Canton, Massachusetts · Saved source text

MasterPlan-20241015T181120

Master Plan Implementation Committee · Source year folder: 2023 · Record 81175

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Master Plan Implementation Committee Meeting Minutes 
May 18, 2023, 7:00-8:30 p.m. 
Via Zoom 
Master Plan Implementation Committee Members present: Joseph Amrhein (Planning Board), Bob 
MacDonald (Conservation Commission), and Emilio Mauro (Finance Committee) 
Master Plan Implementation Committee Members not present: Kristian Merenda (School Committee), 
Mike Nourse (Historical Commission), Alan Rapoport (Economic Development Committee), Citizen at 
Large — vacant, Community Preservation Committee or Playground and Recreation Committee 
representative — vacant, Select Board representative — vacant 
School Committee Non -Voting Alternate: Maureen Moran — not present 
Staff: Interim Town Planner Gene Manning — not present 
Guests: Larry Bogue, Chair of the Playground and Recreation Commission; and Tyler Radicioni, Director 
of Department of Parks and Recreation 
INTRODUCTIONS 
Chair Emilio Mauro called the Master Plan Implementation Committee (MPIC) meeting to order at 7:05 
p.m. and he welcomed and introduced all those present. 
DISCUSSION OF MASTER PLAN AND IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS 
E. Mauro explained the mission of the Master Plan Implementation Committee and the background of 
how the current Town Master Plan was developed and what is included within the Master Plan. He 
displayed a Frequently Asked Questions page that is included within the Meeting Documents section of 
these Minutes. 
E. Mauro then presented the Canton Master Plan Strategic Framework 2020-2025 (included in Meeting 
Documents) and walked the participants through an overview of the strategic focus areas, action items, 
responsible parties, and time frames included in that aforementioned document. 
DISCUSSION OF SHARED PRIORITIES WITH PARKS and RECREATION 
E. Mauro reviewed the identified shared priorities between the Master Plan and the Canton Parks and 
Recreation that were included in the displayed document entitled "Canton Master Plan Action Items & 
Parks and Recreation Shared Priorities 2020-2025", which is included in the Meeting Documents section 
of these minutes. He also explained the methodology behind these items being included, provided 
suggestions, and, in some cases, he noted the current status of implementation or other background 
information. Concepts highlighted in the presentation Included how Parks and Recreation can help 
vulnerable populations better access recreation in Canton, how parks and other recreational activities 
help promote public health and social wellbeing, the importance of town services in fostering 
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participation and providing information, building on existing plans to promote and enhance parks, 
recreation facilities, and open spaces (including trails), advance infrastructure improvements that also 
include focuses on adaptability and sustainability, and helping to promote art, culture, and history 
through Parks and Recreation activities. 
Parks and Recreation Director Tyler Radicioni thanked the MPIC and noted the importance of the Master 
Plan process. He felt that there is strong alignment between the Master Plan goals and the actions of 
the Parks and Recreation Department, including some of the new programs they are creating for all 
ages. They are trying to become fully inclusive, which includes making playgrounds and programs fully 
accessible. There was also some discussion of proposed infrastructure and facilities improvements 
around town. Reaching these goals will take time and he also praised the Playground and Recreation 
Commission for their commitment to improving the Town's recreational and open space facilities and 
programs. 
L. Bogue, Chair of the Playground and Recreation Commission, agreed with T. Radicioni and emphasized 
the progress that Park and Recreation is making regarding public outreach. He also discussed the 
partnership between the department and the Massachusetts Hospital School (Pappas Rehabilitation 
Hospital for Children) for use of their playground which allows inclusive play between children of 
different abilities. He also described the challenges to expanding walking and biking trails but that they 
are continuing to look for opportunities to expand those trails. 
E. Mauro asked about Parks and Recreation grants to finance projects. L. Bogue and T. Radicioni said 
that most grants are for maintaining or redeveloping existing trails rather than funding the acquisition of 
new trails. 
T. Radicioni has been working with the Conservation Agent Regen Milani about making improvements to 
trails using interns. 
E. Mauro asked about Parks and Recreation collaboration with the Canton Public Schools. T. Radicioni 
spoke about the ongoing discussions with schools to enhance collaboration. One important issue is that 
Parks and Recreation does not have sufficient indoor space for programs and the schools have spaces 
for those purposes. Scheduling sometimes makes this challenging but there is a good working 
relationship. T. Radicioni added that Parks and Recreation also permits the fields to the schools and 
maintains them (using Memorial Field as an example). 
B. MacDonald asked T. Radicioni and L. Bogue about the new Bolivar Pool and he was told that the 
facility has been working well and that the modern facilities are meeting high expectations and being 
enjoyed by the public. There has also been increased use since the pool was replaced. 
J. Amrhein asked about costs and packages for using the pool and if there were swimming lessons 
regularly offered. T. Radicioni explained that there are daily and season passes and there are individual 
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and family passes. There are also American Red Cross swimming lessons offered at reasonable rates. 
Promotion of these pool services were discussed as was the length of the pool season. 
E. Mauro asked about the new Metropolis Rink being used off-season as an indoor space for recreation. 
T. Radicioni stated that this was considered for rain day space for clubs but the concrete floor makes it 
difficult to use safely for other uses and it has acoustical echo issues, which makes its use for camps, 
with some sixty children, difficult due to loud noise. The conference room is sometimes used for STEM 
program camps. 
E. Mauro also asked if the rink was meeting expectations and L. Bogue said that the new state-of-the-art 
facility is fully successful and that there had not been any issues and the schedule for the rink is full. 
E. Mauro asked about the impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Parks and Recreation, especially long- 
term effects or changes in trends. T. Radicioni said that a positive outcome has been an increased want 
to be outside and active, which has increased participation in programs. A challenge that has come out 
of COVID-19, is an increase in mental health stresses that the department is trying to help with through 
both outdoor programs but more in STEM and non -outdoor programs. Some online programs created 
during COVID-19 are now being transitioned to in -person programs, which further increases the need 
for indoor space. T. Radicioni and L. Bogue emphasized the need for more indoor space to expand 
programs and also noted that they had been in contact with the Saint Gerard's Reuse Committee to 
discuss possible space at that site. 
J. Amrhein asked about the use of Pequitside Farm. T. Radicioni said that the site was the central 
location for the day camp program in the summer. Pequitside is mostly used for children's programs but 
there are some adult and elder programs available elsewhere (such as golf lessons, tennis lessons, 
Zumba, yoga, family cooking nights, et cetera). 
J. Amrhein also asked about Parks and Recreation use of the Paul Revere Heritage Site and T. Radicioni 
described the annual movie nights and he described other efforts to utilize the site. 
There was then a brief discussion on the Parks and Recreation website and Facebook presence and the 
catalog of activities. 
E. Mauro asked if there were any underserved parts of town. T. Radicioni felt that Parks and Recreation 
does a good job of distributing events but he felt more could be done to serve the Cobb Corner area and 
take more advantage of Messenger Park. 
There were brief discussions about the potential use of Blue Hills Regional High School for Parks and 
Recreation activities, how the Blue Hills Reservation is used for some hiking programs, and the use of 
the Canton Public Library's message board for announcements promoting Parks and Recreation events. 
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E. Mauro, citing corporate sponsorship of the road race as an example, asked if there are more 
opportunities for corporate sponsorship of Parks and Recreation events. T. Radicioni noted those 
opportunities while also pointing out that Parks and Recreation efficiently reinvests the funds they 
generate from programs back into those programs, so there is limited need to go out to the business 
community to seek sponsorships. Both the golf tournament and the road race do have sponsors. One 
sponsorship avenue being explored is advertising for the boards at the ice rink. 
There was then some discussion on collaborating more with the Department of Elder and Human 
Services (DENS). T. Radicioni noted that DEHS has many specialized programs of its own but there are 
some collaborations with the DEHS with programs like pickleball and golf and coordinating 
transportation for the summer concert series. There is a good collaborative relationship between the 
two departments. 
A discussion about the Massachusetts Hospital School (Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital for Children) 
playground on Randolph Street followed. L. Bogue described the accessible playground at that location 
that was open to the public prior to COVID-19 but there is uncertainty as to whether it has reopened to 
the public post -pandemic. 
J. Amrhein asked about the bike paths and walking paths and the related bike infrastructure on 
roadways in town (such as wider roads and road markings). L. Bogue agreed that many roads in Canton 
are too narrow to easily accommodate pedestrian sidewalks and bicycle lanes safely, which creates 
challenges to having complete streets. 
Recreational opportunities on Reservoir Pond were also discussed, including trails and the Earl 
Newhouse Waterfront. 
E. Mauro thanked the Parks and Recreation Department and the Playground and Recreation 
Commission for all they do to advance recreation in town. 
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING REVIEW 
E. Mauro noted that about 250 to 260 residents attended the Annual Town Meeting (ATM) on May 8, 
2023. He added that Article 27 regarding the creation of a Sustainability Action Plan and potential 
establishment of a Sustainability Manager passed at the ATM. The Select Board has agreed to create a 
Sustainability Action Plan Steering Committee (SAPSC) if Article 27 passed in consultation with the 
advocates of the withdrawn but similar Article 28 that would have mandated such a committee through 
Town Meeting action. He reminded members that there had been discussions about the MPIC having a 
seat on the SAPSC when it is formed. He told members that he would check with Town Administrator 
Charlie Doody to see what the status of that committee is and when it might be formed. 
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ANNUAL REORGANIZATION of the MPIC 
This item was deferred to the next meeting, due to a lack of quorum. 
CANTON HERITAGE FESTIVAL 
E. Mauro updated the MPIC on the plans he has for the Canton Heritage Festival to be held on May 20, 
,2023. There will be information on the Master Plan including handouts and some information gathering 
from the public. It is open to the public and E. Mauro will represent the committee at the event for the 
duration. There was some discussion on the potential rainy weather forecasted. 
TOWN PLANNER UPDATE 
E. Mauro noted that Interim Town Planner G. Manning, who was not able to attend, sent updates to 
follow-up items that had been discussed at the April 2023 MPIC meeting. These included: 
• There is a Master Plan developed by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and 
Recreation (DCR) to make improvements to the open space recreational facilities at Ponkapoag 
Pond, Including parking, signage, picnic areas, restrooms, et cetera (see Meeting Documents). 
The Towns of Canton and Randolph would like sidewalks on Randolph Street to Route 138 to be 
included through state funds as part of this project. Regarding that goal, G. Manning sent the 
MPIC copies of two letters of support written and submitted to the DCR Landscape Architect 
(see Meeting Documents). The first letter is a joint letter from State Representative William 
Galvin and State Senator Kevin Feeney, also citing the proximity of the Blue Hills Regional High 
School and Massasoit Community College as further incentives for sidewalks. The second letter 
was sent by the Friends of the Blue Hills in support of the Randolph Street sidewalks. This 
process is ongoing. 
• The Town of Canton also received some bike infrastructure grants (see Meeting Documents), 
which includes: 
• $12,500 (FY 24) of federal ($10,000) and non-federal ($2,500) grants for the 
purchase and installation of bicycle racks in the downtown near the Canton 
Center MBTA Commuter Rail Station, and 
• $28,125 (FY 24) of federal ($22,500) and non-federal ($5,625) grants for the 
installation of bicycle racks at the Town's five public school buildings (the three 
elementary schools, middle school, and high school). 
• The Town of Canton will also benefit from a MassDOT project that will improve lighting on 
Interstate 95 J State Route 128 and Interstate 93 at and approaching the interchange of those 
highways. This project will benefit Canton, Dedham, Norwood, Sharon, and Westwood. The full 
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amount of federal and non-federal funds for this project in FY 24 will be $3,800,868, of which 
$3,040,694 is from federal sources and $760,174 is from non-federal sources. 
B. MacDonald provided an update on the search for a full-time town planner. There were two 
individuals that recently came before the Select Board as candidates for the position. A candidate from 
Taunton was offered the position and their hiring is expected to be formalized at the next Select Board 
meeting on May 23, 2023, and should begin work not earlier than two weeks after that date. 
E. Mauro praised G. Manning for his work as the Interim Town Planner during the period since former 
Town Planner Laura Smead's departure. 
B. MacDonald also noted that the Town had recently hired a full-time Town Engineer. 
ACCEPTANCE of PAST MPIC MEETING MINUTES 
The acceptance of the March 16, 2023, and the April 20, 2023, MPIC meeting minutes was deferred to 
the next meeting. 
UPCOMING MEETINGS and FUTURE GUESTS 
The MPIC will have its next meeting on June 15, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom and the committee decided 
to postpone the scheduling of a following meeting for September 2023, until its next meeting in June. 
There was also a brief discussion on efforts to fill the Select Board vacancy on the MPIC. E. Mauro had 
communicated with Town Administrator Charlie Doody and he are working on filling the Select Board 
vacancy. The Playground and Recreation vacancy and the potential interest of including the library in 
future meetings in a formal or informal way was discussed. 
ADJOURNMENT 
A motion to adjourn was made by B. MacDonald and seconded by J. Amrhein. It was approved by the 
consensus of 3-0-0. 
ROLL CALL: Amrhein Y MacDonald Y Mauro 
The meeting was adjourned at 8:12 p.m. 
Respectfully Submitted, 
Emilio E. Mauro, Jr. 
Chair 
Master Plan Implementation Committee 
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