FINCOM 20210303 Minutes

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Canton Finance Committee Minutes Voted on: 3/24/21 
801 Washington Street Vote: 7-0-1 
Canton, MA 02021 
Meeting Minutes 
March 3, 2021 
Finance Committee Members Present: David Clough, Dan Cole, Emilio Mauro, Tim McKenna, Reuki Schutt, Tom 
Theodore, Cindy Thomas and Wai Wong. 
Finance Committee Members Absent: Rob Barker. 
Guests Present: 
Jen Fischer -Mueller, Superintendent, Canton Public Schools 
Derek Folan, Assistant Superintendent, Canton Public Schools 
Nichola Gallagher, School Committee Member, Finance Sub -Committee 
Ellen Jones, Finance Committee Secretary 
Regen Milani, Conservation Agent 
Kristin Mirliani, Chair, School Committee 
Maureen Moran, School Committee Member, Finance Sub -Committee 
Barry Nectow, School Business Administrator 
Randy Scollins, Finance Director 
Opening: Chair McKenna called the virtual meeting via Zoom to order at 7:00 p.m. 
Approval of Agenda: Chair McKenna reviewed the agenda. 
New Business 
Conservation Commission — FY22 Budget Requests — Regen Milani, Conservation Agent 
Ms. Milani stated that the only budget request this year from the Commission is for additional staff hours. The 
following are some of the highlights of the Conservation Agent's discussion with the Finance Committee: 
• The Commission is requesting the same requests they had presented last year. The Agent stated that the 
Department Secretary III and Recording Clerk were approved last year but due to budget cuts and COVID 
they were not implemented. 
• The Agent is seeking an increase in hours for the Department Secretary III (also known as Senior Clerk) 
from 32 hours ($43,883 for FY21) to 35 hours per week ($45,063 for FY22). 
Ms. Milani's impression, after having worked in the Conservation Department for two and one-half years, is that the 
Town had originally hired a consultant to do the work of the agent. When that individual left the Town, the 
Commission moved towards a staff member as the agent position. It is her impression that the previous consultant 
was building the work along with building a business rather than building the department. 
• Ms. Milani has worked with the HR Director in redefining the Recording Secretary position. The duties of the 
Recording Secretary were previously done by the Department Secretary III employee. Now the two 
positions are held by two separate employees. Ms. Milani is requesting that the Recording Secretary 
position be increased from 3 hours per week ($3,384 for FY21) to 15 hours per week ($15,889 for FY22). 
The Agent is also requesting that her position of Department Head be increased from 35 hours per week 
($73,466 for FY21) to 40 hours per week ($83,636 for FY22). While the 35 -hour workweek was conducive 
to her working part-time with a family, she is now of the opinion that the job is busy enough to require the 
additional five hours. In addition, she commented that all of the other department heads, except her 
position and the Town Planner position, are at 40 hours. Ms. Milani provided information regarding 11 other 
towns that have Town Planners (see meeting documents). Ms. Milani stated that the Town of Canton issues 
double the number of permits as compared to other towns. 
• Ms. Milani commented that that she has spent the last two and one-half years trying to streamline the 
permitting process and the workload in the office and assess and implement areas that they can have a 
reduction in administrative tasks. 
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