Town of Otis
All Boards Meeting Minutes
May 24, 2010
The meeting was called to order at 6:32 pm.
Present: Chairman Don Hawley, Andy Pyenson, Chris Morris, JoAnn Austin, Lyn Minery, Tom Ragusa, Cynthia Flint Ragusa, Ann Pyenson, Barry Weinsein, Anita Weinstein, Howard Levin, Roberta Sarnacki, Don Chaffee, Hank Wingate, Sonia Morrison Kobrin, Bill Taylor, Bill Dyer, Joyce Taylor
School: Both Otis and Sandisfield passed their school budget amounts. The school will be filling eight positions due to the recent retirements. The Reenactment Encampment by the New Lebanon Militia was very successful despite the weather that weekend. June 25th is the last day of school for the year.
School Committee: The recent retirements have been spurring a lot of rumors around town - the committee wanted to set the record straight and let everyone know that they are just rumors and without merit.
Bicentennial: We need cones and/or sawhorses to block the roads for the parade, otherwise we're fairly set with the parade. Also, they need Caution Tape, which Maintenance has. We're in good shape for the Izaak Walton field - bug spray has been donated for there for Friday and for the Town Hall over the weekend. Friday's picnic will have hamburgers and hot dogs available with donations to the scouts, but otherwise, treat it as a picnic and it's bring your own chairs and accompaniments for Friday. The Otis Gazette will have a pull-out section in June with location of activities and parking. All animal organizations in the parade are responsible for cleaning up after themselves - that's part of the contract for being in the parade. No parking will be allowed at St. Mary's Church so there will be
parking for the 6:00 pm Mass.
Tax Collector: 2010 taxes are coming in slowly even with the demands. The 2011 taxes are ready for mailing. Excise commitment #3 is ready also.
Town Clerk: The Annual Town Elections are tomorrow from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm. The Clerk's office has no Saturday hours for the summer, but the clerk is available by appointment. June 1st is the deadline for dog licences - The Animal Control Officer will send out fines on June 2nd. Meeting minutes have been coming in slowly - boards are encouraged to get them in.
Historical: Representative Pignatelli needed background information on the history of Otis and Tom got it for him. Tom also requested that the rest of the Knox Trail be designated a scenic trail as the 65 Mile Marker has already been done so. This is the first step needed in order to get funding for preserving the trail and putting it on the National Register.
Library: The light for the flag after dusk is no longer working - could Maintenance please check it out and fix it? They have sponsored a float for the Bicentennial Parade. The museum is in good shape - it and the library are open six days a week beginning June 1st. The library is promoting membership and is moving forward with CWMARS.
Maintenance: They are very busy right now preparing for summer, Memorial Day, and the Bicentennial. All flags, American and Bicentennial, will be put up in the cemeteries, in Otis, and in /East Otis for Memorial Day weekend.
Planning Board: The list of town roads is top priority for the next Planning Board meeting. Chris Bouchard will present the Highway Dept's. point of view at that meeting. There are a handful of roads that are in question. The next meeting is June 14th and the full Select Board is invited to attend. The windmill bylaws are sort of stalled right now, but they are the next big topic.
Police: The call volume has increased, second home calls are coming in, and there have been a lot of accidents. The dept. is preparing for the town summer events. Firearms licensing, road details for construction are continuing, as well as mutual aid calls. The chief has applied for the Click It or Ticket grant. June 6th is a large bike race that will be coming through town. The department's daily log tracks the types of calls that come in - if the town would like monthly reporting on the types of calls, that information can be provided.
Recreation: New plantings are going in around the building. Liz Burnett of High Heaven Farm is doing the planting and maintenance. It is OK to move the shade structure in back of the Town Hall for the Bicentennial - moving the skate board equipment is OK as well. Swimming season is ready to begin and the town beach is getting ready for it.
Scholarship: Any unused scholarship money would need to be returned back to the town. Donation monies can be given to the school.
Technology: Ann's new printer has been speced and priced - Larry wants to verify the prices agree with the original quote we were given before we go ahead with the order.
Next Selectmen's meeting is Wednesday night. Meeting was adjourned at 7:28 pm.
Respectfully Submitted,
Lisa D'Orazio, Selectmen's Secretary
Town of Otis
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