Town of Otis
Select Board Meeting Minutes
February 12, 2019
Meeting called to order at 7:01 p.m. in the Town Hall conference room. A quorum is present.
Select Board Members: Chairman Don Hawley, Bill Hiller, Gary Thomas
Others Present: Town Administrator Rebecca Stone, Interim Police Chief Dan Hamill, Michael Ernst, Jack Conboy, Claire Romeo
Approval of Minutes: The January 22, 2019, January 28, 2019, February 6, 2019 Select Board meeting minutes and the January 31, 2019 All Boards meeting minutes were approved unanimously as written.
Excise Tax Inquiry: Claire Romeo expressed concerns over the address where her excise tax bill was mailed to. After discussion, the Town Administrator will follow up with the Collector tomorrow and get a copy of the invoice to Ms. Romeo.
Police Department Staffing Recommendations: The Select Board discussed candidates and Police Department coverage and unanimously agreed to hire Martin Mayberry, Kenneth Pettibone and Christopher Jackson as part-time Police Officers. Interim Chief Hamill to follow up with applicants and the Town Administrator will issue hire letters with copies to the Town Clerk and the Town Treasurer.
Kitchen Inventory: An inventory of supplies in the kitchen storage area at Town Hall has been completed. The Select Board decided to place a lock on the door and that if anyone requests supplies from this area that they complete a form in advance of a function, submit it to Maintenance to allow Maintenance to make the items available. Town Administrator to create form and notify users of the area of this new procedure.
Set Budget Meeting Schedule: Budget sessions will be held beginning at 5:30 p.m. in March on Thursday March 7th, Tuesday March 12th, Wednesday March 13th, and Thursday March 14th. The Town Administrator will notify the Finance Committee of the meeting schedule and will have the Selectmen’s Clerk post meeting notices.
Other Business:
Lisa D’Orazio has submitted her retirement notice effective June 19, 2019 as Selectmen’s Secretary, Deputy Election Clerk, and Planning Board Clerk. The Town Administrator will place this on next the agenda.
The Massachusetts Municipal Association is holding a Statewide Essay Contest for 8th Graders to create awareness among students about local government. The top entries will receive between $150 and $500 in cash prizes in addition to an invitation to the State House in May. The Select Board unanimously supported the contest. The Town Administrator will complete the paperwork and will notify the school district staff about the contest.
A resident has expressed concerns over traffic on Tolland Road. The Town Administrator will follow up with other town and State officials and will provide an update to the Select Board.
A request for articles for the Annual Town Meeting warrant for the preservation of the East Otis Schoolhouse and a Restriction Intent & Agreement related to the schoolhouse have been received from the Otis Historical Commission. A budget meeting will be scheduled with the Historical Commission to discuss the request further.
The waste oil issue at the Transfer Station, as tabled from December 11, will be placed on the next meeting agenda for discussion.
The Town Administrator will coordinate with the Building Inspector and the Maintenance Superintendent on obtaining a price range estimate for roof repair of Harmony Hall in time for the upcoming budget sessions.
The Select Board meeting was unanimously adjourned at 8:14 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Rebecca Stone
Town Administrator
List of Documents
The Kitchen Inventory and Pantry Inventory will be filed with these meeting