Town of Otis

Finance Board/Selectboard Budget Meeting

March 6, 2018

 

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

 

Also Present:  Bill Dyer, Sonia Morrison Kobrin

 

Meeting called to order at 5:45 pm and is being recorded.

Purpose:          Review Budget proposals for Fiscal Year 2019

 

 

Pg 1    #42   Animal Control Officer:  The ‘Salaries’ line item should read ‘Stipend’ and the other line items need to be removed.  $5200 should be paid as the stipend amount.  A new line item for Kennel Fee (Becket) was added and funded at $200.  Total budget PASSED at $5400.

Pg 2    #75   Animal Inspector:  PASSED at $500.

Pg 3    #1    Assessors Expenses:  PASSED at $71,150.

Pg 4    #2    Assessors Clerk:  Will be removed next year.

Pg 5    #3    Assessors Prin Salary:  Will be removed next year.

Pg 6     #4    Assessors Salaries:  Stipends level-funded and PASSED at $9500.

Pg 7    #5    Audit:  Level-funded at $12,000.  Skipped due to MLP questions.

Pg 8    #91  Berkshire County Retirement:  PASSED at $158,091.

Pg 9    #92  Berk Regional Planning Commission:  PASSED at $1,253.07.

 

There was discussion about payment toward cell phone bills.  After discussion, the Select Board determined a stipend of $20.00 per month for seven department heads for a total of $240 per person annually would be considered for each of their accounts.  The Select Board will come back to this later.  Department heads would include Derek, Jim, Rebecca, Larry, Keith, Roberta, perhaps Fire.

 

Pg 10  #43  Building Inspector Expenses:  Added $240 for cell phone stipend.  PASSED at $5,140.

Pg 12  #45  Asst Building Inspector Salary:  Level-funded and PASSED at $3500.  Bill would like to know the details of how he gets paid.

Pg 13  #84  Celebrations:  There was discussion as to whether to keep the Holiday Party line item.  The vote was Bill-yes, Gary-yes, Don-no.  PASSED at $10,000.

Pg 14  #60  Cemetery:  There were questions on how many more years there were for gravestone repair.  Skipped – needs further discussion.

Pg 15  #76  Community Health Program:  Level-funded and PASSED at $1000.

Pg 16  #6    Conservation Commission Expenses:  Skipped – needs further discussion.

Pg 17  #7    Conservation Commission Salary:  Skipped – needs further discussion.

Pg 18  #77  Construct, Inc.:  Level-funded and PASSED at $200.

Pg 19  #78  Council on Aging: Level-funded and PASSED at $13,110.

Pg 20  #85  Cultural Council:  Level-funded.  Skipped – needs further discussion.

Pg 21  #8    Electricity:  PASSED at $53,000.  We may come back to this if we need to cut some expenses.

Pg 22  #46  Emergency Management:  Current year is over budget.  Skipped – needs further discussion.

Pg 24  #9    Erbe Building:  Level funded and PASSED at $3700.

Pg 25  #10  Finance Board Expenses:  Level-funded and PASSED at $332.

Pg 26  #11  Finance Board Salaries:  Stipends level-funded and PASSED at $1700.

Pg 27  #47  Fire Department Expenses:  Questions on Forestry and Pagers, Radios, Licenses.  Skipped – needs further discussion.

Pg 28  #48  Fire Chief Salary:  Level-funded and PASSED at $4000.

Pg 29  #49  First Asst. Fire Chief:  Level-funded and PASSED at $2500.

Pg 30  #61  Gas and Diesel:  Level-funded and PASSED at $52,700.

Pg 31  #12  Gifts and Flowers:  Level-funded and PASSED at $750.

Pg 32  #62  Health Agent Expenses:  Level-funded and PASSED at $3300.

Pg 33  #64  Health Backup Salary:  This is Pete Kolodziej’s stipend.  PASSED at $4140.71.

Pg 34  #63  Health Agent Salary:  This is Jim Wilusz’ stipend.  Jim handles Food Service for Camps, Title 5 approvals, etc.  PASSED at $11,484.08.

Pg 36  #65  Health and Sanitation:  PASSED at $143,100.

Pg 37  #93  Health Insurance:  Need explanation from Karen.  Skipped – needs further discussion.  Deductible pool is still under discussion.

Pg 38  #13  Heating/Furnace:  PASSED at $54,600.

Pg 39  #67  Highway Expenses:  PASSED at $152,000.

Pg 40  #68  Highway Garage:  Total reduced by $1200 and added $240 for cell phone allowance.  PASSED at $9,840.

Pg 42  #70  Highway Road Machine Maint:  Skipped – needs further discussion.

Pg 43  #71  Highway Snow Expenses:  PASSED at $121,000.

 

Categories Skipped over:

Pg 11  #44  Building Inspector Salary

Pg 35  #66  Health WWTP Chief Operator

Pg 41  #69  Highway Labor

 

Both boards requested they meet with Highway, Rescue Squad, Recreation, Maintenance, and requested Becky do a spreadsheet of possible Capital Expenses and show the effects of them on Stabilization and Free Cash.  Michael reminded everyone that we need the latest Form 990 for the Rescue Squad and Walter noted that the Library only submitted for the 1.25% budget increase mandated by the state.  Highway will be scheduled for the next budget meeting on March 13, 2018 at 5:30 pm.

 

Meeting adjourned at 8:12 pm.

 

Respectfully Submitted,

Lisa D’Orazio

Selectmen’s Secretary

Town of Otis

 

List of Documents

 

1. Summary spreadsheet of FY18 proposed budgets with previous years’ actuals will be filed with these meeting minutes.

 

1. A copy of the Karen’s Free Cash Approval email from DOR and Cash Reconciliation will be filed with these meeting minutes.

 

1. A copy of the preliminary writeup (incomplete) of proposed Capital Expense items for FY2019 will be filed with these meeting minutes.

 

1. A copy of the B & H Expense Report as of March 6, 2018 will be filed with these meeting minutes.