FINCOM 20170213 Minutes

Source page 1

Town of Canton Finance Committee Minutes Voted on: 2/22/17 
Meeting Minutes Vote: 6-0-0 
Monday, February 13, 2017 
Members Present: 
Rob Barker, Jerry Dorman, Nichola Gallagher, Cynthia Holcombe, Stephanie Leach, Tim McKenna, 
Barbara Saint Andre and Cindy Thomas. 
Members Absent: 
Dianne Gustafson. 
Guests Present: 
Jim Murgia, Finance Director 
Ellen Jones, Finance Committee Secretary 
Opening: A meeting of the Canton Finance Committee was called to order by Chair Saint Andr6 at 
7:03 p.m. on Monday, February 13, 2017 in the Salah Meeting Room of the Town Hall. 
A. Approval of Agenda 
Chair Saint Andr6 reviewed the items on the agenda — Police Department Budget, Assessing Budget, 
Voting on Town Meeting articles and review of other articles. 
B. Announcements 
There were no announcements made at the meeting. 
C. New Business 
FY18 Police Department & Animal Control Budgets — Police Chief Ken Berkowitz presented his FY18 
budget requests for the Police Department as follows: 
• Chief Berkowitz praised the Finance Committee's commitment and dedication for coming out on 
such an inclement evening and thanked them for serving on the Finance Committee. 
• The largest item that Chief Berkowitz has requested for his FY18 budget is $45,000 for the 
addition of an officer who would serve as another school resource officer to augment the current 
school resource officer that is already in place at the High School. Currently, Chief Berkowitz 
stated that there is a full time officer assigned to the High School, a part-time officer assigned to 
Blue Hills Regional School, a full-time officer at the Galvin Middle School and one liaison officer 
assigned to all the elementary schools. 
• The additional police officer would also serve as a traffic enforcement officer during the nicer 
weather and the summer months when school is not in session. This officer would augment the 
other traffic enforcement officer currently in place. 
• After budget discussions with Mr. Murgia and Town Administrator Mr. Aspinwall, Chief Berkowitz 
learned that all of the COLA increases he requested in his FY18 budget request were already 
being budgeted for. 
• Chief Berkowitz is also requesting a $10,000 increase to his Training Overtime Salary budget line 
item. This increase will be used to cover overtime when officers are required to "back fill" for 
officers that are attending 40 hours per year of academy training as required by Massachusetts 
law. 
• Chief Berkowitz stated that he has requested a few small budget increases to items such as a 
$2,000 increase for radio equipment repair, a $2,000 increase for software maintenance, a $500 
increase for postage, a $4,000 increase for active shooter training, a $5,000 increase for 
uniforms, a $2,500 increase to the training program budget line item and a $2,000 increase for 
dues and memberships. 
FFNCOM 20170213 Minutes Page 1 of 2/15/17