Canton, Massachusetts · Saved source text
FINCOM 20210331 Minutes
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Canton Finance Committee Minutes Voted on: 4/21/21 801 Washington Street Vote: 7-0-0 Canton, MA 02021 Meeting Minutes March 31, 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: Charlie Aspinwall, Town Administrator John Connolly, Chair, Select Board Jen Fischer -Mueller, Superintendent, Canton Public Schools Derek Folan, Assistant Superintendent, Canton Public Schools Ellen Jones, Finance Committee Recording Secretary Lisa Lopez, Select Board Member David McCarthy, Chair, Planning Board Barry Nectow, School Business Administrator Randy Scollins, Finance Director Laura Smead, Town Planner Christine Smith, Chair, Sustainability Committee Jeff Sullivan, Resident Jen Wexler, Resident 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 Discussion of FY22 Municipal and Enterprise Operating Budgets Mr. Scollins presented the operating budget recommendations in a 11 -page PowerPoint presentation (see meeting documents) which included the Milestone Calendar, the General Fund operating budget requests of $24,247,313 or a 5.78% increase for FY22. The Finance Committee had set a Municipal budget target of $23,663,041 which was a $931,000 increase over the FY21 budget. The Town Administrator balanced the budget by reducing a net of $584,272 to meet the target, which the Select Board approved. The largest budget increase is $569,900 for contractual increases which is 61% of the total budget increase. Mr. Scollins reviewed all of the various department budget increase requests. The following are a few highlights. The Police Department is seeking a request of $111,800 for a fourth Police Lieutenant and $80,000 for Police Reform Related Training Backfill. The Health Department request of $27,300 to increase the Assistant Public Health Nurse position from 19 to 35 hours was not supported with the hope that funding will come from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Also not supported is the approximately $602,000 stormwater related requests for the Department of Public Works/Stormwater. The plan is to utilize a currently open and funded Operations Manager position in the DPW budget to hire someone that might lead the effort in determining appropriate plans and funding strategies to be brought to the next Town Meeting budget cycle. An increase of $25,000 in the Veterans budget is being sought to fund support and maintenance costs for the American Legion Post 24 which will be considered separately in Article 26. The $25,000 has been included within the municipal operating budget because the intent is for the $25,000 to carry forward in future years and become a permanent part of the Veterans budget. This is not a Free Cash request. If Article 26 is voted down and someone makes a request, the funds could be used in another department's budget, otherwise, it would be unappropriated funds. FINCOM 20210331 Minutes.docx Page 1 of 9 4/17/21