Canton, Massachusetts · Saved source text
FINCOM 03-10-2014
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Town of Canton Finance Committee Meeting Minutes vc* Monday, March 10, 2014 Members Present: Rob Barker, Sepp Bergschneider, Jerry Dorfman, Dianne Gustafson, Tim McKenna, Mark Porter, Barbara Saint Andre and Jim Sims. Members Absent: Diane Wolff, Guests Present: Fire Chief Charlie Doody, Fire Department Tracy Kenney, Town Clerk Bruce Rohr Jim Murgia, Finance Director Ellen Jones, Finance Committee Secretary Opening: A meeting of the Canton Finance Committee was called to order at 7:02 p.m. on Monday, March 10, 2014 in the Salah Meeting Room of the Town Hall. A. Approval of Agenda Chairman Porter reviewed the items on the agenda. B. Announcements There were no announcements. C. New Business Article 23 — Home Rule Petition — To Allow Canton to Hold Municipal Elections on the First Tuesday after the First Monday in November — (meeting handout) Mr. Bruce Rohr, the citizen petitioner of Article 23 presented information about Article 23. Mr. Rohr stated that the purpose of Article 23 was to move the Town's elections from April to November. Because state law requires that town elections be held in February, March, April, May or June, Mr. Rohr stated that the State legislature would need to approve moving the elections to November through a Home Rule Petition. Mr. Rohr commented that this article would not require the Board of Selectmen (BOS) to do anything but to get a sense if the voters think it is a good idea. Mr. Rohr cited the following reasons and advantages to moving the Town elections to November: • Increased voter turnout in November - With the state and national elections taking place ,in November on even numbered years, there would be an increase in voter turnout at least on the even numbered years. Mr. Rohr used as an example the successful ballot vote for the adoption of the Community Preservation Act (CPA) at the November 2012 election. • Greater public awareness of Town elections — Mr. Rohr stated that voters who showed up to vote at the national elections would be given a Town ballot in addition to the state or national ballot, thereby the possibility of becoming more aware of the Town elections and the form of government. Voters might start to consider the questions on the additional ballot and possibly take more of an interest in local government. • Encourage more citizens to run for office — With the possibility of a larger voter turnout, candidates might be more likely to "throw their hat in" and run. • Reduce the costs of an election — By combining the election in the fall, the Town would save by not having to pay election worker salaries, police detail salaries etc. or other costs associated with the April election. This cost savings could be used to hire additional poll workers or increase the hourly rate of pay. Increased advertising for poll workers could garner more applicants. • Experiment — Mr. Rohr stated that the Town could try this for an election or two and if the "experiment" does not work, then switch the election back to the former schedule. FINCOM 03102014 MINUTES.doc Page 1 of 7 3/8/14