"This town has no responsibility for the school budget, except going out and voting," explained Rochester Town Supervisor Pam Duke, following Thursday evening's Rondout School Budget Presentation prior to the town board meeting. This year's total proposed budget is $56,793,478, a $3,201,572 increase from last year's adopted budget.

Highlights of the proposed budget include the creation of a number of positions, including a high school reading specialist, a clerical position, one teaching position in the high school, five teaching assistant positions — one in the high school, and four in the elementary school, as well as the addition of a physical therapist and a certified occupational therapist assistant, district wide. There will be some cuts as well: two teachers and one teaching assistant on the elementary level, a music teacher, and two seats in the Ulster BOCES program, due to decreased enrollment, primarily on the elementary level.

The proposed budget drew criticism from concerned area residents. Questions concerning enrollment, test scores and teacher salaries were addressed. The budget vote will take place on May 15 in the high school gymnasium. The vote will also decide who of the six candidates running for positions on the school board will be elected to the three open positions. More information concerning the budget and the candidates can be found on the Town of Rochester website as well as the Rondout Valley School website.

Following the presentation, the floor was open for public comments. Duke began the comment period by commending the Earth Day volunteers for their two-weekend long efforts, "Forty-three roads in the town were cleaned," said Duke. One hundred and thirty seven tires were collected, one air-conditioner, and countless scraps of metal; "Over $600 was paid by the town," she continued, "and it was money well-spent."

Afterwards, concerns were raised about the Town of Rochester's summer-time "Twilight Concerts." The free concerts, which are performed in Rochester Town Park, began last summer. The event previously included movies and was sponsored by local organizations, among them the Rochester Democrats and Key Bank; this year the town is footing the bill, causing some residents to question the board's decision, suggesting that the event's previous association with a partisan-organization was inappropriate, while others were outraged by the commotion. The dispute came to a halt when a resident who wished to remain anonymous stood up and declared, "I love music, and I love movies, and I think it's a shame we're politicizing the event — this is a community people." Applause followed.

A controversial resolution was passed, which will extend the town's Building Moratorium for a second three-month period. Councilperson Santosky opposed the resolution, which was approved by a three-to-one vote; Councilperson Spano was absent. "To me," said Rochester resident Carl Chipman, "we're saying we don't want commercial development in our town." Chipman's comments drew support as residents voiced concerns about 'stifling' new development and the business community. "We're so close to finishing," assured Duke, "To give ample time to finish-up, I feel that we need to continue this moratorium." The moratorium, which was due to expire on May 9 has been renewed until August 9.

The next Town of Rochester Board Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, June 7. The meeting will feature a public hearing on cellular phone towers. The meeting will be held at the Accord Fire Hall.

COMMENTS about this article (1)