Town of Otis
Finance Board/Selectboard Budget Meeting
February 23, 2016
Present: Don Hawley, Bill Hiller, Chris Morris, Terry Gould, Michael Ernst, Walter Engels, Roberta Sarnacki
Meeting called to order at 6:00 pm.
Purpose: Review Budget proposals for Fiscal Year 2017
Don started the meeting off by beginning the discussion on salaries since it affects the whole budget. Don suggested a 3% cola across the board and up to 5% as a total cap for exceptional employees who went above and beyond. Bill agreed this was a good starting point.
#1 Assessors Expenses: Approved as is – RRG line item is $59,400
#2 Assessors Clerk: This was eliminated for 2017 – Approved at $0.
#3 Assessors Prin Salary: Approved at $0.
#4 Assessors Salaries: Level-funded and approved at $9500.
#5 Audit: Approved as is.
#6 Conservation Commission Expenses: Pass over – needs further discussion. Questions on what is planned for Meeting/Education line item.
#7 Conservation Commission Salary: Approved at 3% in the amount of $5037.
#8 Electricity: Approved as is.
#9 Erbe Building: Level funded – Approved as is.
#10 Finance Board Expenses: Approved as is.
#11 Finance Board Salaries: Approved as is.
#12 Gifts and Flowers: Approved as is.
#13 Heating/Furnace: Pass over – needs further discussion. Michael wants to see a spreadsheet of building expenditures.
#14 Legal: Approved at $20,000.
#15 Maintenance Expenses: Pass over – needs further discussion.
#16 Maintenance Labor: Pass over – needs further discussion.
#17 Maintenance Super Salary: Pass over – needs further discussion.
#18 Asst Maint Super Salary: Pass over – needs further discussion.
#19 Office Supplies: Approved as is.
#20 Planning Board Expenses: Approved as is.
#21 Planning Board Clerk: Approved at 3% in the amount of $3200. $17.47 per hour.
#22 Selectmen’s Expenses: Approved as is.
#23 Selectmen’s Secretary: Pass over – needs further discussion.
#24 Selectmen’s Salaries: Pass over – needs further discussion.
#25 Technology: Approved in the amount of $51000, added onto SoftRight line item.
The meeting was suspended at 6:58 pm so the regular Select Board meeting could commence.
The meeting was reconvened at 7:15 pm as the last item on the Select Board agenda.
#26 Town Accountant Expenses: Approved as is. Questions as to why we need a consultant & that’s due to bond indenture.
#27 Town Accountant Salary: Approved at 3% as presented.
#28 Town Administrator: Pass over – needs further discussion.
#29 Town Clerk Expenses: Approved as is.
#30 Town Clerk Salary: Pass over – needs further discussion.
#31 Town Clerk Elect/Registration: Approved with changes. The Safety Barrier line item was changed to Voting Machine line item for $3500 – this line item will need to be encumbered for the end of FY2017. Approved in the amount of $12,125.
#32 Town Clerk Elections Salaries: Approved as is. There was discussion about how to pay for Constable/Officers when Russ and Jack couldn’t serve. The end result was that Police Officers serving in both capacities and are in uniform for elections would be paid at Officer rate ($21.00 per hour). Russ and Jack are paid at a lower rate ($11.00 per hour) because they are not trained police officers. Roberta abstained from voting on this.
#33 Town Collector Expenses: Approved as is.
#34 Town Collector Salary: Pass over – needs further discussion.
#35 Town Hall: Approved as is.
#36 Town Hall Admin Asst: Pass over – needs further discussion.
#37 Town Report: Approved as is.
#38 Town Treasurer Expenses: Approved as is. Bond indenture requires a higher bond.
#39 Town Treasurer Salary: Pass over – needs further discussion.
#40 ZBA Expenses: Reduced to FY2015 – Approved with change at $3,000.
#41 ZBA Clerical: Approved at $3600 with 3% increase for $16.96 per hour.
#42 Animal Control Officer: Approved as is.
#43 Building Inspector Expenses: Approved as is.
#44 Building Inspector Salary: Pass over – needs further discussion.
#45 Asst Building Inspector Salary: Approved as is.
#46 Emergency Management: Approved as is. Roberta abstained from vote.
#47 Fire Department Expenses: Pass over – needs further discussion.
#48 Fire Chief Salary: Pass over – needs further discussion.
#49 First Asst Fire Chief: Pass over – needs further discussion.
#50 Inspectors: Approved as is.
#51 Otis Rescue Squad: Pass over – needs further discussion.
#52 Police Department Expenses: Approved as is. Roberta abstained from vote.
#53 Police Department Labor: Approved as is.
#54 Police Chief Salary: Pass over – needs further discussion.
#55 Tree Warden: Approved as is.
#56 Scholarship Committee: Pass over – needs further discussion.
Salaries and stipends still need to be discussed in many cases because only two thirds of the performance evaluations have been received.
Several departments need to be scheduled for future budget meetings: Maintenance, Highway, Fire Dept., Rescue Squad, Recreation, and WWTP.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:18 pm. Next meeting will begin with the School at #57.
Respectfully Submitted,
Lisa D’Orazio
Selectmen’s Secretary
Town of Otis
List of Documents
Summary spreadsheet of FY17 proposed budgets with previous years’ actuals will be filed with these meeting minutes.
Chris’ write-up of the FY17 Cola and Premium Hike impact with the health insurance increases for various employee scenarios will be filed with these meeting minute