FINCOM 20201022 Minutes

Source page 1

Canton Finance Committee Minutes Voted on: 12/21/20 
801 Washington Street Vote: 6-0-1 
Canton, MA 02021 
q9 Meeting Minutes 
October 22, 2020 
Finance Committee Members Present: David Clough, Dan Cole, Emilio Mauro, Tim McKenna, Reuki Schutt, Cindy 
Thomas and Wai Wong. 
Finance Committee Members Absent: Rob Barker. 
Guests Present: 
Derek Folan, Interim School Superintendent 
Nichola Gallagher, School Committee 
Ellen Jones, Finance Committee Secretary 
Kristen Mirliani, Chair, School Committee 
Maureen Moran, School Committee 
Barry Nectow, School Business Administrator 
Randy Scollins, Finance Director 
Opening: Chair McKenna called the Zoom virtual meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. 
Approval of Agenda: Chair McKenna reviewed the agenda. The focus of the meeting was to discuss funding 
issues for the School Department and to address their request for a Finance Committee Reserve Fund Transfer. 
New Business 
Discussion with Mr. Nectow regarding COVID-19 Expenses and Prosection 
School Committee Chair, Kristen Mirliani, opened up the discussion by thanking the Finance Committee and stating 
that the School Committee programs in place are working. Some students have tested positive for COVID but there 
has been no spread throughout the school population. However, she did note that it has been expensive for the 
School Department coming up with the programs. 
Interim School Superintendent, Derek Folan, stated that considerable time was spent over the summer developing 
different models for learning. Currently, Canton Public Schools are in a hybrid model. Safety and support measures 
have caused the greatest impact financially on the School Department budget. 
Mr. Nectow reviewed a spreadsheet (see meeting documents) of the funding sources and expenses for the School 
Department. In summary: 
• Various sources of funding total $2,617,932. 
• Initial expenses through June 30, 2021 are projected to be $2,567,932. 
• Staffing for the Remote Learning Pathway program will cost $1,075,000 for 20 one-year positions and three 
Educational Assistants. COVID-related additional staffing for four one-year custodians and 17 Educational 
Assistants will cost $625,000. 
• The projected shortfall is $1,650,000. 
Mr. Nectow stated that he worked with Mr. Scollins to come up with several iterations on funding options (see 
meeting documents) for the School Committee budget deficit. Option 1 would have required a Special Town Meeting 
(STM). Option 2 met the needs of the School Department and would avoid having to go before the voters at a STM. 
Option 2, supported by both the School Committee and Select Board included the following: 
• Finance Committee Reserve Fund Transfer of $600,000. 
• Special Education Reserve Transfer of $550,000. 
• A transfer from three School Department revolving funds (Preschool Revolving, Athletics and Building 
Rental) totaling $500,000. 
Mr. Nectow stated that an article would be placed in the Annual Town Meeting warrant for the replenishment of the 
three revolving funds for only the amount utilized by the School Department. 
Mr. Scollins reviewed for the Finance Committee the $2,083,000 Cares Act funding the Town received to date. A 
total of $1,389,000 was allocated to the Schools and $695,000 was allocated to Municipal departments (see meeting 
documents). He emphasized the three requirements the Town and School would have to meet to be eligible under 
the Cares Act: expenses must be unbudgeted, spent by 12/30/20 and must be necessary due to COVID-19. Unless 
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