It was a short meeting, but an important one nonetheless, for the Rochester Board of Selectmen on December 4.
The selectmen held an early meeting before the annual holiday tree lighting ceremony to sign a Revenue Anticipation Note (RAN) in anticipation of some short-term borrowing to tide the Town over until tax bills go out and taxes ultimately collected.
This year was the year the Town re-evaluated property assessments, so holding a tax classification hearing has been somewhat delayed. And according to Town Administrator Suzanne Szyndlar, the new tax rate must be certified before tax bills can be issued.
Szyndlar stated that tax bills should be mailed out to residences and businesses closer to the end of December.
Chairman Brad Morse and Selectman Greenwood Hartley both approved the RAN, but in the absence of Selectman Naida Parker, who is also the town clerk, the RAN could not be signed. Szyndlar said the RAN must be signed by the selectmen in the presence of the town clerk.
In other business, Szyndlar said budget season has officially begun, and she has sent out letters to department heads regarding fiscal year 2019.
The next meeting of the Rochester Board of Selectmen is scheduled for December 11 at 7:00 pm at the Rochester Town Hall.
Rochester Board of Selectmen
By Jean Perry