Town of Otis
Finance Board/Selectboard Budget Meeting
February 29, 2016
Present: Don Hawley, Roberta Sarnacki, Bill Hiller, Chris Morris, Terry Gould, Michael Ernst, Walter Engels, Larry Gould
Meeting called to order at 6:00 pm.
Purpose: Continue reviewing Budget proposals for Fiscal Year 2017
Minutes were approved with changes to item #32 in the combination hourly rate. Don and Bill voted in favor with Roberta abstaining.
#56 Scholarship Committee: Approved as presented. Chris was able to reach Laurie Nikituk who confirmed the amount was appropriate.
#57 School: Pass over – needs further discussion.
#58 School Bond: Approved.
#59 School Committee: Approved.
#60 Cemetery: Pass over – needs further discussion. What does $450 cover.
#61 Gas and Diesel: Approved.
#62 Health Agent Expenses: Approved.
#63 Health Agent Salary: Approved at 2 ½% – this is Jim Wilusz.
#64 Health Backup Salary: Approved at 2 ½% – this is Pete Kolodziej.
#65 Health and Sanitation: Pass over – needs further discussion. Need to check cost of water testing.
#66 Health WWTP Chief Operator: Pass over – needs further discussion.
#67 Highway Expenses: Approved.
#68 Highway Garage: Approved.
#69 Highway Labor: Pass over – needs further discussion.
#70 Highway Road Machine Maint: Approved. Went up on repairs.
#71 Highway Snow Expenses: Approved. If enough left over, may need to encumber to replace a truck.
#72 Highway Snow Removal Labor: Pass over – needs further discussion.
#73 Highway Super Salary: Pass over – needs further discussion.
#74 Sanitation Inspector: Approved – this is Jack Conboy.
#75 Animal Inspector: Approved.
#76 Community Health: Approved.
#77 Construct Inc.: Approved.
#78 Council on Aging: Approved.
#79 Mental Health: Approved.
#80 Shine: Approved.
#81 Veterans Benefits: Approved.
#82 Veterans District Assessment: Approved.
#83 Visiting Nurse Association: Approved.
#84 Celebrations: Approved.
#85 Cultural Council: Pass over – needs further discussion. Need to review guidelines and check the donation account. Michael recused himself.
#86 Historical Commission: Approved at $3600, but took out the reference to the Episcopal Church.
#87 Library: Approved. Both Michael and Walter recused themselves. FY2017 request is 1.025 % of last year’s request so the library doesn’t lose state certification. Actual expenses for FY2015 were $72,524 with the donations supplying the balance.
#88 Recreation Expenses: Pass over – needs further discussion.
#89 Recreation Salaries: Pass over – needs further discussion.
#90 South Berk Lit Net: Approved.
#91 Berk Cty Retirement: Approved.
#92 Berk Reg Plan Comm: Approved.
#93 Health Insurance: Approved.
#94 Insurance: Approved.
#95 Medicare: Approved.
#96 Reserve Fund: Approved.
#97 Unemployment: Approved at $12,000.
Discussion of proposed Capital Expenses:
Eight capital expenditures were proposed. Four of those are confirmed to be on the annual town meeting ballot: East Otis Meeting House Demolition at $15,000, Recreation Center & Library Paving at $40,000, the first of five payments for the new Fire Truck at $111,572, and the second of three payments for the International Dump Truck at $81,086.77. The Recreation Commission request for equipment was rejected because the building cannot contain the weight of any equipment, new or existing. Three items still under discussion are: East Otis Schoolhouse Foundation at $50,000, replacing the Town Hall gym floor at $15,000, and replacing the 2009 Sierra Truck at $60,000 – the Select Board and Finance Board are hoping funds can be encumbered for this item from one of the Highway accounts for FY2016. Free Cash is at $805,902. If the seven are approved, that would take $372,659 out of Free Cash, but we may be able to encumber funds to cover some of the items under discussion.
Other Budget accounts:
#6 Conservation Commission Expenses: Approved – Meeting/Education line item is for travel and training aids for MACC classes. Roberta abstained from the vote.
Accounts to discuss with Maintenance:
#15 Maintenance Expenses: Pass over – needs further discussion. $5000 for cement pads is a one-time expense and will be moved to a Free Cash Capital Expense. This brings the total down to $43,000. Transfer Station Building line item is reduced.
#16 Maintenance Labor: Pass over – needs further discussion.
#60 Cemetery: Pass over – needs further discussion. What does $450 cover.
#65 Health and Sanitation: Pass over – needs further discussion. Need to check cost of water testing.
Capital Expenses
Accounts to discuss with Fire Department:
#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.
Accounts to discuss with Recreation:
#88 Recreation Expenses: Pass over – needs further discussion.
#89 Recreation Salaries: Pass over – needs further discussion.
Accounts to discuss with Rescue Squad:
#51 Otis Rescue Squad: Pass over – needs further discussion.
Accounts to discuss with Highway:
#69 Highway Labor: Pass over – needs further discussion.
#72 Highway Snow Removal Labor: Pass over – needs further discussion.
Capital Expenses
Accounts to review with Salaries and Stipends:
#17 Maintenance Super Salary: Pass over – needs further discussion.
#18 Asst Maint Super Salary: Pass over – needs further discussion.
#23 Selectmen’s Secretary: Pass over – needs further discussion.
#24 Selectmen’s Salaries: Pass over – needs further discussion.
#28 Town Administrator: Pass over – needs further discussion.
#30 Town Clerk Salary: Pass over – needs further discussion.
#34 Town Collector Salary: Pass over – needs further discussion.
#36 Town Hall Admin Asst: Pass over – needs further discussion.
#39 Town Treasurer Salary: Pass over – needs further discussion.
#44 Building Inspector Salary: Pass over – needs further discussion.
#54 Police Chief Salary: Pass over – needs further discussion.
#66 Health WWTP Chief Operator: Pass over – needs further discussion
#73 Highway Super Salary: Pass over – needs further discussion.
Miscellaneous accounts to review:
#13 Heating/Furnace: Michael received his spreadsheet of building expenditures.
#57 School: Pass over – needs further discussion.
#85 Cultural Council: Pass over – needs further discussion. Need to review guidelines and check the donation account. Michael recused himself.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:13 pm. Next meeting will begin the department questions and discussions.
Respectfully Submitted,
Lisa D’Orazio
Selectmen’s Secretary
Town of Otis
List of Documents
Summary spreadsheet of Recreation Commission programs and their budgets will be filed with these meeting minutes.
A write-up of the FY17 Library and Museum explanation of budget figures will be filed with these meeting minutes.
Chris’ write-up of the Preliminary FY 17 Budget numbers will be filed with these meeting minutes.
Chris’ spreadsheet of proposed warrant articles and their associated amounts will be filed with these meeting minutes.