Town of Otis

Finance Board/Selectboard Budget Meeting

March 26, 2018

 

Present:           Don Hawley, Bill Hiller, Gary Thomas, Becky Stone, Terry Gould, Michael Ernst, Walt Engels via cell phone (remote participation)

 

Also Present:  Lyn O’Brien, Karen Fink

 

Meeting called to order at 7:05 pm and is being recorded.

Purpose:          Review Budget proposals for Fiscal Year 2019

 

 

Pg 47  #50  Inspectors:  The Select Board would like to bring Jack and Heather in to discuss.  Skipped – needs further discussion.

Pg 48  #94  Insurance:  The extra $150 was the recommended 5% increase.  However with the recent reviews, Liabilities was increased to $50,000 and Contingency was increased to $10,000.  PASSED for a total budget of $83,500.

Pg 49  #14  Legal:  Bill asked if this could be increased to $40,000.  PASSED at $40,000 and we may decide to encumber whatever is left over from this fiscal year.

Pg 37  #93  Health Insurance:  Karen informed everyone that she found out today that Berkshire County Insurance Group is dissolving as of July 1, 2018.  The Town of Otis will need to sign a joint purchase agreement with Berkshire Hills so we can continue to be part of the Berkshire Health Group.  When we do so, we will no longer be charged the 1% surcharge Berkshire County Insurance Group is charging us.  Karen presented her figures based upon who is currently insured.  Don asked what it would cost to add one more family plan and the cost was roughly just under $25,500.  The budget was PASSED at $310,000 including $10,000 for deductible payments.

Pg 50  #87  Library:  This only allowed for the 1.25% increase required by the state.  PASSED at $63,664.

Pg 51  #15  Maintenance Expenses:  Skipped – needs further discussion.

Pg 52  #16  Maintenance Labor:  Skipped – needs further discussion.

Pg 53  #17  Maintenance Super Salary:  Skipped – needs further discussion.

Pg 54  #18  Asst Maint Super Salary:  Skipped – needs further discussion.

Pg 55  #95  Medicare:  PASSED at $17,000.

Pg 56  #79  Mental Health:  PASSED at $584.62.

Pg 57  #19  Office Supplies:  PASSED at $8000.

Pg 58  #51  Otis Rescue Squad:  Skipped – needs further discussion.

Pg 59  #20  Planning Board Expenses:  PASSED at $1950.

Pg 60  #21  Planning Board Clerk:  Skipped – needs further discussion.

Pg 61  #52  Police Dept. Expenses:  Skipped – needs further discussion.

Pg 62  #54  Police Chief Salary:  Skipped – needs further discussion.

Pg 63  #53  Police Dept. Labor:  Skipped – needs further discussion.

Pg 65  #88  Recreation Expenses:  PASSED at $29,457.25.

Pg 66  #89  Recreation Salaries:  Skipped – needs further discussion.

Pg 68  #96  Reserve Fund:  PASSED at $13,000.

Pg 69  #74  Sanitation Inspector:  Skipped – needs further discussion.

Pg 70  #56  Scholarship Committee:  PASSED at $8000.

Pg 71  #57  School:  PASSED at $2,421,150 which was the March 12, 2018 figure.  The Select Board needs a copy of the full budget.

Pg 72  #58  School Bond:  This account is paid off and will be gone next year.

Pg 73  #59  School Committee:  PASSED at $1700.

Pg 74  #22  Selectmen’s Expenses:  PASSED at $3415.

Pg 75  #23  Selectmen’s Secretary:  Skipped – needs further discussion.

Pg 76  #24  Selectmen’s Salaries:  PASSED at $11,000.

Pg 77  #80  Shine:  PASSED at $500.

Pg 78  #90  Southern Berk Lit Network:  PASSED at $400.

Pg 79  #25  Technology:  PASSED at $60,073.28.

Pg 80  #26  Town Accountant Expenses:  PASSED at $1600.

Pg 81  #27  Town Accountant Salary:  Skipped – needs further discussion.

Pg 82  #28  Town Administrator:  Skipped – needs further discussion.

Pg 83  #29  Town Clerk Expenses:  PASSED at $6875.

Pg 84  #30  Town Clerk Salary:  Skipped – needs further discussion.

Pg 85  #31  Town Clerk Elect/Registration:  PASSED at $9075.

Pg 86  #32  Town Clerk Elections Salaries:  Skipped – needs further discussion.

Pg 88  #33  Town Collector Expenses:  PASSED at $18,700.

Pg 89  #34  Town Collector Salary:  Skipped – needs further discussion.

Pg 90  #35  Town Hall:  PASSED at $14,300.

Pg 91  #36  Town Hall Admin Assistant:  Skipped – needs further discussion.

Pg 92  #37  Town Report:  PASSED at $4350.

Pg 93  #38  Town Treasurer Expenses:  PASSED at $6800.

Pg 94  #39  Town Treasurer Salary:  Skipped – needs further discussion.

Pg 95  #55  Tree Warden:  PASSED at $500.

Pg 96  #97  Unemployment:  PASSED at $14,000.

Pg 97  #81  Veterans Benefits:  PASSED at $25,000.

Pg 98  #82  Veterans District Assessment:  PASSED at $7494.27.

Pg 99  #83  Visiting Nurse Association:  PASSED at $3969.

Pg 100 #40 ZBA Expenses:  PASSED at $3000.

Pg 101 #41 ZBA Clerical:  Skipped – needs further discussion.

Pg 102        Waste Water Treatment Plant:  PASSED.

 

 

Categories Skipped over:

Pg 11  #44  Building Inspector Salary

Pg 17  #7    Conservation Commission Salary

Pg 22  #46  Emergency Management:  Contingency is used for matching grant funds if needed.  Current year budget is over by $776.28.  Skipped – needs further discussion.

Pg 27  #47  Fire Department Expenses

Pg 35  #66  Health WWTP Chief Operator

Pg 41  #69  Highway Labor:  Derek mentioned one of his employees will look for another job if he does not see a substantial increase.

Pg 44  #72  Highway Snow Removal Labor

Pg 45  #73  Highway Super Salary

 

 

Next Budget meeting on March 27, 2018 will meet with Fire Dept. and Otis Rescue:

Pg 27  #47  Fire Department Expenses

Pg 58  #51  Otis Rescue Squad

 

Maintenance, Police Dept., and Jack Conboy and Heather remain for the April 3, 2018 meeting.

 

Meeting adjourned at 8:50 pm.

 

Respectfully Submitted,

Lisa D’Orazio

Selectmen’s Secretary

Town of Otis

 

List of Documents

 

 

1. A copy of the B & H Expense Report as of March 26, 2018 will be filed with these meeting minutes.