 7 p.m. Call the 2019 annual meeting of Rochester to order I'm Dan McKinley. I am the town moderator for this year and I will moderate this meeting until at least until a My successor is elected in the first article I'd like to begin this evening with the Pledge of Allegiance and a new location I Also like to share something that reading over the last couple of years that comes from the originally from the town of Danville They call it there. It's their town meeting location and it goes like this. Welcome to the Rochester town meeting We've come together in civil assembly as a community and a tradition that is older than our state itself We come together to make decisions about our community as we deliberate Let us advocate for our positions, but not at the expense of others Let us remember that there's an immense gap between saying I am right and saying I believe I am right and That our neighbors with whom we disagree are good people with hopes and dreams as true and as high as our Let us always remember those that in the end that always remember that in the end caring for each other And this community is far greater of far greater importance than any difference we may have So I want to run through well as you all know we operate under Robert's rules of order I just want to remind you of a few of those things for those that are new and Reminders it's the last time we met You may speak twice to an article For the second time after everyone that has wished to speak can speak as spoken It will be permitted to speak five minutes It's time to speak Please stand if you're able when you speak and speak loudly. We have no traveling microphones this evening I'll do my best to repeat questions or repeat folks questions or comments as best I can But you'll be a besser by using your Best outside voice and being as loud as you can For non-election articles we will attempt to decide by vote by voice vote And if it looks like it's difficult to call the voice vote we'll ask for a show of hands a division of the house I want to remind you that even with a voice vote anyone can ask for a division of the house And we'll raise hands and count count hands And also if that doesn't go the way you like you might also ask for a Ballot seven people have to ask for a ballot on any issue And you'll honor that I'll remind you that debate can be cut off and stopped on that on an article by calling the question Or a previous question and I want to remind you that you need to be recognized in turn To call the question and just shove it out Wait your turn Speeches must be confined to the merit of the question. You will not be allowed to Engage in personal attacks at any level Are the all the articles warned may be considered binding action cannot be taken under the other business article at the end The role of moderators to help you accomplish your business Expeditiously and fairly please raise your hand. I'll try and recognize you in the order that your hand goes up And please state your name for the record I may have known you for 30 years, but I may have forgotten your name in this instance. So please Call out your name so we can get that in the record Want to remind you that the moderators ruling can be appealed and I encourage you to do so and there's something I do that We don't quite agree with And what you do is you can just call out, you know that you want to appeal a ruling that I made And I'll explain your ruling and then we'll have a very brief debate on it and then we'll vote whether they're sustaining the ruling or not If you think I'm violating Robert's rules of orders, please call out point of order and I will Talk about what we're doing and I'll May get some advice from some of you experienced folks out there on how to go about what we're doing if I'm doing it wrong Um Moderator can use unanimous consent And that's when I say if there are no objections we'll suspend the rules or if there are no objections We'll cast one ballot for so-and-so if they're unopposed So the way I'll use that is I'll say if there are no objections and that is to say Unanimously no one objects to moving this along a little more quickly and I'm following Following Robert's rules. If anyone objects, please just call out. I object and then we'll go through the process of making a motion moving it secondly and having a debate over Whatever the issue is Non-voters non-residents may not vote or speak under Robert's rule of orders, but at this time I'd like to ask non-registered voters and visitors To raise your hand and let us know who you are So we have a few it's been our tradition to allow visitors to our town meeting and our school meetings to speak and share their standard sentiments And if there are no objections we will allow visitors to speak this evening. I will move to opening remarks I don't believe the select board has any opening remarks to share Just thank you all for Thank you all for coming coming out and and for all that volunteer because this all works on volunteer health, so We're all part of it. Thank you I'd like to invite representative Haas to share some Her thoughts Good evening So I'm sad to report that there is no more Doyle poll Senator Doyle as you may know, it is no longer in the senate I looked up and he is now 92 years old when I last saw him and he looked like he was starting to fail So that very long tradition seems to be at an end I do have a written report. I have that there's a Stack of them out on the table in the hall I invite you to take one home and has contact information on it So we've had some changes in the house representatives this year Of the 14 standing committees Seven of them half of them have new Chairmen or chairwomen I would call them chairs, but I didn't want you to confuse that with the things that we sit on And and so that has That has changed our work a little bit because there are a lot of a lot of and we have I think it's 40 New members out of 150 So um, so there's been an incredible amount of new energy lots of new ideas There are I think there were at last count there were something like 700 bills that had been introduced in the house in the senate So our our our tiny staff we have that I think we have about 12 or 14 lawyers who work for All 180 legislators So they've been kind of going around with their heads down as they try to Wade through the pile of stuff Always the the big issue in the building is is how we're going to spend your money and This year interestingly this year is the first year in several years that we didn't walk in With wondering where we were going to find a bunch of money that we didn't that we needed just to keep the doors of government open Um, but the trade-off for that is that all of the needs that have been level funded for the last 15 years Are suddenly making them people are making those needs known One of the places that you're going to notice it, especially is in what we call our community partners The the mental health agencies the parent child centers the community hospital you know, we have a lot of What what we would consider government function Is is is carried out in this contract with local providers who do the work? and And what happens is that is that their contracts tend to be level funded here a year Which means that they're not able to give their their staff increases And so they end up with incredible staff turnover, which then means that the services are not Delivered in the way that they should be So that's one of the things that we're struggling with. We're also struggling to make sure that we have enough money set aside for The the pension obligations of this day And my committee, um, you'll see on my report. I talk a little bit about child care My committee is really trying to address the the question of availability affordable and affordability of quality child care um, most the the number is that 70 percent of preschool age children have All available parents in the workforce. So that means that we have a lot of kids who need who need care during the day and The the subsidy system that we have that that is part gov money and part state money again, it's has an increase we're using the the The reimbursement rates are based on market the market rates from 2008 So you can understand you can imagine that that what that does is it says, okay, you get a subsidy But by the way, you know, that's really only half of the bill Um, and so we're trying to figure out how to how to restructure that program We're hoping to get a bill out next week That will that will begin to to address that problem On the senate side, um, this is the year That the senate can consider amendments to the romont constitution The way that works is that they get they get introduced and voted on by both chambers In this biennium and then again in the following biennium with it with a new set of legislators And if it passed if they passed both both bienniums both terms Then then they would go to the electorate for on a referendum the following november So it's about a five-year process But what they they're looking at Possibly changing the term of the governor from two years to four years There's a similar proposal to change the term of state senators There's a privacy provision interestingly, there's There's a suggestion that we need to change the romont constitution because although we've always been very Very proud of the fact that we were the first state to have to to have in our constitution that we wouldn't have slavery It actually was qualified in it so that you couldn't be a slave after year 21 And there are people who think that maybe we should maybe we should just take that out completely There are other people who say gee the you know, the constitution is really historic documents So nothing is ever easy. We try to make everything into a controversy and we're working hard on that Um, I would be around all week my contact information is on the sheet. Let me have any questions We'll move to the uh, the business The evening, uh, we'll read the warning. It's on pages three and four of your town report And the warning goes like this town of rochester vermont annual Town meeting to be held monday march 4th 2019 and 7 p.m Legal voters of the town of rochester county of winsor state of vermont are hereby warned and notified To meet at the rochester school auditorium in said town of monday march 4th 2019 and 7 p.m To transact the following business from the floor If there are no objections, I will not read the entire warning at this time But we will go through each article and each article will be read at least twice In front of you and then to There are no objections and we're not reading the entire warning at this time No objections. We'll move to article one to elect a town moderator for the ensuing year Um, your nominations? Frank? Frank Russell, I nominate Dan McKinley Dan McKinley's been nominated I'll second that I'll second it And Jerry's been nominated No, I guess Just kidding, just kidding Any other nominations? So technically closing nominations require some, um, Emotion in a second I think if there are no, if there are not multiple nominations, I'll just say that our objections will close nominations And um There are no objections. We'll close nominations And ask the clerk to cast one ballot for Dan McKinley Pleasure article two to elect All town officers as required by law number one to select for it for your turn number two Town clerk one-year term number three town treasurer one-year term Four lister three-year term Five collector of deliquid taxes six library trustee seven trustee of public funds eight cemetery commissioners Nine agents of prosecute and defend suits and ten agent to convey real estate one-year term May I May do Move it second each article to be there In front of you Do you want to move that article? Chris Modrick, so this Move by Chris and seconded Not second Karma So we move to the first item on that list, uh select board member for a three-year term Nominations Nominate, uh, Dune Hendricks to Dune Hendricks to be nominated Close The other nominations Any other nominations only place no objections then we'll close Nominations and I'll ask the clerk to pass one ballot for Dune Hendricks And for select board for Three here we go again Number two to elect a town clerk for a one-year term Nominations Julie Smith And I also like to say that I feel really good Seconded Any other nominations We're town clerk one year term no objections. We'll close nominations And ask the clerk to cast one ballot for Julie Smith for town clerk for a one-year term And thank you Joanne for your all your years of service And a little later on in the night. I'll probably irritate you all so Number three to elect a town treasurer for a one-year term Nominations Julie Smith has been nominated for town treasurer Seconded by Rebecca Klein any other nominations or town treasurer No objections we'll close Nominations And ask the clerk to cast one ballot for Julie Smith for town treasurer gets one ballot for herself That was easy Yeah, congratulations Number four to elect a lister for a three-year term nominations I'd like to nominate Caroline mayor Caroline mayors have been nominated seconded We have the nominations for a lister for a three-year term no objections. We'll close nominations And ask the clerk to cast one ballot for Caroline mayor for lister for a three-year term Five collector of delinquent taxes for a one-year term nomination Frank Frank Russell, I nominate Rebecca Klein Rebecca Klein has been nominated seconded by Berman Any other nominations for collector of delinquent taxes one-year term being none No objections we'll close nominations and ask the clerk to cast one ballot for Rebecca Klein for collector of delinquent taxes one-year term Number six library trustee of five-year term nominations Kelly Kelly's been nominated for library trustee for a five-year term seconded That's a surprise Any other nominations or nominations we'll close nominations with no objections And ask the clerk to cast one ballot for collector for library trustee for a five-year term Number seven Number seven trustee of public funds a three-year term nominations Yes, Nancy. I'd like to nominate Sandy Pierce. Sandy Pierce has been nominated seconded by Frank. Any other nominations? Objections will close nominations and ask the clerk to cast one ballot for Sandy Pierce for trustee of public funds Number eight cemetery commissioner for a five-year term nominations Bruce flu nominated Ross laughing second seconded by Sandy I'm on the cemetery commission. I talked to Ross just yesterday He's got other plans in the near future. He does not want to be And it's such a short notice we haven't any work to nominate anybody else Any nominations the cemetery commissioner five-year term So the process would be the select board would appoint someone at some point Thank you very much Okay, we went on to number nine Agents to prosecute the fan suits for a one-year term Any other nominations we'll close nominations And ask One ballot for bill Matthews for agent to prosecute defense suits for a one-year term The last officer is the agent to convey real estate for a one-year term Pat Hart has been nominated Frank any other nominations? Objections will close nominations ask the clerk to cast One ballot for Pat Hart for agent to convey real estate Thank you to those who have served in the past and will serve in the future Article three to hear an act on the report of the town auditors The move this is seconded Leslie Strauss Any discussion? We've no discussion. We'll close the discussion and move to a vote Article three to hear and act upon the report of the auditors all in favor As opposed to an act I said it. Article three passes I'm never quite sure what that means Article four to hear and act on the reports of the town officers Discussion on the reports of the town officers Seeing no discussion or a move to a vote on article four to hear and act on the reports of the town officers All in favor say aye As opposed to an act Article four passes Article five Shall the voters agree to pay all taxes for the fiscal year july 1 2019 to june 30 2020 Fiscal year 20 to the town treasurer as provided by law Move this and we'll second it move by law. I'm seconded by Burma. Any discussion? Our discussion. We'll move to a vote on article five Shall the voters agree to pay all taxes for fiscal year july 1 july 1 2019 to june 30 2020 to the town treasurer as provided by law All in favor say aye As opposed to any Article five passes Article six so the voters authorized payment of real and personal property taxes In four installments the due dates being august 15 2019 the vendor 15 2019 february 14 2020 and may 15 2020 February 15. Oh, it should be February 15. Yeah. Yeah. Yes weekend day February 14th is a I can't remember whether it's a friday or a monday, but that's why it is 14 Well, they usually do If it's on the weekend, then it's the next business day after I think this is this is going to be the day So, yeah, this is how it's worn I'm going to start that over shall the voters authorized payment of real personal property taxes in the four installments with due dates august 15 2019 december 15 2019 february 14 2020 and may 15 2020 I deliver a to the tax collector before 4 p.m. On that date postmarks are not considered timely payment So I'm moving second Seconded by Robert any discussion? No discussion If there are no objections, I will not read that article again And ask for a vote All the favor say aye As opposed to say hey I have it article six passes Article seven child voters authorized total fund expenditures for the operating expenses of one million 15,000 15 dollars of which 749,315 dollars shall be raised by taxes We're removed and let's bring you second discussion Well, I'm just Unless I read this I'm not reading this properly or correctly. It looks like that. We've taken out some of the in particular Money set aside in anticipation of buying equipment for the road trip Uh, just like a comment or a reaction or Reasoning for that, please Yep, um, we have and not only the road crew but the uh fire department equipment reserve fund and basically we resorted to that an attempt to keep the increase of the taxes relatively acceptable we started out looking at a 13 percent increase which was Not acceptable and we've kept it down to around two two and two three two point three and it's um and then there's a lot of debate about whether it is is appropriate to Put money in the bank to save up for equipment or to perhaps at the time of buying the equipment Take out a loan and at good municipal rates and and Not have that money sitting in the bank, but in this in this that's that's a discussion to Continue on in the in the budget world, but at this point In reflection of some of the other constraints on the budget that's this was our Our way of getting some elbow room to keep the tax down I have a discussion on this Close discussion and move to a vote on article seven Shall the voters authorize total fund expenditures? for operating expenses of one million fifteen thousand three hundred fifteen dollars of which Seven hundred forty nine thousand three hundred fifteen shall we raise our taxes? All in favor say aye those opposed say name I'm saddard Article eight shall the voters appropriate 45 625 dollars towards operating expenses of the rochester public library Move or remove Discussion This Page 45 Page 44 and 45 can folks here join in the back They can for the rock This year they cut the constables they cut water sewer they cut appropriations They cut funding for equipment. That's necessary to run this town and I think that those library trustees should try to be more physically responsible as well if you just look at things like Um Systems maintenance was budgeted 1200 dollars 422 was spent budgeted 1,100 126 was spent so far things like that could be reduced There's a lot of other ones too. It's computer equipment 900 budgeted 500 A thousand budgeted Five hundred and fifty nine cents Supplies Um electricity Another one is custodial salaries budget 2000 they 1700 budget 2000 so far it's 900 next year's budget is 2340 dollars the insurance is another situation Um general it says in maintenance budget 1500 spend 497 budget a thousand spend 400 So I think that the trustees should be more physically responsible I also kind of feel that for a part-time library employee We shouldn't be paying $8,000 for a full-fledged health insurance plan when she is or will be eligible for Medicare in july That's my I'm a taxpayer here as well as all of you our sidewalks are a mess Our town office needs to be straight and painted and taken care of before it rocks away And our town garage is in terrible shape Personally, I'd rather see the extra money from this go to those things And I'm sorry if that year takes you but that's my opinion Very good discussion on this Okay Every year was to that line by line. We do try to be this believe responsible This $5,000 that we're talking about that last year the way we got the money was we had to get a separate article on the Select on the uh town We know to have that pass The town did pass it Otherwise, I don't know if anybody knows here, but but the town does not pay for 100% of the operating expenses So we do a lot of fundraising to pay for the other portion of the expenses And I think we are at a point that they maybe give us 3% of the operating expenses So just know that we are working all the time To make up that difference and I hope that you will consider that All your vote Is is the library in a town employee? No Is it it's an employee of the trustees? Right? I see So but it's paid by the town the salary is paid by the family insurance is paid by the town So within their budget, yeah, but they're increasing their budget to pay for this So in all in all in fact the Rochester taxpayers are paying for this They're paying for a portion So what are what are the what is the policy in general to get full health insurance in terms of length of times? 20 hours 30 hours And the library position is how many hours a week 19 I can uh you want to have a sham the chair public libraries are pleased and uh Uh Speaking to the insurance Back in 2005, which none of us were on the board The board of trustees voted to give The librarian the insurance And at that time the town policy Did not specify any Our limit So the select board agreed to that They had to That that and that was to 2005 since then the uh policy the person now policy has changed but This remains so this it goes back to 2005 and like I said It had been decided by the trustees Approved by the select board And that's how it started And that will go on Medicare So that you cut half of that insurance policy then Well, he goes on in july it takes from january to december so that half of that should be reduced So that it shouldn't be an eight thousand dollar policy I don't know Okay, can folks would I be recognized please if they want to speak I just want to say uh, my name is Catherine Chapman that uh, my hat does go off to jenet and to the trustees It's a fantastic library All the way to the end. I'm sorry I can't see him All right, I love the jury here. Yeah, I'd like to do uh, I've been in town for like 34 years And I've kind of watched the library on the side thing going on and stuff And I just want to say that There's a whole a lot more stuff being offered at the library now than there ever was in the past Oh, let me see who else would like a chance to speak now and come back to you Kevin The benefit of the library is this town is huge Small town has a great library and it has a lot of quick programs that it brings in And I think it's worth our while to keep it as it is. I'd like to uh Just echo quickly what Kevin said And also suggest that while I appreciate the select board's effort to submit a budget that's got a two percent increase in it I have to beg to differ with the strategy of putting certain things up for an annual discussion Particularly for something like our town library It is either in our belief as a community a function of a community To have a literate Population or at least the opportunity to access literacy or it isn't I don't see it as a negotiable piece And while I won't make any effort to have the select board or the community re-enter this article into the regular annual budget Tonight, I would encourage the select board to consider this year Re-examining this practice of removing things from a budget that matter In order To present What in some ways is an artificial 2.3 percent increase when you do that I would also suggest that the same thinking could apply to things like Equipment Particularly for the fire department, but again as dunes says that's got a debate that can go on forever I don't believe that the library being removed from the budget Is a debate that could go on forever. I think it belongs as part of the business of this community All the way in the back there My name is Larry Creech. I just have a question for the commissioner of the library If you're going to go on Social security, what would happen to the other $4,000 that is spent? Can I go in front of the other trustee answer that? Well, if you're not If you go on some security in the budget, it's $8,000 for insurance and then The federal government is going to pick up some happy year. What would I'm just curious what would happen to the other $4,000 It's not being used for insurance This policy as I believe you know is paid annually so that the uh, medicare will go into that Next fiscal year So this will be reflected in the next uh budget next year's budget And uh Well, generally when you reach retirement age You start collecting medicare and some security That that birth date or whatever you deem it. So Then you would have that surplus. That's all I'm asking once you could use that for your loss You absolutely have to pay the annual fee would kind of be a waste of money to pay $4,000 for a policy that you're not only going to just have a little You could find another vehicle that would help This is exactly what we wanted to happen This is Catherine can you wait I do I you know, I all I can say is that our budget will be less by that amount and also like I'd like Oh, can I talk to something else the regarding the budget or the questions that Joanne raised or We are still talking about Okay, as far as the lights and uh, yeah, the lights are on, you know, the only till March So there will be off soon and then but we We changed all our lights into To leds and we so we have we are trying to be very efficient and There's a lot of savings in that and any other any increases that we You know have to Me In housekeeping, you know, everything goes up our custodians We're working at a minimum wage minimum wage one up and we need to give them at least A couple of dollars more over the minimum wage and we have trouble always finding people to shovel and so all those costs like They have to be met and Just this point. I'd like to say that we don't ask Nothing for our books. So all of our books, which is the Main source like of the library. This is the heart of the library All of our books are purchased, you know from our restricted Endowment So that's uh, I think that's huge. So like we said library only gets 53 Percent from the town. Otherwise we get annual campaigns every year. So I think everybody's thought beautiful stained glass windows upstairs All the restorations we have today are in some of them. I'm still in bad shape Every year we restore them or every couple as as as much as we can And that's all paid Yeah Yeah, it doesn't come from town taxes. It's all being raised From our annual campaign as far also furniture and all of that, you know the floors So all the major major things, you know, so all we ask, you know in the budget Is maintenance and like, you know electricity all the utilities and all that stuff Plus, um, so I don't think that's asking too much It's a public it is a uh Town entity Hey, I'm Becky and I'm back to you Kevin I just want to point out when we're talking about salary that you're talking about a personal person I think you really have to realize that that person might not be there So you therefore cannot even begin to plan on Even talking about it at town me and that This person is going to go turn 65 and be on medica. That's just so inappropriate This position can be anybody so you have to I I think we have we're making some assumptions about age and retirement in medicare at at 65 you're eligible for medicare a and the federal government gives you But it's like you don't necessarily have to take medicare b which covers doctors appointments and And that's the one that you gotta pay for this year 135 So you can defer medicare b if you have credible other insurance And most people who are working do so this is something that the employer and the employee have to work out Not this body with respect to what they're going to do with insurance And then of course once you do go on medicare There's that 20% that medicare doesn't pay which is another insurance policy medicare a medicare b optional medicare c I mean truly And we'll talk to you about medicare don't make assumptions about what some what should be somebody's choice right They're right to choose Yeah, yeah, Nancy badness and just um, I think that we should not be presuming although it would be fine if it is that the current Librarian is going to remain the librarian and we need to allow for insurance of anyone who sits in that physician Whether She could retire she could decide to leave we could hire somebody who's 25 years old and if we haven't budgeted for their insurance Then we haven't budgeted appropriately We're presuming that our current librarian is going to step And I don't think we should do that Frank Yeah, I believe we're vacuuming this discussion of insurance is really out of place But but also i'm old enough to be receiving medicare But I think there's some assumption that well your birthday isn't around come November. You'll be receiving medicare But it just doesn't work that way There's a lag of some months. So I think this is not a way out of place, but it's not even According to how medicare works so I just Right, but i'm holding here. It's just a list of all the activities that the library is hosting So come February mark And my god, this this library has been more active recently than I've ever known it And if we look at this time and think of how many places where you can have level one humanities council planting your cutting garden feminist book club by diabetes support group white river player ERP on History book club yoga and dance for ages three to six yoga dance Rager seven to twelve seven to ten Yeah, I kind of like to go up there. I need to six and three It's just this has become a There are there are very few places that are out there are open And you know a resource for all of these varied activities as far as I can see if they just I don't really it's like the springtime when you have Seeds that you're putting in the ground they they're flourishing They're growing so Tim there's a few other folks that haven't spoken yet. You spoke amongst Brenda then Chris I think that library is more than a valuable valuable piece of property An intellectual property a physical property for this time I don't know whether the budget and finance committee or the select people understanding importance And I'm really disappointed that this budget was taken out of the other budget And Dearly that this was not so it would be reduced. I certainly hope that But I would like to say One quote from isaac asimov when I read about the way in which library funds are being cut and cut I can only think that american society has found one more way to destroy it Yeah, I I think that no one in the room is debating the value of the library in town I would hate to think that any one of us would would do that and I think the The mood of the room has been sensed so I would like to call the question I think that's the correct term is it not That is I can use that My two-thirds vote we can end the debate so all in favor of ending the debate say aye Those who would like to continue to be say nay And the eyes haven't we'll call the question we'll move to a vote Article eight shall the voters appropriate 45,625 dollars towards operating expenses of the Rochester public library All in favor say aye Was opposed say nay appears the eyes haven't and Particle eight passes I just say something there sure so In response to the you know Upset that we pulled this out for discussion. Look how much recognition the library got by pulling it out for this We actually achieved our goal The library is uh, its own budget. We can't control it one way or the other So we felt this was the best way to bring it to the floor and uh, we support it as well Shall the voters appropriate 71 1,757 dollars to provide anglin service from white river valley anglin's We're about I get a move that Moved over here. I didn't see you jade moved it and seconded discussion On the top left where it says 1216 runs. That's the 2000 The next column over to the right is 2018 The next column over This 2019 budget And then the uh problem with the percentages and if it's the percent change from 2018 budget to 2019 budget And if you go all the way down End of that column The rescue squad is another important town function That the select board does not create the budget for so Possibly it's a good thing that we vote on it separately When the select board warns this town meeting, but I want to warn us all alert us all that Next year Although the rescue squad budget will still be separate and voted separately It's possible that the select board having achieved Their goal of recognizing the importance of the library will fold that budget back into The regular budget and it will seem like Sending a lot more money When in fact, we're not Thank you Any questions for a picture about um, I wonder why the uh One of the more the budget for this year is uh, is that because there are more transfers? As I mentioned, there are a couple of things we're expecting uh more transfers to the hospital So that's another way to all generate revenue, which keeps the deficit low Um, and just you know put the pens into it. Uh, look at the payroll state expenses And uh, the staff are taking a little bit higher percentage of the uh cost of health insurance And so There's a variety of reasons for which expenses have been controlled with their volume Transfers have been a large part of that and that is happening. That's projected for at least the first couple months of the year. So that's But the takeaway is that the management of the library of valiantula has been Much improved and enhanced over the years Yeah, we have a new executive director Matt Parrish who's from school here Was there acting director on the previous director of the service full-time in the summer was acting as an artist and made permanent director as I just wanted to call attention to I mean in your In your letter on the other side you have actually been able to run I think Rochester was at 70 Yeah, that's true That's over Well If I might just stress this With more transfer runs Was that effective time of a million response? I've had rides and influences As an effect response time for those Yeah, uh, has there been a problem so far? We monitor closely. There was an issue that uh, we wanted to make sure that we had problems elsewhere, but there's enough availability of time in the day that So far it's been working well, and I don't see a big increase in the volume, but each individual transfer does help Usually from Gipper to someplace else So you know scale to the size of the community for not going You know way out further field No further discussion We'll go to a vote on article nine Article nine shall voters appropriate seven hundred thousand Seven hundred fifty seven hours to provide an ambulance service for the from white river valley ambulance All in favor say aye Those opposed to any eyes had it article nine passes Article ten to see if the voters will vote to appropriate the following summons as requested by the below listed community agencies Central vermont council on agency $2,500 claire martin center $2,066 green up vermont $100 Queen town seniors center $9,849 orange county parent child center $250 safe line ink $250 stagecoach $1,300 Vermont rural fire hydrants $100 visiting nurse association $4,800 white river Partnership $875 and women's safe $250 for total of $22,340 Moved by david seconded by mara discussion And as of this month, uh, I'm 22 years with the center on council aging I am The local case manager and senior advocate working with folks Over and younger disabled adults If you Look at my agency's report on page 54. You will see that this last year I've provided 1,838 hours to the town of Rochester if you divide that by the 40 hours a week. I'm paid I've given 46, uh to For Rochester 46 weeks up out of 52. We're here and this is only one of five pounds. I serve So We are a nation community I wish there were more of me But I gotta tell you when our first appropriations go down We're not going to get further to that goal. And as sandi said, we're one of the community partners who just get level funded So we're we're working with actually less staff A cross-sensual month than we have I used to actually have someone who assisted me in the office That doesn't exist anymore. So I don't know when is appropriate for me to move to at least bring it up to the level funding of the same amount we've had for the last several years Would this be a the time I'd like to move from the floor that we restore the appropriation to $3,000 Which is the same amount we've asked for a year after year for a long time So you are amending this article to make central amount council on the aging Three thousand dollars And that would raise the total to 22,840 dollars Can we discuss amendment of the uh this amendment along with and combine it with Amending this number for any of the other agencies involved in this article What do we have to vote on the wall separately? Good question, David If Catherine makes that motion Yeah, and Dave's just asking for a point of order If Catherine makes a multiple motion Someone could amend Catherine's motion to add another another amount onto there And if it would stop there, you can only you can amend an article once and then you can amend it Once you take care of those until you get back to The article or the amended article if it passes Do you want to order it? Yeah Can the chair ask the body if there's anybody else that wants to amend any of the other Amounts on this article Um, I don't think that I don't think that'll be appropriate Anyone is free to make an amendment. Yeah Yes, I just want to clarify that Once this amendment is made and perhaps accepted Further amendments may be made Yeah, we can amend the heck out of it as we go through Okay, so there is um Make sure I'm doing this right. There's um amendment to this article 10 to change Vermont council on aging From 2,500 to 3,000 which changed the total to 22,840 dollars Seconded Thank you discussion On the amendment of increasing it to 3,500 I'm going to go to the back here then to you My name is Norman Smith. I've been in the rush for about 50 years And I I think Job or businesses To take care of our aging population If you may look at the numbers and say gee that seems like a waste of money I don't know how I got wiped off at the budget process the way it did But the one of the problems is we can sit here and say well, what are we getting for this? African services of a lot of people in our town and uh She can't or that there's a name. They're not not you can't get a name. You can't get a representative of looking at a person to get the benefit of this Because it's quiet, but I'm going to tell you that I have two family members My mother-in-law and my aunt We're since past, but they they're definitely aged like I am They get to be a burden not really a burden, but it was our duty duty and myself to look after these two ladies And we were called all the kinds of nights and day for emergencies Didn't most of them turn out to be very bad emergency, but still we were running around doing it And through Catherine's efforts, we were able to find some assistance It didn't really cost a lot of money for anybody, but it ease our burden a lot And I think we should think about That we're all you look around here a lot of white-haired people We feel fine today, but tomorrow the next day we might not feel that great And it's nice to know that we had someone in the house here that in our town that really Is good at her job And I think when you were mentioning the title of the agency you said the long console and aging And I have to assume that several of them on console and aging is the correct time Yes Any other discussion? Yes Hi, I'm Cindy Settle and I'm also going to benefit from the issue of console and aging just because of that accident I don't uh What was the The average American, uh, Vermont is 65 and older, but and that the number keeps going up, but um If anybody who needs or have an injury or a sickness And we've already wrapped around services that are available that we don't need to talk about And when we're injured you can't figure out how to get those services And it's a service that's offered to everybody just here in our town She's the only social worker and we're so underrepresented because we're so isolated community So this I think this this particular organization is phenomenal Say that as someone who turned 65 last summer Another another um service that Katharine and the center of my counsel and aging provided to help to get great deal Was walking me through what I found very confusing The paperwork for applying for social security and also for applying for medicare It was really confusing I found and Katharine set me up with a lady in her office who walked me through it on the phone It all happened. Thank you Now their discussion will move to a vote on this amendment for article 10 um See the voters revolt to appropriate the following sums as requested by the below listed community agencies I will read them all again, but just the amendment is Increasing the central Vermont council on aging from $2,500 to $3,000 Making that article 10 total $22,840 All in favor say aye those opposed say nay The amendment passes Sure Yeah, so we're now we're back to the the article as amended and we can continue the discussion Yeah, go ahead. It's not on the list um It was last year $1,000 and uh I was just wondering if The request wasn't put I think I can explain that Kerry McDonald came to the budget committee and requested that it come off appropriations And go into the budget into the recreation department budget So that's where it went Okay, thank you Any other discussion on the article as amended? Seeing no discussion will move to a vote On this article article 10 to see if the voters will vote to Appropriate the following sums as requested by the below listed organizations a community agencies if there are no objections I will not read them all again But the total is now $22,840 All in favor say aye those opposed say nay article 10 passes article 11 Shall the voters approve an amount of $15,000 to continue funding the town buildings and property reserve funding? moved by the mayor and seconded by the mayor discussion I'm not game saying the amount. I'm kind of wondering how that amount was arrived at whether that I guess that's a question It's definitely not as much as we need, but it's um 50 percent more than we put in last year It's just in an effort to You know tackle some maintenance issues that are pressing Discussion Say none Move to a vote On article 11 Shall the voters approve an amount of $15,000 to continue funding the town buildings and property reserve fund all in favor say aye as opposed to nay I sat in article 11 passes Article 12 show voters approve an amount of $1,000 to fund the tennis reserve tennis reserve fund for ongoing and future court maintenance We want to move this one We removed it and seconded Someone carry Any discussion no discussion will move to a vote on article 12 Shall the voters approve an amount of $1,000 to fund the tennis reserve fund for the ongoing and future court maintenance all in favor say aye As opposed to nay I sat in article 12 passes All right, we're 13 to transact any other legal and proper business to be brought before I said Vic I think it crosses over into this school budget if you have to cross that over right I Come to the school meeting And the other non-mining business We brought before Go ahead Robert Sorry one. It's Robert from Bethel here tonight pretty much to represent the Rutland-Linger voting district to protect democracy and the process thereof 2020 it's coming like a free trade and voting voting stations polling stations Are going to start taking actions to make sure they're properly You might remember a bumper sticker back in the 90s. It said question authority And tonight i'm simply here question The board of civil authority of roger We were presented on election day rules that were unwritten but enforceable By the board of civil authority now i've been on the phone with the secretary of state attorneys Ethan out empty too and asked How does the town? How does the select board? How does the board of civil authority? enforce unwritten rules On the day of election We knew nothing about the board of civil authority And guess what? We didn't know anything about the quote-unquote unwritten rules enforced by the town now We didn't know you couldn't park the car We didn't know you couldn't play sign We didn't know you couldn't park a bus or a parking lot supposedly blocking parking spots, which it wasn't So i'm asking the town of rochester To look forward to 2018 And look at all the other towns and what they're doing with the boards of civil authority This includes for maybe dune or someone in the room Can explain and define What is the board of civil authority in the town of roger who was on it and what are their unwritten rules And do the unwritten rules also fall under Not just election day, which that is what the board of authorities authority is Just facilitate and democratically Allow people to vote freely It doesn't matter if you don't want signs 50 feet from your building It doesn't matter if you you can write the rules the board of civil authority can Make any rule pretty much what they want But you need to public them or publicize them you need to post them on the website So a candidate or a supporter of a candidate Can walk on to a town clerk's office like i did at 7 12 on roger's And i was verbally assaulted For something i didn't even know anything about And the apology has been made and thank you join it was a very hard day for us And for a lot of people that were supporting us that hear what happened It was a defilement of democracy right in this little town The the truck that was parked how does the town know that the truck that was supposedly illegally parked wasn't parked there at 6 30 in the morning How did they know that why was the truck towed? Why was the person the candidate demanded to come to the town of rochester To pay fines and the towing cost Who is the person that made the rule that you cannot park a car or a truck on a town parking lot? Supposedly overnight Where's the rule? Where's the rule that you can't place political signage? In front of a polling station The rule the unwritten rule in rochester is you have to stand with your signs all day You can't you can't leave your sign So we drove to every other polling station There are the signs were beautifully displayed. There was no one standing there. You weren't health prisoner in front of this voting station And in fact because we were called to town rochester to pay a fine And a towing fee and deal with the drama and doom Announcing to our team that uh, did you guys know we have unwritten rules here in rochester? Do you know how to meaning that one rod McFadden said? Soon you can't enforce an unwritten rule Mr. Condos has said that to me the secretary of state's office has said to me every Turn every attorney I talk to they laugh when I say who who is trying to enforce unwritten rules So now everyone complains about the debauchery of donald trump and collusion and russia and all this other BS And we can't do anything about but in this little town and our little voting winds are counting winds are roughing winds are counting We need to synchronize with just Just write the rules that you would like and put them on your website and post them appropriately And that's all I'm asking for 2018 Just make it a fair Because thank you I'm sorry to take too much time Just a little bit over and I want to give other anyone else an opportunity. Thank you very much. Yep So no They're doing one hell of a great job On another note of that same life, I'd also like to thank norm smith for all the years that he has done Valley idol which will be held here in the auditorium And if you've ever been to it before, you know, it's a lot of fun We have a lot of great singers performers They they do a wonderful job and this year's money that we once that we raised from valley idol Will be split between the Rochester fire department and the Stockbridge fire department. So please come out and support our fire department I think all of you for supporting the library's budget might also like to thank Mary St. Crowley for her years of service at the trust team To only be a minute years ago, we had a conference saying where are we going to be in 2020 in 2020 is coming And I'm just wondering if I have another reunion in this year and just talk about where we're going to be It's going to happen Um And for being I don't think anybody really understands the hours the countless hours that you volunteer And it's very much appreciated all the different crises that come and go and get resolved and some maybe not resolve as soon as we'd like But thank you We'll just do a turn on better say hi Thank you folks