The Town of Otisco
The Town is situated approximately 21 miles south of Syracuse, New York.
The area in which the Town is located had been occupied for centuries by the Onondaga People, one of the original 5 nations of the Iroquois (Haudenosaunee) Confederacy in northeast North America.
The name "Otisco" may have been derived from the Iroquois name for Nine Mile Creek, Us-te-ke, meaning "bitter-nut-hickory". At least one older map, published in 1825, has the name spelled as "Ostisco". The name may also have been derived from the word ostickney, meaning "waters much dried away", or from the Onondaga word ostick, meaning "the water is low".
The area became part of the former Military Tract of Central New York State which consisted of nearly 2 million acres of land that was set aside to compensate New York's soldiers after their participation in the Revolutionary War (American War of Independence). The Town was first settled by outsiders around 1798, and permanent settlement began around 1801. The Town of Otisco was formed in 1806 from parts of the towns of Marcellus, Pompey and Tully.
The Town also encompasses the Hamlets of Otisco and Amber, the latter being situated on the north shore of Otisco Lake, which is the easternmost of New York's eleven Finger Lakes.
The Town's picturesque countryside, with its rolling hills and mountainous terrain, is rural, dotted with homes, family farms and small businesses.
There were 2,541 residents and 922 households within the Town according to the 2010 census. In contrast to its relatively small population, the Town of Otisco is the 4th largest Town in Onondaga County in terms of land size, covering approximately 31.2 square miles with approximately 34.40 miles of Town roads. The Town Government consists of a Town Board, Town Clerk, Town Justice Court, Town Highway Department, Code Enforcement Officer, Animal Control Officer, Tax Assessors, Tax Collector, Attorney for the Town and Town Financial Advisor.
A Directory of the Town's Municipal Departments can be found in the Municipal Directory on this website at townofotisco.com/services/
Broadband Internet Access Assessment and Community Survey for Onondaga County
The Central New York Regional Planning and Development Board has partnered with Onondaga County and ECC Technologies, LLC to undertake a community survey that will be used to help prepare a plan to improve broadband internet access for communities in Onondaga County and across Central New York.
There are separate surveys for residents and businesses to complete and an internet speed test that you can use to measure both upload and download speeds from your current Onondaga County location.
The link to the County’s website containing the Broadband Internet Access Assessment and Community Survey for Onondaga County is: https://www.cnyinternet.com/onondaga-county-home
If you or someone you know who wants to complete the survey does not have internet access, they can contact the CNY RPDB at (315) 412-5966 for assistance.
The community survey will take place from May 1, 2021 through July 31, 2021, so please act within this time frame to have your voice heard regarding these important issues.
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON A PROPOSED LOCAL LAW OF THE TOWN OF OTISCO, AS SET FORTH HEREIN
LEGAL NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to Section 20 of the Municipal Home Rule Law of the State of New York, and pursuant to a resolution of the Town Board of the Town of Otisco, adopted May 10, 2021, that the Town Board of the Town of Otisco will hold a public hearing at the Otisco Town Hall, located at 1924 Barker Street, in the Town of Otisco, NY, with the mailing address of 1924 Barker Street, Tully, New York, 13159, on the 14th day of June, 2021, at 7:00 P.M. EST, to hear all interested parties and citizens regarding the adoption of proposed Local Law No. 1 of 2021, titled “Town Employment of Town Officials Law.” Said hearing may be adjourned from time-to-time as necessary.
The purpose of the public hearing is whether the Town Board of Otisco, pursuant to the statutory powers vested in the Town to protect the health, safety, and welfare of its residents, should declare by Local Law that the Town may allow an Otisco Town Official to be employed by the Town of Otisco under distressed, exigent, or emergency conditions within the Town, as determined by the Town Board.
The proposed Local Law No. 1 of 2021 may be inspected during regular business hours at the Office of the Town Clerk, located at 1924 Barker Street in Otisco, New York, 13159.
All parties interested will be given an opportunity to be heard.
OTISCO LEGAL NOTICE
The Assessors will be in attendance with the Tentative Assessment Roll May 8, 2021 from 9 am to 10:30 am and May 10 & 12, 2021 from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm at the Otisco Town Hall, 1924 Barker Street, Otisco, New York for your convenience. The Assessment Board of Review will meet May 25, 2021 from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm at the Otisco Town Hall to hear and examine all verified written assessment complaints. A copy of the Tentative Tax Roll will be left with the Town Clerk on May 1, 2021 where it may be seen during normal business hours.
Stephen Cowles Chairman to the Assessors
New Time for Town Board Meetings
Please note that the Town of Otisco Town Board's regular monthly meetings starting times have
been changed from 7:30 PM to 7:00 PM.
Regular Town Board Meetings are held on the 2nd Monday of the month commencing at 7:00 PM
(except for the month of November due to budget meetings. The date and time of the November
Town Board Meeting is established by the Town Board at the October Town Board meeting).
Regular Town Board Meetings are open to the public and are held at the Town Hall located at
1924 Barker Street in Otisco, New York.
To speak with the Town Supervisor or any of the Town Counselors, please call (315) 696-4676
and follow the prompts on the recorded message, or you may attend any regular Town Board
Meeting and request that the Board address any questions or concerns.
Drive-thru Taxes
The Tax Collector now has a drive through window located on the South side of the Town Hall (right side as you are facing the Town Hall) at 1924 Barker St., Otisco, NY 13159 for the transaction of tax related business during the Tax Collector's business hours (please see Tax Notice under Legal Notices on this website for the Tax Collector's hours.