Town of Otis
Finance Board/Selectboard Budget Meeting
March 28, 2017
Present: Roberta Sarnacki, Don Hawley, Bill Hiller, Chris Morris, Terry Gould, Michael Ernst, Walter Engels, Sonia Morrison Kobrin, Kathy Carroll, Mary Adams, Patricia Richard, Russ Loring, Jim Ebitz
Meeting called to order at 5:07 pm.
Purpose: Review Budget proposals for Fiscal Year 2018
#88 Recreation Expenses: There was a lot of discussion with Commissioners and supporting documentation. The line item for Equipment was reduced by $530 because they should be able to buy the cameras in this year’s budget. Continuing Education was explained and approved with an addition of $250 transferred from Memberships. Drinking water line item was reduced by $300, Programs was itemized and approved at $25,502, and the Memberships line item was eliminated as these funds will be encumbered from the FY2017 budget. The total Recreation Expenses budget was approved at a total amount of $31,581.00. The new Performance line item program should be evaluated after the first performance.
Recreation Capital Expense request: They have a broken bike that cannot be fixed that they want to replace with an AMT machine. This is a type of elliptical treadmill. The Select Board requested a data sheet on the new piece of equipment and stated that competitive bids should be sought.
#51 Otis Rescue Squad: Jim Ebitz explained why he was proposing an additional EMT position for the twelve hour day shift. Two EMTs need to be on duty at all times and they are having a difficult time covering the 6:00 am to 8:00 am period and the 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm period. To remedy this problem, they are proposing two people work three twelve hour shifts plus one six hour shift for a total of 42 hours per week, and a third EMT scheduled for a 36 hour per week shift. This will cover Monday through Friday for twelve hours per day with two EMTs. This will not affect the volunteer time on weekends in any way. After additional discussion, the Rescue Squad budget was increased to $200,000 and approved for that amount.
#1 Assessors Expenses: The budget includes the costs for the cyclical inspections this year. Every one asked what the RRC wireless evaluation was for and that is to do commercial valuations of cell towers, which is done every certain number of years. The budget was approved pending explanations, which everyone got later. Russ was informed Assessors stipends were level funded at $9500.
#25 Technology: The one time website upgrade expense will be encumbered from FY’17. Other funds were realigned with their proper categories and the revised budget was approved at $60,641.48.
#57 School: Chris received notification from the school that this budget number was their final figure. School budget approved as is.
#56 Scholarship Committee: Approved as is. Chris checked with Laurie Nikituk and they are good with this amount. Monies were awarded last year but no one provided the requested information in order to get the checks.
#6 Conservation Commission Expenses: The camera request should be removed from FY’18 and encumber from FY2017 expenses. Skipped – needs further discussion.
Accounts remaining for approval are:
#6 Conservation Commission Expenses: Skipped – needs further discussion.
#7 Conservation Commission Salary: Skipped – needs further discussion.
#16 Maintenance Labor: Skipped – needs further discussion.
#17 Maintenance Super Salary: Skipped – needs further discussion.
#18 Asst Maint Super Salary: Skipped – needs further discussion.
#21 Planning Board Clerk: Skipped – needs further discussion.
#23 Selectmen’s Secretary: Skipped – needs further discussion.
#27 Town Accountant Salary: Skipped – needs further discussion.
#28 Town Administrator: Skipped – needs further discussion.
#30 Town Clerk Salary: Skipped – needs further discussion.
#32 Town Clerk Elections Salaries: Skipped – needs further discussion.
#34 Town Collector Salary: Skipped – needs further discussion.
#36 Town Hall Admin Asst: Skipped – needs further discussion.
#39 Town Treasurer Salary: Skipped – needs further discussion.
#41 ZBA Clerical: Skipped – needs further discussion.
#44 Building Inspector Salary: Skipped – needs further discussion.
#45 Asst Building Inspector Salary: Skipped – needs further discussion.
#48 Fire Chief Salary: Skipped – needs further discussion.
#49 First Asst Fire Chief: Skipped – needs further discussion.
#53 Police Department Labor: Skipped – needs further discussion.
#54 Police Chief Salary: Skipped – needs further discussion.
#63 Health Agent Salary: Skipped – needs further discussion.
#64 Health Backup Salary: Skipped – needs further discussion.
#66 Health WWTP Chief Operator: Skipped – needs further discussion.
#69 Highway Labor: Skipped – needs further discussion.
#72 Highway Snow Removal Labor: Skipped – needs further discussion.
#73 Highway Super Salary: Skipped – needs further discussion.
#88 Recreation Expenses: Skipped – needs further discussion.
#89 Recreation Salaries: Skipped – needs further discussion.
Except for the first account listed above, all remaining accounts involve salaries and stipends.
Capital Expenses were again reviewed. If the eleven items listed on the revised warrant are accepted as articles and passed at Town Meeting, Free Cash should be at $315,016.23 and Stabilization should be at $1,216,829.00, which are both more than DOR’s recommended percentages of the town’s operating budget.
The next meeting will be April 4th at 5:30 pm and Conservation will be asked to attend.
Meeting adjourned at 6:48 pm.
Respectfully Submitted,
Lisa D’Orazio
Selectmen’s Secretary
Town of Otis
List of Documents
A copy of the revised FY18 Warrant Articles and their costs will be filed with these meeting minutes.
A copy of the revised Recreation Expenses, their itemized Programs budget, and the revised Technology Expenses will be filed with these meeting minutes.
A copy of the salaries and stipend report Chris was asked to document will be filed with these meeting minutes.