rehoboth Regional High School was recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the top high schools in the nation, ranking 3,494 out of nearly 25,000 public high schools.

This placed DRRHS in the top 15 percent of high schools nationwide, and 120th within Massachusetts.  “This national recognition is a reflection of the incredible opportunities available to our students at Dighton-Rehoboth Regional High School,” Superintendent Bill Runey said. “From rigorous academics and Career and Technical Education programs to championship athletics, award-winning arts, nationally recognized theatre, and inclusionary activities, DRRHS is a place where every student can thrive. Being ranked among the top 15 percent of high schools nationwide validates the hard work of our staff and students, and it reinforces our district’s vision to Empower, Ignite, and Shape. Together… We Are DR.”

Last May, Runey was named the recipient of Tech & Learning Incorporated’s 2025 New England Innovative Superintendent Award. “I am incredibly honored to receive this award, and I believe it is a testament to the dedication of our District Leadership Team and the support of our School Committee,” said Runey. “The work we are doing to empower our educators, ignite curiosity in our students, and shape a future-ready educational environment is critical to ensuring every student has the opportunity to succeed. This recognition reinforces our ongoing commitment to innovation and continuous improvement as we move our #WeAreDR community toward 2030 and beyond.” 

Francis Farm Updates

The new children’s playground opened in October at Francis Farm. Selectman Rob Johnson said $300,000 had been obtained from the Community Preservation Committee for the project. Johnson thanked members of the Highway and Building departments, as well as the support of the Board of Selectmen.

October also marked the grand opening of the Miller Taylor Hall at Francis Farm. The building houses the wellness and exercise facilities for senior citizens in Rehoboth. Vadnais said the goal was to “get the community closer together.” “This is a great opportunity not just for our seniors, but for the whole town,” Vadnais continued. “This is why we developed this campus.”

Francis Farm’s recreational facilities also include a pickleball court, a volleyball field, and a playground.

Town Meeting Votes

Voters at the November 4 Fall Town Meeting rejected amending the zoning bylaws to create a Multi-Family Overlay District. 186 voted in favor, with 241 in opposition.

The MBTA Communities Act imposes an affirmative duty on 177 cities and towns in Eastern Massachusetts to create zoning districts where multifamily housing is permitted as of right, and non-compliance is not a choice, according to the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. The deadline for compliance is December 31.

“We don’t like being told what to do,” said Selectman Dave Pereira, noting the town’s long history of opposing state mandates. Pereira did note the consequences of not approving the change, which include losing state funding, facing civil enforcement action from the Attorney General, and being held liable under federal and state fair housing laws.

Voters did authorize the use of $60,000 from the Historic Preservation Reserve of the Community Preservation Act (CPA) to fund various individual projects on the two museum buildings at Francis Farm. These will include roof replacements, exterior repairs, and the installation of new fencing.