 6 p.m. All right, well welcome everyone present and on zoom to the 2022 pre-town meeting for the town of Rochester, which has been advertised Public boards correct and on the website Email to interested parties so we can go ahead and then legally Open up this Start right into the pre-town meeting and we're basically going to go through the agenda of what we will cover Next week on our March 28th town meeting, which we pushed ahead a month So we could do it in person like the old days We will the first step is going to be to elect a moderator for the ensuing year now I Dan is not going to make it for the town meeting and I believe Ethan Bowen is going to step in just for that meeting, but Do I understand that we would still be electing or nominating Dan to continue on for the Don't know about that. You know about that Ethan I don't I wasn't even sure if I was supposed to be here tonight. So we're glad to hear you Yeah, I Guess we will I would think so that's that's that's why we're having this pre-town meeting is to fair it out these questions and See what more prep we can do before the town meeting so And article two, I'll just run down quickly that we will be electing a select board member for another three-year term and You know, I'm open to other people, you know Arguing in Vine for my post, but if they don't I'll do it again and We're also going to elect a town clerk for a three-year term And I'm hoping thinking that Julie will do that again And we're going to elect a town treasurer for another three-year term We're looking to elect a lister for a three-year term and I believe Caroline mayor is interested in that We're looking to elect a collector of delinquent taxes for a one-year term And that is currently held by Becky Klein and I think that she is still willing to hold that position We're going to elect a library trustee for a five-year term, and I believe Barb Shunton is is willing to be nominated for that and we're also going to elect a library trustee for the remaining one-year balance of an empty turn that Doreen Jones has It's filling now and she is I believe would be willing to Fulfill that last year of the five-year term and We're also going to elect a trustee of public funds for a three-year term And I believe Sandy Pierce is willing to take that on and to elect a cemetery commissioner for a five-year term and Michelle's schnaubel has got her name in the running for that And of course Anyone else that wants to run is welcome to but as what many of these posts were thankful to have People stepping up that are willing to do it Martha Good question out for the library trustee for the remaining one-year. Who's the candidate for that? I wasn't I put right fast enough like everybody else. That's Doreen Jones Doreen Jones. Okay. Thank you. You're welcome. She's the incumbent She's the incumbent. She is the incumbent. Yeah Okay, so if she's the incumbent then well she is was appointed to oh, oh, okay. Yeah. Yeah, okay. All right. Thank you and We're going to ask the voters to authorize the treasurer to collect current taxes pursuant to 32 VSA 491 and Article 4 is We're going to ask the voters to authorize payment of Real taxes and for installments due dates being Monday August 15th, 2022 Monday, November 15th, 2022 Wednesday, February 15th, 2023 and Monday, May 15th, 2023 By physical delivery to the tax collector before 4 p.m. On those dates with postmarks not accepted as proof of delivery and The article 5 which is caused a little bit of confusion This time around is that we Following the since last year we did the Australian ballot for town meeting it didn't it caused us to reformat the way that we voted for the articles and In following that we mistakenly the The amount that you see listed in article 5 is going to be amended at the meeting because if we passed it as it is that means that we would have paid for the What's the articles the articles we would have paid for the articles twice because there's the the number that is printed The warning is Including all the articles where is actually we're going to vote for the budget first and add the articles to them later Give the numbers. All right, so the so that said the General fund expenditures will be 1000 wait no, okay This is Okay, I thought the written ones are now you okay, so be 1,295 $1,295,460 dollars and Not the 1,397 460 that was originally put out there and 864,807 will be raised by taxes Anybody got any questions about that did I make it confusing enough? You're getting lots of head nods and thumbs up. Okay. All right. Sorry for that confusion, but it keeps us on our toes, you know, yeah so Article 6 is asking if the voters will exempt the real property in Rochester Village owned by Rochester Community Health Care Incorporated doing business as the Park House a nonprofit tax exempt organization providing services and Housing for low-income and other elderly persons from property taxes for five years That'd be fiscal year 23 through 27 and that's pursuant to 32 vs. A 3840 Article 7 Let me know if there's any questions out there in zoomland Shall the voters appropriate 48,314 dollars towards operating expenses of the Rochester Public Library Okay Article 9 is the question That's trash Here we go, I was going. All right. Yes. Thank you Shall the voters appropriate 20,400 dollars to continue funding the fast-trash and recycling program from July 122 through June 30th,2023 And now article 9 once again shall the voters authorize the select board to borrow an amount not to exceed $105,080 for the purchase of a western star tandem truck for the highway department And if we're lucky, we'll get it this year Yes, yeah, yeah, you speak up Frank you can do that. Oh, okay that figure 105 080 is already included in the 864 figure in article 5 Those not in addition to it not in addition to it So that because that's because we're No, we didn't we didn't take the trucks out we just took the one-on-one out Because the trucks are that's actually we're borrowing that money. It's not in we're Borrowed the money to to fund the trucks were paying payments on them for five years It's a five-year note on the two trucks, but they're already included in that 864 807 figure Right that full amount is not in the budget What page is that Yeah The part the part the part of the truck is being financed for this year's And put in the budget that out of the loan the annual portion of the five or seven year loan is in the budget, right? Right, not the total show which which page So could you repeat that? So we're asking the voters to authorize the select board to borrow an amount not to exceed $105,080 for the purchase of a western star tandem truck for the highway department So included in the budget will be the amount that for the yearly finance charge of that not the whole $180 on page 20 and that can be found on page 28 Under capital purchases Got it So basically it's the same Same drill for article 10 Asking the voters to authorize the select board to borrow an amount not to exceed $65,165 for the purchase of a Ford F550 four-by-four crew cab truck for the fire department same deal We're not making the whole purchase this year, but the just have budgeted for the yearly Finance charge and principle which is also on page 28 Yeah Okay On to article 11 I just noticed your hand Just just because this is in the past I remember this has come up Are we getting any discount from a sale of the existing vehicles? And does that get figured into the budget that's been yeah the trade-in value has been figured in into that already Yeah, okay. Yeah for both for both vehicles Yeah, yeah, yeah There was 45,000 sorry, and I didn't read the report. Yes. Is that probably in the reports the town? I don't think those are in there, but you're getting a $45,000 trading on the tandem and in 10,000 We guess and on the fire truck Okay, you know it's Yeah Okay, thank you. Yeah, no problem. Thank you And also, thank you for stepping up to fill in for Dan because you'll be the one answer your welcome these questions I I can promise a bumpy ride So can we Okay, article 11 shall the voters approve $9,000 to continue funding the town buildings and property reserve fund and Article 12 is Asking whether the voters will appropriate $1,000 to continue funding the tennis reserve fund for ongoing and future court maintenance And article 13 is shall the voters vote to approve the following sums as requested by these community agencies we have Central Vermont Community Council on Aging for $3,000 Declare a Martin Center for $2,066 Greenup Vermont for $100 Orange County Parent Child Center for $250 Quintown Senior Center for $9,849 safe line incorporated for $250 Tri-Valley transport, which was formerly stagecoach for $1,300 Vermont Rural Fire Hydrant for $100 and VNH the Visiting Nurse Association for $4,800 White River Partnership for $875 and Woman's Safe for $250 for a total of $22,840 for Requested funds by these community agencies and Did you say there was a question? Ethan has a question. Yep, Ethan. I'm just full of them tonight. I just realized that I didn't notice an article for The White River Valley ambulance. Is that no longer something we do? We moved that into the general fund and out of the articles. Yeah, yeah, because we just, you know, figured that is Essential. Yes And that's also what all the other towns do. Yeah, and that's also what all the other towns do so, yeah And if you one was looking for the increase on that, would that be in their page? Page 30, Ethan. Thank you. Yep I'm giving you practice too. Yeah. Yeah, there you go. Good. So Any other legal and proper business could be brought before said meeting after we've conducted all these other issues. Martha? You need to unmute, Martha. This doesn't have to do, is it okay to just ask something that doesn't have to do with town meeting But something that would have to do with the select board or because it, the agenda says originally that's a regular select board meeting as well as this. Quick question. Sure. Sure. Okay, well the last two years, the only reasons I have to get started early on this, if I do that, I think it's early April that I have to get a permit from the state. The last two years, we haven't had this, you haven't wanted me to do the Forthage Life Parade because of the pandemic. And I'm wondering if you, if the select board would think about letting me know, maybe at the next meeting on the 11th of April, it would be nice to know earlier if possible. If you think it's okay for me to go ahead and try to organize the Forthage Life Parade this year. I don't know what you think. And I'll, you know, obviously I'll do whatever you ask me. Haven't thought about that yet. Well, the only reason I ask early like this is because in the past, I've had to get a permit from the state to close down at 100 for like 45 minutes, you know. And so, and they wanted me, I used to have to apply for it early April, if I recall correctly, so Of course it's been two years, so I had to go through them. I have to go through my box of stuff and make sure I know the date correctly, but I'm pretty sure to leave. Anyway, if you guys could think about it and maybe we could just discuss it really quickly at the next meeting or something. Yeah, I guess it's good you brought it up. Well, I have several people complained to me last year that we didn't have it and I thought, you know, I agreed with you. We didn't have it last year because of the pandemic, but maybe things are better this year. I don't know. It seems like there, there are a lot of places you're getting rid of the mask mandate and stuff. So I don't know. I'd like to have it if we can, but if you don't think we should, I'm not going to, I'm not going to, you know, pester you about it. The talking with the state paving guys, they're hope, hopefully they're going to get to doing the village sometime after June 1st. So, so they're going to be tearing up the village sometime during the month of June and possibly that would affect July 4th. So there may be a little issue with that, but other than that, it shouldn't bother, but it may be a little issue with that. Yeah. Okay. That's something to think about. Yeah, you're right. And definitely a main street definitely needs some fixing. So it's pretty bumpy. Okay. I just wanted to bring it up and to make sure because, you know, I felt guilty that I hadn't done it last year, but I, you know, you guys were right. There was just too much of the pandemic around then. I just wanted to make sure I could do it, you know, it's a lot of work. So I got to get started. But if I am going to do it. But you know what? I think people will be happier to have the road school than be mad about it. So we shall see. All right. Thank you. Sorry to start. Go ahead, Pat. She might be frozen. It's cutting out. Yeah. I can, we can hear you. I'm asking, um, is it okay with Martha? Is it okay with Mark? Yep. What? Martha, if we wait until our next meeting, April 11th, where we could find the agenda? Yeah, I think so. I think it'd be fine. I have to go through, um, my paperwork. April 11th, is that okay? That's what she was asking. I have to go through my paperwork to make absentee. Sure. I'll let you know if for some reason, or I'll let Julino for some reason. I have to know before again, but I don't think so. I think it'll be okay, Pat. Okay. So, um, Martha, I have a, um, something I want to bring up. Okay. Just a, um, Okay, you done, Pat? Yeah. She's just a little behind on it. A little behind on it. So, Martha, I noticed in the, um, in the herald on the March, um, 17th edition that, um, you would, um, put out there that the town's proposed budget would be up 27.5% from last year's budget. And I think that was, um, I'm not sure where you got that number, but I wanted to make clear that the actual increase in the budget is 2.3%, not, um, 7.5%. Okay. Well, when, when we, okay. That includes the appropriations and everything. So 2.3%. Yes. That's if all the appropriations are passed and articles are passed. If all articles and appropriations. Thank you. I, you know what? I'm sorry. I, I obviously put it, put a period where I shouldn't have. Yeah. I'll make sure I, I'll make sure I make a correction in this article. Yeah. So the actually, a couple of people were a little alarmed by that. Okay. So the actual increase is 2.3%. If all articles and if all articles, um, pass and appropriations and appropriations. Okay. Thank you. Yeah. Thank you. Um, that's right. I asked that before. All right, Ethan. May I speak to that? Ethan's got a question. John Allen is looking to speak to Marco's article. So you guys. Okay. Can I just, it's just a little logistics because I'd like to get off if I can. Um, is sound, um, all set up and lights for the meeting next week as traditionally done? And, um, will there be mics for people to speak into? Or are we worrying about that? That's just traditional. It's been a while. So I just don't know if anybody's thought about that. Usually Robert Mayor sets up some sound for us. Um, yeah. Well, Robert Mayor's, um, on the, uh, mics, we just need somebody, we're just looking for somebody to run the lights back and forth. So it sounds like you're just a small kid. Yeah, sounds like the same, same. I mean, this doesn't look like a, this doesn't look like a long meeting unless something big surprise happens. So I think a kid, a kid who do it and still get to bed at eight o'clock. Yeah. All right. Yeah. But the mics are very handy for hearing. They are. They are. Yeah. All right. Um, thank you, Ethan. All right. I'll trust that you have that already. Okay. Thanks for reminding us. Thank you. Yeah. And John. Thank you. Have a good night. Yeah, you too. All right, John. Hi. So I had quite a bit of back and forth email with, um, Julie, uh, last week and I came up with a figure that Martha did. And I think it's because the identical articles from last year and this year's proposed meeting, last year's meeting did not include all the appropriations of the following articles and this year's did. So that's where the 27% increase goes up. Yeah. So Martha was not wrong. John wasn't in at the beginning of our meeting. So he missed where he was going last. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Sorry. I'm coming in late. No, that's all right. Yeah. We did discuss that. Okay. No, but thanks for, um, um, alerting us to that early on. Yeah. Yeah. We much appreciated. Yeah. Now, thank you guys for everything you do and looking out for the time. Meg and I appreciate it. All your efforts. Yeah, we look forward to working more with you too. Uh-oh. He did not miss that. We're glad you're listening. No, nothing big. No, nothing big. All right. Thank you. Um, does anyone else out there in the computer land have any questions or comments? I don't see anything. Can I just say one more? Yeah. Just one more thing. I want to thank Julie too for, um, doing the figuring on the, uh, the two truck loans and what that came in. I'm sorry if you discussed that already too, but, we did. But that's all right. That she broke down what the, uh, what it would be per taxpayer. That's awesome. Well, that's, um, that's what we're going to talk about next week. And, um, hopefully with more people, that's what we're going to vote on next week. That's what we're going to vote on next week. Right. Right. And, um, I'd just like to also thank, like, once again, everybody on the budget finance committee for the, um, the hours they budgeted to work on this. It's, um, it's not a small task. And, um, nobody works really hard to, to make it all fit in a reasonable, reasonable manner. So, all right. So I guess I will, um, close this pre-town meeting. And in terms of a, um, since we're joined here as a select board and having a meeting, so, um, anything that anybody needs to talk about to work on? I'll take that. We had anything. Hopefully we can address that. We can't because it's not a warrant. Okay. Yep. Um, John, did you have anything? We were going to approve the meeting minutes from our sport team. Ah, okay. That's right. I don't know if we, I haven't had a chance to see those, so I don't know if we can do that. We could table that till the, um, the, um, the 11th. And Julie, we're talking about having a, um, a special select board meeting later on this week to address, um, the liquor license and paying some bills. So we could, um, do the minutes then too. Yep. All right. And what is that meeting going to be scheduled? Works best for you. I can meet anything. I can't go Wednesday, but I can go on the other day. Probably, um, I guess Thursday morning. Yeah. Pat, are you able to do Thursday morning at eight? I'm not, I feel like you're speaking, but we can't hear you. Uh, yes. This, this Thursday, yes. This Thursday, the 24th at eight a.m. Could, um, Julie, could you, you send me a link to that so I could attend via Zoom, please. To that one. So I could write about it. And Pat is good with that. Yes. I also wanted to say something too, if you don't mind. Um, Jeanette Baer had reached out to me directly on chat, um, and asked if there was a Zoom link for the town meeting. And I let her know that there wasn't. And she questioned why, and I told her that we don't have equipment that we need, um, down at the school to make it run smoothly. Um, she commented that there would be more people, um, there if we did offer that. So I just wanted to pass that along. And she's actually left the meeting now, but I just wanted to know that. Nope. That's part of why we postpone the meeting a month, right? Because it was not looking very smooth to, to have a hybrid Zoom. And also then with the, the voting that doesn't, doing a hybrid of, um, Australian ballot and in-person meetings not going to happen. Right. Okay. We can still do an absentee ballot. No, we don't have that. It's just showing up at the meeting. Yeah. Just a floor vote. That's what I'm talking about. Yeah, floor vote. Yep. Okay. All right. I'll be there to vote. All right. So, um, there you have it. Okay. Everybody in Zoom looks good. Okay. Thank you all. All right. Thank you. Thanks, everybody. Thank you. Good evening. Good evening. I guess I can go to adjourn. Yep. All in favor? All right. All right. All right.