Town of Otis
Finance Board/Selectboard Budget Meeting
March 21, 2017
Present: Roberta Sarnacki, Don Hawley, Bill Hiller, Chris Morris, Terry Gould, Michael Ernst, Walter Engels, Sonia Morrison Kobrin
Meeting called to order at 5:14 pm.
Purpose: Review Budget proposals for Fiscal Year 2018
#1 Assessors Expenses: Skipped – needs further discussion.
#2 Assessors Clerk: 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: Skipped – needs further discussion.
#7 Conservation Commission Salary: Skipped – needs further discussion.
#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: Approved as is.
#14 Legal: Approved as is.
#15 Maintenance Expenses: Approved as is.
#16 Maintenance Labor: Skipped – needs further discussion.
#17 Maintenance Super Salary: Skipped – needs further discussion.
#18 Asst Maint Super Salary: Skipped – needs further discussion.
#19 Office Supplies: Approved as is.
#20 Planning Board Expenses: Approved as is.
#21 Planning Board Clerk: Skipped – needs further discussion.
#22 Selectmen’s Expenses: Approved as is.
#23 Selectmen’s Secretary: Skipped – needs further discussion.
#24 Selectmen’s Salaries: Approved as is.
#25 Technology: Skipped – needs further discussion. The one time website upgrade expense may become a capital item.
#26 Town Accountant Expenses: Approved as is.
#27 Town Accountant Salary: Skipped – needs further discussion.
#28 Town Administrator: Skipped – needs further discussion.
#29 Town Clerk Expenses: Approved as is.
#30 Town Clerk Salary: Skipped – needs further discussion.
#31 Town Clerk Elect/Registration: Approved as is.
#32 Town Clerk Elections Salaries: Skipped – needs further discussion.
#33 Town Collector Expenses: Approved as is.
#34 Town Collector Salary: Skipped – needs further discussion.
#35 Town Hall: Approved as is.
#36 Town Hall Admin Asst: Skipped – needs further discussion.
#37 Town Report: Approved as is.
#38 Town Treasurer Expenses: Approved as is.
#39 Town Treasurer Salary: Skipped – needs further discussion.
#40 ZBA Expenses: Approved as is.
#41 ZBA Clerical: Skipped – needs further discussion.
#42 Animal Control Officer: Approved as is.
#43 Building Inspector Expenses: Approved as is.
#44 Building Inspector Salary: Skipped – needs further discussion.
#45 Asst Building Inspector Salary: Skipped – needs further discussion.
#46 Emergency Management: Approved as is. Roberta abstained from vote.
#47 Fire Department Expenses: Approved as is.
#48 Fire Chief Salary: Skipped – needs further discussion.
#49 First Asst Fire Chief: Skipped – needs further discussion.
#50 Inspectors: Approved as is.
#51 Otis Rescue Squad: Skipped – needs further discussion.
#52 Police Department Expenses: Approved as is. Roberta abstained from vote.
#53 Police Department Labor: Skipped – needs further discussion.
#54 Police Chief Salary: Skipped – needs further discussion.
#55 Tree Warden: Approved as is.
#56 Scholarship Committee: Approved as is but Chris needs to check with Laurie Nikituk.
#57 School: Skipped – needs further discussion.
#58 School Bond: Approved as is.
#59 School Committee: Approved as is.
#60 Cemetery: Approved as is.
#61 Gas and Diesel: Approved as is – may need to come back to it.
#62 Health Agent Expenses: Approved as is.
#63 Health Agent Salary: Skipped – needs further discussion.
#64 Health Backup Salary: Skipped – needs further discussion.
#65 Health and Sanitation: Approved as is.
#66 Health WWTP Chief Operator: Skipped – needs further discussion.
#67 Highway Expenses: Approved as is – may need to encumber some funds.
#68 Highway Garage: Approved as is.
#69 Highway Labor: Skipped – needs further discussion.
#70 Highway Road Machine Maint: Approved as is.
#71 Highway Snow Expenses: Approved as is.
#72 Highway Snow Removal Labor: Skipped – needs further discussion.
#73 Highway Super Salary: Skipped – needs further discussion.
#74 Sanitation Inspector: Approved as is.
#75 Animal Inspector: Approved as is.
#76 Community Health: Approved as is.
#77 Construct Inc: Approved as is
#78 Council on Aging: Approved as is.
#79 Mental Health: Approved as is.
#80 Shine: Approved as is.
#81 Veterans Benefits: Approved at $25,000.00
#82 Veterans District Assessment: Approved as is.
#83 Visiting Nurse Association: Approved as is.
#84 Celebrations: Approved as is.
#85 Cultural Council: Approved as is.
#86 Historical Commission: Approved as is.
#87 Library: Revised amount of $62,927.00 was approved.
#88 Recreation Expenses: Skipped – needs further discussion.
#89 Recreation Salaries: Skipped – needs further discussion.
#90 Southern Berkshire Literacy Network: Approved as is.
#91 Berk. County Retirement: Approved as is.
#92 Berk. Reg. Planning Commission: Approved as is.
#93 Health Insurance: Approved as is.
#94 Insurance: Approved as is.
#95 Medicare: Approved as is.
#96 Reserve Fund: Approved as is.
#97 Unemployment: Approved as is.
WWTP: Reviewed the proposed expenses and approved – this does not affect the tax rate.
Both boards requested they meet with Conservation, Rescue Squad, Recreation, Board of Assessors, and requested Chris do a stipend history for all boards including those that receive no stipends. Everyone was asked to consider a COLA figure and the Select Board would like to have reports on the personnel evaluations.
Capital Expenses were then reviewed. This is a preliminary list and subject to change.
Maintenance Pickup with Sander $ 50,000 replaces ‘09
? St. Paul’s Study $ 10,000 this would be for a detailed Eng.
Study if town votes to keep church
? Harmony Hall Building Repair $ 50,000 no solid numbers yet
? East Otis Schoolhouse Foundation $ 20,000 Don thinks about $100,000 may
cover all work
? Recreation: Stationary Bike $ 6,500 Is this a replacement?
Y Fire Truck: pmt 3 of 5 $111,572.00 must be paid
Y Highway Truck: pmt 3 of 3 $ 81,086.77 must be paid
East Otis Fire House Paving $ 30,000 Can we encumber these funds?
Highway Roller $ 60,000
Stabilization $200,000
Police Dept. Tahoe $ 54,000 with Police equipment
Website Upgrade $ 7,000
Don did a quick calculation, proposing $350,000 for Stabilization, included the Pickup, St, Paul’s, Police Tahoe, Website update, Fire truck and Highway truck payments, Highway roller, Harmony Hall repairs at $50,000, East Otis Schoolhouse at $100,000 and $30,000 for East Otis paving, he determined that should still leave $362,000 in Free Cash.
Everyone agreed to add April 4th at 5:30 pm for an additional Budget meeting.
Meeting adjourned at 7:40 pm.
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.
A copy of the initially proposed Capital Expenses will be filed with these meeting minutes.