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FINAL - Finance Committee Recommendations to ATM 2022 with budget
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Source page 1
Recommendations of the Finance Committee
to the Voters of Canton, Massachusetts
2022
TOWN OF CANTON
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING
MONDAY, MAY 9, 2022 at 7:00 p.m.
Public Informational Meeting on April 28, 2022 7-8 p.m.
See Page 4 for details.
Morse Auditorium
Canton High School
900 Washington Street, Canton, MA
Study this report and come to Annual Town Meeting.
Bring this report with you.
_________________________________________________________
YOUR VOTE at Town Meeting is important
$132.0 million will be appropriated by
because it establishes the priorities for our schools,
Canton Town Meeting Voters for
public works, public safety, town government and
Next Year’s expenditures.
future direction for our environment.
The Town, upon request, will endeavor, to the
greatest extent possible, to make available any
and all visual and audio devices and assistance for
the disabled. For more information, please call
781-821-5000.Source page 2
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING - MAY 9, 2022
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page #
Finance Committee Report ……………………………………………………….……… 5
Annual Town Meeting - Charts and Exhibits
Figure 1 – Historical Comparative Summary of Expense Growth
FY12-FY22 ……………………………………………………………………... 10
Figure 2 – Reserve Accounts & Bond Rating Agency Expectation ……….…… 11
Additional Fund Source ……………..……………………………………………………… 13
Town Finance Terminology …………………………………………………………………. 21
A Guide to Participating at Town Meeting …………………………………………….. 22
Note to All Voters Concerning Town Meeting Procedures ……………………….. 23
Summary of Revenue and Expenditures ……………………………………………….. 24
Revolving Funds ………………………………………………………………………………… 33
Vote to Transfer Available Funds ……………………………………………………….. 103
Operating Budget by Voting Category FY 2023 ……………………………………… 104
Operating Budget by Department – Detail FY 2023 …………..…………………… 106
Five-Year Municipal Capital Plan for FY 2023-2027 (includes self-supporting) 114
Five-Year School Committee Capital Plan for FY 2023-2027 …………………… 116
Annual Town Meeting Articles
Art. Page #
1 Elect a Moderator ………………………………………………………………………………. 25
2 Adopt Rules to Govern Town Meeting …………………………………………………… 25
3 Hear Reports of Committees Appointed at Prior Town Meetings ……………… 27
4 Act on “Consent Agenda” ……………………………………………………………………. 28
5 Collective Bargaining Agreements under the Select Board ……………..……… 29
6 Personal Service Contracts under the Select Board ………………………….….. 29
7 Set Salaries of Elected Officers …………………………………………………………. 30
8 Pay Bills of Prior Fiscal Year ……………………………………………………………….. 31
9 Adjust Fiscal 2022 Accounts ……………………………………………………………. 32
10 Authorize Certain Revolving Funds ……………………………………………………… 33
11 Insurance Proceeds ………………………………………………………………………..… 36
12 Accept General or Session Laws Enacted by the General Court ……………….. 36
13 Appropriation to Supplement the Commonwealth’s Chapter 90 Program …. 37
14 Community Recognition Supplemental Funding …………………………………….. 38
15 “Omnibus” Capital Outlay Program ……………………………………………………… 39
16 Approval of Funding for the Annual 4th of July Community Celebration ……. 51
17 Recommendations of the Community Preservation Committee ………..…….. 52
2Source page 3
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING - MAY 9, 2022
Annual Town Meeting Articles (cont’d.)
Art. Page #
18 Amend General By-Law Article 1, Section 2 – Enforcement ……………………. 57
19 Vote to Authorize Disposition of 25 Neponset Street …………….………………. 58
20 Auction of Town Owned Property Located at 25 Neponset Street ……………. 59
21 Appropriation to Supplement the Budget for Construction of
Pickle Ball Court ……………………………………………………………………………… 60
22 Appropriation to Supplement the Budget for Memorial Hall Exterior
Renovation Project …………………………………………………………………………... 60
23 Acquire Permanent Easement Over 145 Sherman Street for Drainage
Infrastructure and Conveyance of Stormwater Purposes ……………….……… 61
24 Appropriation for Galvin Middle School Feasibility Study ……………………….. 62
25 Appropriation to Increase Special Education Reserve Account ……………….. 62
26 Amend the General By-Laws by Adding New Noise By-Law ……………………. 63
27 Amend General By-Laws by Removing Article XIV Section 48. Alarm
System, Registration and Regulations By-Law. …………………………………….. 64
28 Amend General By-Law Article X Section 6. Canton Affordable Housing
Trust Fund ……………………………………………………………………………………….. 65
29 Vote to Transfer Pleasant Street Land From Select Board to Conservation
Commission ……………………………………………………………………………………… 65
30 Vote to Establish a Capital Stabilization Fund ………………………………………. 66
31 Acceptance of Revolution Way as a Town Way ……………………………………… 67
32 Amend Zoning By-Law Section 6.1. Off-Street Parking …………………………… 68
33 Amend Zoning By-Law Section 9.8 Canton Center Economic Opportunity
District ……………………………………………………………………………………………. 73
34 Amend Zoning By-Law Section 7.2 Special Regulations for Above or Below
Grade Structured Parking …………………………………………………………………… 74
35 Amend Zoning By-Law Section 9.3 to Remove the Economic Opportunity
Overlay District (EOOD) …………………………………………………………………….. 75
36 Amend Zoning Map of Town of Canton …………………………………………………. 76
37 Add Zoning By-Law Section 6.9 General Provisions for Commercial Mixed
Use District ………………………………………………………………………………………. 79
38 Amend Zoning By-Law Section 2.0 Districts …………………………………………. 84
39 Amend Zoning By-Laws Section 4.0 Dimensional ………………………………... 85
40 Amend Zoning By-Law Section 9.4 to Remove the Mixed Use Overlay
District (MUOD) ………………………………………………………………………………… 88
41 Amend Zoning By-Laws Section 3.1.4 Table of Use Regulations ……………… 89
42 Amend Zoning By-Laws Section 11.0 Definitions …………………………………… 100
43 Appropriate Funds to Meet Expenses for Next Fiscal Year FY23 ……………… 103
3Source page 4
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING - MAY 9, 2022
Pre-ATM Public Informational Meeting on
Thursday, April 28, 2022 at 7-8 p.m. via Zoom.
7:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Please access the following for the Informational meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89506825615
Webinar ID: 895 0682 5615
Question Submissions for the Pre-ATM
Public Informational Meeting may be submitted
no later than noon on
Tuesday, April 26th by emailing
atm@town.canton.ma.us.
For information regarding Articles, please access the following address:
https://www.town.canton.ma.us/954/2022-Annual-Town-Meeting
4Source page 5
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING - MAY 9, 2022
Finance Committee Report
Fiscal Year 2023 Proposed Budget and Overview
The Finance Committee would like to acknowledge the elected officials, committee
members and municipal and school personnel who all work hard to balance the needs
of the town with the resources available. While the emergence from the COVID-19
pandemic has created unique challenges, Canton’s history of sound fiscal management,
collaborative relationships across municipal government and the schools and funding
from the state and federal government have allowed us to maintain, and in some case
enhance services. Canton remains in a strong financial position that has been
enhanced by the availability of state and federal pandemic related funding.
Finance Committee Discussions
The voters should read the Finance Committee discussions on each article. The
discussions that follow each motion are intended to give insight into the Committee's
decisions and the considerations inherent in each motion. In some cases, when a vote
is not unanimous, a minority discussion may be provided offering the voter an additional
perspective on the article. It should be noted that a vote to "postpone indefinitely" may
occur for a variety of reasons. This can occur when the information needed for a vote
was not available at the time of the vote or because a decision was made by the
article’s sponsor to postpone the article.
Fiscal Year 2023 Proposed Operating Budget
Article 43 provides a detailed budget for fiscal year 2023 (FY23). The Finance
Committee is recommending an FY23 general fund operating budget of $109.3 million,
and combined enterprise fund operating budgets of $15.8 million. The FY23 budget
proposed by the Finance Committee continues Canton’s sound fiscal management that
has put us in a position to both maintain and enhance services.
The $109.3 million FY23 budget recommended by the Finance Committee in this year’s
warrant is expected to maintain our current level of services, fund contractual increases
to our public employees, and address rising
Finance Committee Budget
special education costs. The recommended Recommendations
operating budget represents a 5.48% increase • $5.7 Million Increase in Operating
over the FY22 budget approved at the 2021 Budgets, which includes:
Annual Town Meeting (ATM). This includes a • $2.9 Million School Budget Increase
6.00% increase in the School Operating Budget, a • $1.4 Million Increase in Fixed Costs
5.96% increase to the Municipal Operating Budget • $1.4 Million Municipal Budget Increase
and a 4.58% increase in fixed costs. Overall, the Finance Committee recommends that
the School Department receive an additional $2.9 million and the Municipal Operating
Budget an additional $1.4 million increase from FY22.
Each year, the Town’s cross functional Revenue Committee meets in late January or
early February, after the release of the Governor’s proposed state budget, to forecast
the expected Town general fund revenues for the next fiscal year. These revenue
sources include property taxes, state aid, and local receipts such as motor vehicle
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ANNUAL TOWN MEETING - MAY 9, 2022
excise taxes, hotel and meals taxes, interest, fees and payments in lieu of taxes. By
intention, the Revenue Committee forecasts revenue conservatively, to maximize the
likelihood that actual revenue won’t fall short of the budget plan, ensuring that the Town
“lives within its means”. The Finance Committee uses this revenue forecast, as well as
information on fixed costs (including health insurance, pension, debt service, trash
collection and insurance) to set targets for the Municipal and School Operating Budgets.
The FY23 recommended Municipal and School Operating Budgets are aligned with the
targets set by the Finance Committee, based on the Revenue Committee forecast of
$25,025,058 for Municipal Departments and $50,658,405 for the School Department.
The FY23 budget recommended by the Finance Committee assumes that property
taxes will be increased $1.6 million
2022 Residential Tax Rate: $11.35 Per Thousand
less than the maximum allowed • $5.20 School Operating and Capital
under Proposition 2 ½ (80.2% of • $2.62 Municipal Operating and Capital
general fund revenue). FY23 will • $3.38 Fixed Costs
be the second year of the 30 year • $0.16 State & County Charges
payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT)
agreement with the newly combined Tufts Health Plan and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care
Organization, establishing their new corporate headquarters in Canton at the former
Reebok site. This health care company is recognized as a non-profit and therefore not
subject to property taxes. However, with the PILOT agreement they have agreed to
annually contribute to the Town’s recurring revenue stream the amount of $1.6 million,
with 3% increases annually. Although this amount is no longer considered property tax,
it is considered a local receipt and will be included in that revenue category. The Tax
Levy Limit does not decrease under Proposition 2½ rules when a property’s taxable
status changes. However, in fairness to all Canton property tax payers, it is appropriate
to reduce the tax levy by the revenue amount shifting from taxes to local receipts. The
revenue forecast does project a $1.5 million increase in new property tax growth in
FY23.
Local receipts (7.8% of general fund revenue), including the $1.6 million shift of property
tax revenue to local receipts, are budgeted at the same amount as budgeted in FY22
due to the continuing weakness in Hotel & Meals excise tax, investment income, permit
and fee income. This is due to the lingering COVID-19 impacts on the economy.
The Governor issued his proposed FY23 State Aid budget (9.5% of general fund
revenue) on schedule this past January. The Governor’s proposal recommends a $1.37
million increase over the FY22 State Aid budget for the Town. This is significant in that
this increase is equivalent to 86% of the cumulative increases in State Aid over the past
five years. 98% of this expected increase is associated with education related cherry
sheet line items.
Enterprise Funds Increases
The recommended Water Enterprise Fund operating budget is an increase of 9.2%, to
$8.6 million. The growth is primarily due to increases in debt service and expenses
related to the general fund overhead allocation. Going forward, in order to reduce
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ANNUAL TOWN MEETING - MAY 9, 2022
reliance on borrowing the Water Enterprise strategy is to build a working capital cash
reserve sufficient enough to borrow for a smaller percentage of capital investments.
The recommended budget for the Sewer Enterprise Fund is $6.8 million, an increase of
2.6%. The increase is entirely related to an increase in the MWRA assessment.
The recommended budget for the Rink Enterprise Fund has been set at $404,462,
reflecting a 3.5% increase related entirely to the general fund overhead allocation.
Bond Rating
In March of 2022, Standard & Poor’s assigned its AAA long-term rating to the 2022
Canton general obligation (GO) municipal purpose bonds and affirmed the same rating
on Canton’s GO bonds outstanding, reflecting the Town’s solid financial position and
practices. This is the highest bond rating afforded to municipalities in the United States
and is even higher than the rating assigned to the United States government, given only
to entities that consistently demonstrate sound fiscal management. This rating allows
the Town to borrow money for capital projects at the lowest available interest rates. The
estimated total reserve amount, a key benchmark for rating agencies, at the end of
Town Meeting is $19MM and 17.33% of the FY ’22 General Fund Budgeted
Expenditures.
Historical Perspective on Canton's Finances
As the economy continues to fluctuate and rebound from the impacts of the pandemic,
the Finance Committee has attempted to balance maintaining and enhancing services
at a sustainable rate, continuing to address our Other Post-Employment Benefits
(OPEB) liability, maintaining our infrastructure and preserving funds needed to weather
economic downturns that come without warning and last for unknown durations.
Fiscal Year 2020 – (7/1/2019 – 6/30/2020)
At the 2019 ATM voters approved an FY20 budget based on $99.0 million in forecasted
revenue and $100.2 million in forecasted expenses. The expenses were budgeted
higher than revenue by $1.2 million by funding the special education reserve account
($700,000) and improvements at the intersection of Randolph and Washington streets
($500,000) from Free Cash.
The Town’s FY20 general fund revenues were $88,000 less than planned. While local
receipts were $880,000 higher than budgeted, tax revenues collected were $1.1 million
less than budgeted. The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the economy was the
driving factor in this result. Although local receipts came in higher than budget, they
were approximately $700,000 less than planned as a result of the pandemic’s impact on
the local economy in several areas including hotel and meals excise taxes, interest
income, fees and other departmental revenue. Accordingly recharge to reserves was
less than planned. However budget turnbacks, which also recharge reserves, were
significant at just under $1 million primarily due to a mild winter and no draw downs on
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ANNUAL TOWN MEETING - MAY 9, 2022
the Finance Committee’s Reserve Fund as a result of good stewardship of budgets by
all department heads. Also, the stabilization fund had a healthy $900,000 increase in
the value of its investments. The result being that FY20 reserve levels reached 17.54%.
In an effort to provide some short-term financial relief to impacted taxpayers in light of
the impacts of Covid-19, the Select Board adopted a newly enacted state law allowing
for FY20 fourth quarter tax, water & sewer bills to be paid two months later than
scheduled due dates. As a result, the Town’s collection of taxes and water & sewer bills
was below plan in FY20. However the substantial majority of those deferred taxes and
water & sewer bills were collected in the first quarter of FY21.
Fiscal Year 2021 – (7/1/20 – 6/30/2021)
At the 2020 ATM voters approved an FY21 budget based on $102.3 million in
forecasted revenue and $103.2 million in forecasted expenses. The expenses were
budgeted higher than revenue by $913,000 as the following projects were funded by
Free Cash: transfer to a special education reserve account ($500,000); Earl Newhouse
Waterfront improvements ($239,130); Sherman/Pleasant/Angela street Intersection
improvements ($85,000); three smaller articles for easement acquisitions, community
recognition ($5,000); and $39,299 from other funds.
Fiscal 2021 turned out to be a rebound year for the Town, financially speaking, with
revenues coming in ahead of expenditures by $3.8MM. Compared to the budgeted
deficit of $913 thousand the total operating surplus was $4.6 million better than plan.
Revenue performance was much improved by a variety of factors impacting the three
major revenue categories, Property Taxes, Local Receipts and State Aid, despite the
Covid-19 pandemic still raging for most of the fiscal year.
Property tax revenue collections for FY 2021 were $1.06MM better than plan. ~$475K of
this increase was due to “New Growth” coming in higher than plan. In addition, over
80% of the past due FY 2020 taxes were collected in FY 2021.
Local Receipts beat a conservative budget by $1.59MM and prior year by $927K. The
expectation is that at least $1.5MM in excess local receipts are collected, consistent with
prior financial plans in order to “recharge” Free Cash. It was welcome news to see this
trend in a positive direction.
State Aid came in $870K higher than budget. The Governor and the legislature decided
to use CARES Act funds to commit to what the Governor had originally proposed in
January of 2020 for the FY ’21 budget. That decision wasn’t made until well into FY ’21,
in December of 2020. In lieu of a firm commitment on State Aid, many municipalities
revised their State Aid budget estimates downward by 10%, which is exactly what
Canton did when the budget was finally set in June of 2020.
On the expenditure side, it was another positive year with $1.03MM in appropriation turn
backs. As a result of all these factors reserve levels increased $3.79MM to 20.04%. of
FY22 expense budgets.
8Source page 9
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING - MAY 9, 2022
Fiscal Year 2022 – (7/1/21 – 6/30/2022)
At the 2021 ATM voters approved an FY22 budget based on $106.7 million in
forecasted revenue and $109.9 million in forecasted expenses. The expenses were
budgeted higher than revenue by $3.2 million by funding a portion of the Memorial Hall
exterior renovation ($1.2MM), the special education reserve account ($660K), the
athletic field snack shack and bathrooms ($600K), School revolving accounts
replenishment ($500K), snow & ice deficit ($200K), and a land taking off Pleasant Street
($15K) from Free Cash.
We are anticipating local receipts to continue their rebound to predictable sustainable
levels. The Town budgeted conservatively, however, so that local receipts can support
the FY22 budget and replenish the Free Cash reserves at historical levels. Overall we
anticipate our cash reserves to be maintained at or above the 15% target.
It is the Town’s conservative approach to budgeting revenues that is responsible for this
expected result. Not knowing what the next year will bring, or when the next economic
crisis will come or how long it will last, should be major factors influencing the Town’s
continued conservative approach to maintaining its solid financial footing.
Historical Review of Expenses
Figure 1 provides an historical view of the relative level of expenses between the School
department, the Municipal side of government, and fixed costs (i.e. health care,
pension, debt service, etc.). School expenses have increased 4.6% on average
annually since FY12 while municipal expenses have increased 4.3%. Fixed costs have
increased 3.4%. Total expenses have increased 4.1%. The Finance Committee has
historically noted that managing health care and employee benefit costs is a critical
component in alleviating the Town’s financial stress. It should also be obvious that
increasing the number of Town employees has a direct impact on the fixed cost budget.
The Town has historically worked with its municipal and school employees to mitigate
the rising cost of healthcare, pension and OPEB, which now comprise about 19% of our
overall budget, down from 20%.
9Source page 10
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING - MAY 9, 2022
Figure 1: Historical Comparative Summary of Expense
Growth
110
105
100
$'s in Millions
95
Budget Actuals
90
85
80
75
70
65
60
55
50
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Fiscal Year
SCHOOL (4.6%) MUNICIPAL (4.3%) FIXED COSTS (3.4%) TOTAL EXPENSES (4.1%)
The accelerated increases in the School Department expenses can be attributed to an
increase in special education costs and the steps, lanes and longevity increases built
into the teacher contracts. Municipal and school employee contracts include increases
for employees for longevity, steps (number of years served) and lanes (promotions or
the amount of post-graduate education for teachers), even when there is no cost of
living adjustment (COLA). When there is a COLA, employees can receive both. The
School Department contracts include more steps than the municipal contracts, and have
more lanes with no restrictions on the number of employees that can receive the
promotional increases. The $1.36 million in wage increases inherent in school contracts
for FY23 represents an average salary increase of 3.4% compared to the $658
thousand, or 4.3% increase, in municipal contracts. Not all labor contracts are settled
for FY23.
Free Cash - This is a Both the Municipal and School budgets contain “wild
misunderstood term created by the cards”, line items that cannot be accurately predicted in
Dept. of Revenue (DOR). It
represents the “Undesignated Fund advance. In the case of the Municipal budget, the
Balance” in the General Fund and amounts required for Snow and Ice removal and for
should only be used for one-time
costs or for extraordinary expenses. public safety overtime are examples. For the Schools, it
Using "Free Cash" to supplement is the federally mandated costs for students with special
operational budgets should be education (SPED) needs, particularly in cases where
avoided if at all possible. It is
generated primarily from revenues those needs cannot be met within the district and instead
received in excess of budgeted students must be placed in programs out of district. It
revenues and from underspent
budget appropriations. It is certified simply is not possible to predict when such students will
annually by the DOR and is reduced move into or out of the District or when the needs of
by deficits in any town account or
impacted positively or negatively by
existing students will change, potentially causing
changes in tax receivables variances between the budget and the actual costs.
balances. Also, the current surge in the cost of equipment and
materials is a challenge impacting both School &
Municipal expenses.
10Source page 11
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING - MAY 9, 2022
Status of the Town's Reserves
Budget variances are inevitable. The Town's reserves protect against unexpected costs
exceeding the budgets approved at ATM. The General Fund’s operating budget
includes $600,000 ($100,000 more than customary) for the Finance Committee Reserve
account, which can cover extraordinary or unforeseen expenditures. Any remaining
balance in this account is transferred to Free Cash as in previous years.
The Town also maintains three sources of permanent "reserves" (savings accounts)
that serve as potential sources to fund one-time or unplanned extraordinary expenses.
Figure 2 displays the Town's historical reserve balances. Free Cash requires a majority
vote at town meeting to be appropriated. The Stabilization Fund requires a 2/3rds vote
at town meeting to be appropriated. The Assessor’s Overlay Reserve Fund is included
in Figure 2 as a Reserve, although it is not all available for appropriation. The Overlay
Reserve is the fund used for paying tax exemptions and abatements. It can only be
accessed for other purposes if an overlay surplus is declared by the Town’s Board of
Assessors. This results in a release of money from the Overlay Reserve Fund into the
Overlay Surplus account. The Town estimates potential Overlay Surplus by reducing
the Overlay Reserve for estimated exemptions and abatements. Currently, the Town’s
reserves are at 20.04% of expenses before any appropriations at this year’s Town
Meeting.
In addition to providing a possible source of funding for one-time expenditures, or
unforeseen or extraordinary one-time emergency situations, the reserve funds are
viewed as a collateral source when rating agencies determine the Town's bond rating.
Bond rating agencies look for a reserve of 15% of expenses for AAA rated communities.
Canton's prudent fiscal management has allowed the Town to earn the highest long-
term bond rating (Standard & Poor's AAA) offered to municipalities in the United States.
This allows Canton to issue bonds for debt capital projects at the most favorable interest
rates.
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ANNUAL TOWN MEETING - MAY 9, 2022
The Town would incur increased borrowing costs if a downgrade in Canton's bond
rating were to occur. A downgrade in the Town's bond rating results in higher interest
rates for new borrowing. Each downgrade can represent an increase of approximately
25 basis points or 0.25%. Each year, the ATM approves between $4.0 to $5.0 million of
additional debt for capital projects, some years higher, some lower. A 0.25% increase
in interest rate equates to approximately a $30,000 increase in the cost to borrow $1
million over the life of a 20 year bond.
The Finance Committee recommended that the Town strengthen its reserve position
during the years following the 2008 general property
Assessor’s Overlay - This account
sets aside funds for property tax tax override. Figure 2 above shows that Canton’s
exemptions and abatements. reserves have grown from $6.02 million at the end
However, if the Assessors declare a of FY10 to $22 million at the end of FY21.
surplus, funds can be released for Reserves are used during economic downturns to
appropriation by Town Meeting.
reduce the impacts to operating budgets and related
While we consider the entire overlay
balance as a cash reserve, much of services as well as to cover one-time expenses. As
it may be needed for future the economy turned around, the Town took steps to
abatements granted by the Board grow and maintain these reserves.
of Assessors.
The Finance Committee adopted a policy, in a year
of surplus, to recommend increasing the Town’s reserves by 1% (of expenses) per year
until reaching 15%. Amounts above this target can be reinvested into the Town’s
requirements, such as needed capital projects (e.g., roads and buildings) along with
funding our OPEB liability.
Since reserves are above the targeted level for FY22, in addition to maintaining our
reserves at 15.0%, the Finance Committee recommends $2,978,000 in funds be used
to address several items including: Galvin Middle School feasibility study - $1.5 million
(Article 24); Establishment of a Capital Stabilization account - $1.0 million (Article 30);
Special Education Stabilization account funding - $250 thousand (Article 25); Fund
settled Fire union contract for FY22 – $178 thousand (Article 5); July 4th community
celebration - $35 thousand (Article 16); Acquisition of a permanent easement at 145
Sherman St. - $10 thousand – (Article 23); and Community Recognition supplemental
funding - $5 thousand (Article 14).
In addition, in Article 22, $300,000 is recommended to supplement the Memorial Hall
exterior renovation project budget. The budget is estimated to be tight at $2.6 million
with bids due shortly. Sufficient funding will be required to execute the construction
contract. Fortunately, no new funds will be required for this need due to a surplus of
funds in the Bolivar Pool capital project account, the source of funding for this article.
That Pool project is finishing up under budget and has already been drawn on for $204K
at the December 2021 Special Town Meeting to make up for a funding shortfall in the
Metropolis Rink capital project. A silver lining for taxpayers is that these amounts were
funded with excluded debt. Therefore when the tax rate is set for FY23, amounts
funded from the Pool project surplus will reduce the amount of excluded debt tax raised,
which is the state municipal finance law.
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ANNUAL TOWN MEETING - MAY 9, 2022
Additional Fund Sources
FY21 was dramatically impacted by the global pandemic known as COVID-19. As a
result of the Federal response, the Town received $2.1 million in Federal “CARES Act”
funds, plus $1.4 million in other Federal grant funds to cover additional costs associated
with actions taken across multiple areas of need. Those areas include: School; Health;
Public Safety; Building Maintenance; Information Technology; Unemployment; and
Housing Assistance. The funds were used in efforts to address and help stop the
spread of the COVID-19 virus in Canton and provide public assistance. The Town has
systemically tracked these excess costs in compliance with Federal reporting
requirements. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will also be
providing reimbursement of certain expenses. The Accounting department has been
diligent in keeping up with the ever changing FEMA rules in order to maximize any
additional financial relief.
In addition, the Federal government has passed additional legislation in 2021 known as
the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The funds that will flow to Canton from the U.S.
Treasury will continue to address cost, revenue and other impacts of the pandemic.
ARPA funds are more substantial than was received through the CARES Act. The
Town of Canton was allocated $2,491,635 in ARPA funds as a direct recipient. 50% of
these funds have been received and the remainder is to be received in June of 2022. In
addition Norfolk County (the county government itself) was allocated $137 million to be
shared with its 28 member communities on a per capita basis. Canton’s share of these
Norfolk County funds, as a subrecipient, is $4,485,127. Combined the Town is eligible
to receive $6,976,762. These funds must be committed by December of 2024 and fully
expended by December of 2026.
There are six specific categories within which the ARPA funds can be expended. Those
categories are: 1) Public Health; 2) Negative Economic Impacts; 3) Services to
Disproportionately Impacted Communities; 4) Premium Pay; 5) Infrastructure; and 6)
Revenue Replacement.
The Select Board is the authorizing authority for use of all of the ARPA funds. However
when using funds coming from Norfolk County, the County Commissioners have
established a thorough vetting process to ensure the intended use of the funds
requested are compliant with the strict eligibility requirements established by Treasury.
Lack of compliance can result in Treasury taking back the related funds, even if they’ve
already been spent, creating potential financial risks for the community and the County.
Accordingly, the reporting requirements on the use of these funds is complicated and
onerous.
Given that these are “one-time” funds, and not recurring revenues, it is a best practice to
not rely on these funds to support expenses that will require a continuing level of funding
13Source page 14
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING - MAY 9, 2022
once the ARPA funds are fully expended. Accordingly departments and community
members have submitted requests primarily in line with this expectation.
Although the Select Board has received a full slate of requests for these funds, upon
which they have been long ready to act on, the U.S. Treasury has changed the rules
governing use of the funds since the program was first introduced. These changes have
had unintended negative consequences regarding the use of funds allocated by Norfolk
County. The rule change has a significant impact on what types of projects will be able
to be funded with the Norfolk County funds. After a Massachusetts congressional
appeal, we are waiting on Treasury’s final decision on a significant rule change before
this program will proceed. We are prepared for either decision, but it’s in the Towns
best interest to wait until this matter is resolved.
In addition to our reserves, the Town also has several other sources of funds. These
funds may be controlled by Town Meeting, by a board or by a committee. Often, the
use of these funds is restricted by state or federal law. In some cases, the funds can be
spent for “any lawful purpose” if the Town hasn’t earmarked them for certain expenses.
Finally, due to the timing of inflows and outflows from the funds, the balances can vary
greatly throughout the year. The table below is not an exhaustive list of funds, and
generally includes funds with more than $100,000 and does not include encumbrances -
committed uses of the funds.
Name of Fund Controlled By 7/2019 7/2020 7/2021 3/2022 Source of Funds Use of Funds
Ambulance TM $2.0M $1.5M $1.8M $1.4M Ambulance Receipts Any related lawful purpose
Bond Issuance Finance $257K $260K $250K $189K Premiums received from borrowing Reduce debt service costs
Cemetery Perpetual Care TM $499K $571K $619K $651K Payments for cemetery perpetual care Cemetery improvements
Chaisson Memorial Fund Library $397K $418K $440K $460K Bequests Library needs
Circuit Breaker Schools $1.4M $2.3M $2.0M $773K State Reimbursements Special Education Costs
Conservation Land Fund ConCom $155K $160K $166K $170K Appropriations by town meeting Purchase of conservation land
Dental Insurance Trust Fund Finance $792K $1.0M $1.2M $1.1M Dental insurance contributions Dental insurance claims & related costs
Health Insurance Trust Fund Finance $3.6M $6.6M $7.5M $8.4M Health insurance contributions Health insurance claims & related costs
Insurance Proceeds Various Depts. $27K $0 $15K -$171K Insurance reimbursements under $150K Repair/replace damaged property
OPEB Trust Finance $5.0M $6.4M $9.1M $10.3M Appropriations by town meeting OPEB Costs
Police Detective Bureau Police Chief $195K $197K $198K $241K Forfeitures Police investigative work
Police Drug Forfeiture Police Chief $163K $163K $76K $116K Federal drug forfeiture program Police investigative work
School Athletics Schools $318K $299K $329K $444K Sports fees, game receipts Athletic program costs
School Donations Schools $212K $214K $175K $199K Donations to school department Any lawful purpose unless specified by donor
School Food Service Schools $310K $206K $137K $243K Receipts from school cafeterias Operate school cafeterias
School Rentals Schools $316K $298K $137K $243K Rents collected from use of school facilities School facility costs
School Tuition Schools $415K $464K $358K $376K Fees for pre-school and extracurricular programs Payment of program costs
Special Education Reserve Schools/BOS - $300K $600K $1.3M Appropriations by town meeting Special Education Costs
Street & Sidewalk Improvements BOS $145K -$1.2M -$781K -$777K Chapter 90 State Aid Road and sidewalk repairs
Town Donations BOS $2.4M $2.4M $2.4M $2.5M Donations to municipal departments Any lawful purpose unless specified by donor
Unemployment Claims HR $256K $296K $250K $339K Appropriations by town meeting Unemployment costs
University Station BOS $687K $572K $568K $485K Mitigation payments Defray costs associated with project
Capital Budget
The Capital Budget is used first to pay debt service on all existing debt within the tax
levy, $3.2 million in FY23. The remaining amount is used to fund capital projects
identified in the Capital Planning Committee (CPC) 5-year plan. The Finance Committee
recommends that Canton continue its responsible practice of funding capital expenses
at least 5% of revenue in recognition of the fact that asset depreciation is a real cost.
To meet this goal the total Capital Budget recommended for FY23 represents 6.0% of
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ANNUAL TOWN MEETING - MAY 9, 2022
expected revenue. Allocating the Town's limited revenue between the operating
expenses needed to maintain our services and the capital expenses needed to maintain
our buildings and infrastructure, is always a balancing act. The Finance Committee
believes it is important to continue to address capital needs to maintain the Town’s
infrastructure which is used to deliver services to the community.
The Finance Committee concurs with all of the recommendations as vetted and refined
by the CPC as presented in Article 15. The municipal requests include $965K in cash
capital projects. $1.1 million in four municipal capital projects are recommended to be
funded with debt in the general fund: $320K for a rubber roof replacement at the Library,
$307K for a 10 Wheel Dump Truck; $274K for a multi-functional Sidewalk Tractor; and
$235K for Network Switch replacements. Contained in CPC’s recommendations is that
the Town start to introduce hybrid vehicles into its fleet. This is being done in Police
and Fire for appropriate vehicles
In FY23, the Schools were allocated $944K for cash capital projects as recommended
by the CPC. CPC is also recommending that $250K be borrowed for a unit ventilator at
the Hansen Elementary School.
In addition, the CPC recommended infrastructure capital improvement projects for the
Water and Sewer Enterprise Funds totaling $495K to be funded from enterprise cash
reserves. Using cash reserves where practical instead of borrowing eliminates interest
costs the Town would incur from borrowing. CPC is also recommending that $3.1
million be borrowed by the Water Enterprise Fund to pay for “phase 3” water main
replacements on Randolph Street, Randolph Terrace, Old Randolph Street, and Bolivar
Street.
In considering the current purchasing environment with rapidly rising prices and supply
chain disruption issues, the Town administration has advanced $5.6 million of various
Municipal and School capital projects that don’t fit within this year’s capital plan, but are
good candidates for potential ARPA funding. In doing so the Town can avoid even
larger price escalations and longer delays in putting assets into service.
To date two such projects have been authorized by the Select Board: 1) $475K budget
supplement for an unexpected increase in the cost of aluminum in the replacement of
the home-side bleachers at the High School; and 2) $350K for Sewer pump station
remote monitoring equipment replacements needed due to a recent system failure; and
3) $165K for additional preventative investment in cyber security equipment. Once the
pause in ARPA funding decision making is over, as referenced previously, the other
projects will be up for consideration by the Select Board.
15Source page 16
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING - MAY 9, 2022
Community Preservation Act
We will also have the opportunity to
Community Preservation Act Surcharge vote uses of the Community
The CPA surcharge is calculated as 1% of
Preservation Act (CPA) funds, which
your real estate bill after an exemption amount
is applied. Abatements are available from the are generated by a 1% surcharge on
Board of Assessors for Seniors and Low our property tax bills, as well as state
Income Households. matching in FY23. Article 17
addresses the administrative costs as
well as nine projects brought forth by the Canton Community Preservation Committee
(CCPC). Included is a recommendation to spend $287K of CPA funds towards the
Hansen Elementary School front playground replacement. Also included in the CPA
article is a recommendation to allocate $210K of CPA funds for permanent outdoor
restrooms at the Revere Heritage Site. $242K has been allocated to pay the fourth year
of debt service in FY23 for the Paul Revere Heritage site land acquisition. This is a 10
year bond and therefore will be a recurring allocation for six additional years. $80,000 is
being recommended as a budget supplement to address the emergency egress
staircases at the Hagan Court Senior Housing Complex. $168K is recommended for
the historic restoration of a 1925 American LaFrance Fire Engine; $167K has also been
allocated out of CPA funds for four other worthy projects to enhance the quality of life in
Canton.
Contract Obligations
Canton is fortunate to have many dedicated employees that work hard to serve our
residents. The Finance Committee continues to recommend, along with the Board of
Selectman and School Committee, that these employees be compensated and receive
benefits commensurate with that offered by our benchmark towns. We also believe that
our Town employees should receive annual increases that reflect the current economic
conditions and balanced with the spending limits mandated by Proposition 2 1/2.
Canton residents should be aware that the recommended budget in this year's warrant
includes $168K for automatic salary increases for the municipal departments and $156K
for automatic salary increases for the school employees related to steps, lanes and
longevity. Additionally, $571K has been set aside for municipal cost of living
adjustments (COLA) and $1.2 million for School COLAs.
On the Horizon
• Street Acceptances: At this annual town meeting there is one article (Article 31)
addressing a street to be accepted as a public way. At the time this report was
being prepared the Select Board and the Planning Board voted to not accept that
street, as it was deemed not ready to be accepted. Therefore the Finance
Committee had to vote to indefinitely postpone this article. However, the
16Source page 17
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING - MAY 9, 2022
developer and the Town are working collaboratively to determine if a different
recommendation might make sense at Town Meeting.
• School Space Needs: The School Department has studied the school building
needs of the Town, including an assessment of building capacities and
educational visioning for the Schools, an evaluation of present and projected
needed repairs, and an analysis of the best solution for housing the
administrative offices. The School Committee and the Select Board have
previously voted to advance the application of a Statement of Interest to the
Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) for the Galvin Middle School.
After the fourth such application in a process competing for limited funds, the
School Department was indeed just recently invited into MSBA’s “Core Program”!
This phase of the project will include a Feasibility Study to analyze the optimal
approach to move forward, i.e., renovate or build new. $1.5 million is being
requested in article 24 to fund the Feasibility Study. If all goes well, the School
Department will likely be requesting a funding commitment in another year or so
to complete this multi-year project. MSBA’s share of the project cost may be in
the 40% to 50% range, with the difference paid by the Town.
• OPEB: Canton has made promises to its employees to not only provide
pensions upon retirement, but subsidized health, dental and life insurance. The
Town only started setting aside money for these Other Post-Employment
Benefits (OPEB) at 2012’s Town Meeting with the establishment of the OPEB
Trust fund. The unfunded liability for these benefits is currently estimated by the
Town’s actuary to be ~$86.9 million. The funded amount of this liability is
currently $10.3 million. The Finance Committee is recommending placing
$1,150,000 into this fund for FY23. The current funding strategy is to increase
this funding commitment by $100K annually until reaching $1.5 million, which
would be in FY 2027.
• At the same time we are closing in on full funding of the Town’s pension
obligations – a different liability. The Town, along with all other Norfolk County
towns and agencies, is assessed annually by the Norfolk County Retirement
System (NCRS) its share of both the current pension obligations and the
unfunded pension obligations. The FY 2023 actuarial determined assessment is
$6.9 million for Canton. NCRS is targeting being fully funded by FY 2030. Full
funding of the pension obligation, when achieved, will dramatically reduce the
Town’s annual pension assessment by millions – in the range of $5 million to $7
million. It is the Finance Director’s recommendation that these assessment
savings, when realized, be redirected to funding the significant and growing
OPEB liability. This sound strategy has been articulated by many other
17Source page 18
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING - MAY 9, 2022
municipal finance directors. The result could be a fully funded OPEB liability by
FY 2040 or sooner. Not doing so, assuming no significant plan design changes,
may result in full funding not occurring until FY 2060.
• Storm Water Management: The Town of Canton has an investment of over
$100,000,000 in the municipal separate storm water system [MS4]. As owners
and operators of the MS4 system, the Town is subject to a five year permit that
ends in 2022. Compliance with the permit is predicated on both water quality and
hydraulic flow. The new MS4 permit is expected to require significant new
funding needs to achieve water quality stipulations. For Canton, EPA estimates
the administrative costs alone at $100,000 per year. The new MS4 permit will
require Canton to identify the means through which the storm water management
program will be funded on an adequate and sustainable basis. In the future, this
may require establishment of fees and an enterprise account. The Town has
been actively recruiting a stormwater manager to drive the establishment of the
Town’s future plans.
• Roads: Canton, along with all other Massachusetts communities, has
traditionally relied on Chapter 90 grants (about $800,000 per year) from the state
in order to repair the Town’s road system. Unfortunately, this funding has been
insufficient and the Town’s roads have deteriorated. The Town’s last road study
suggested that $24 million was needed to bring the Town’s roads up to a good
condition. Unless there is a significant increase in Chapter 90 funding, Canton
will need to consider prioritizing investing more Town dollars into maintaining the
roadways by inclusion within the Town’s Capital Plan.
Please attend Town Meeting as your input and your vote are important!
Respectfully submitted,
Town of Canton Finance Committee:
Tim McKenna, Chair
Cindy Thomas, Vice Chair
Dave Clough
Dan Cole
Tom Emery
Karen Foley
Emilio Mauro
Reuki Schutt
18Source page 19
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING - MAY 9, 2022
NOTES:
19Source page 20
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING - MAY 9, 2022
NOTES:
20Source page 21
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING - MAY 9, 2022
TOWN FINANCE TERMINOLOGY
The terms below are frequently used in the annual Town report and at Town Meetings. In order to provide
everyone with a better understanding of their meanings, the following definitions are provided:
APPROPRIATE: To authorize spending. Once an appropriation for a budget or article has been made by Town
Meeting, the appropriation can only be changed by another Town Meeting. The exceptions are a transfer from the
Reserve Fund or a year end transfer authorized by the Selectmen and the Finance Committee.
BONDS: The money Canton borrows to pay for capital projects such as the High School and police station.
CAPITAL EXPENSES: Expenses associated with the purchase of long-term assets, or projects. Paying for these
expenses can come from either cash (Cash Capital) or from long term bonding.
CHERRY SHEET: A financial statement from the State, printed on cherry-colored paper which itemizes State
disbursements due the Town, and the State and County charges to the Town, usually resulting in a net receipt of
funds.
DEBT EXCLUSION: Taxes raised through a Prop. 2½ override to pay for capital projects such as building the high
school or library.
EMINENT DOMAIN: Eminent domain refers to the power of the government to take private property and convert
it into public use. The Fifth Amendment provides that the government may only exercise this power if they provide
just compensation to the property owners.
ENTERPRISE SURPLUS: (Retained Earnings) This fund balance represents the amount to be used, by a vote of
Town Meeting, for operating cost offsets, funding capital improvements and reimbursing the General Fund for prior
year funding.
FIXED COSTS: Costs primarily associated with employee benefits, such as health insurance and retirement costs.
FREE CASH RESERVE (UNDESIGNATED FUND BALANCE): An accumulation of surpluses left at the end of the
fiscal year. This funding is available to be allocated at Town Meeting through a simple majority vote. It is akin to a
savings account.
INDEFINITELY POSTPONE: This is the equivalent of a negative vote on an article.
FY22: July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022
FY23: July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023
LEVEL FUNDING: The budget amount for this year will be identical to the budget amount last year (i.e., no
additional money will be available to cover increased costs in salaries or supplies.)
LEVY LIMIT: The maximum amount of tax levy in any given year. The levy limit is based on the previous year’s
levy limit plus 2 1/2% plus new growth, and not the previous year’s actual levy.
LOCAL RECEIPTS: Money the town collects from local sources such as excise tax, licenses and permits,
investment income, and penalties.
NEW GROWTH: Additional tax revenue the Town receives from new construction, such as new homes or
additions to existing buildings.
OPEB: Other Post-Employment Benefits are benefits provided to town retirees for such things as health, dental
and life insurance. Retirees are eligible for these benefits in addition to a town pension.
OPERATIONAL OVERRIDE: An increase above the standard Prop. 2½ yearly increase in taxes. This increase is
unlike a debt exclusion override, in that it is permanent.
OVERLAY: The amount raised by the Assessors primarily for the purpose of creating a fund to cover abatements.
OVERLAY RESERVE: This is the accumulated amount of the Overlay for various years not used or required to be
held in the specific Overlay accounts for a given year. The Assessors control release of funds in the Overlay reserve
that exceed pending tax liability.
RAISE: To tax. The tax rate is set by the Assessors after the Annual Town Meeting and after receipt of the final
“Cherry Sheet.”
RESERVE FUND: This fund is established by the voters at an Annual Town Meeting. Transfers from the Reserve
Fund are within the control of the Finance Committee, and are for “extraordinary or unforeseen expenditures.”
REVENUES: Amount of money the town receives to cover expenses. The majority of this money comes from
property taxes. The remainder comes from local receipts, State Aid and transfers from other funds.
STABILIZATION FUND: The fund is established by the voters for future uses. A 2/3 Town Meeting vote is
required for its use.
STATE AID: The amount of money that the state of Massachusetts gives to the Town of Canton.
STEP AND LANE INCREASES: Automatic increases in salary for town workers, negotiated in the union contracts.
STRUCTURAL DEFICIT: When Town’s recurring expenses are greater than its recurring revenues.
TAX LEVY: (LEVY): The revenue a community can raise through real estate and personal property taxes.
21Source page 22
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING - MAY 9, 2022
A GUIDE TO PARTICIPATING AT TOWN MEETING
If town meeting is to run smoothly a few simple rules must be followed…….
No person should speak unless standing at a microphone and then only after having been ‘recognized’ by the
moderator.
It is both impolite and contrary to the rules of procedure to shout out “Question”, or “Move the Question” while
seated, while someone else is speaking, or without being ‘recognized’.
When recognized, a voter should first state his or her name and address clearly and distinctly before making any
statement.
Voters should be brief. It is a good idea to state at the outset why you have risen to speak: e.g. I rise to speak in
favor (or against) the motion to Voters may wish to summarize at the close of their remarks: I hope the motion
now pending is (not) adopted
Rather than repeat arguments already made, consider saying: I concur with the statements made by the previous
speaker(s) and for the same reasons urge you to vote (in support of) or (against) the main motion when it is put.
A town by-law restricts any one speaker to not more than ten minutes at any one time. The patience of other
voters is often not as long.
A town by-law restricts any one speaker from speaking more than twice on the same matter except to correct an
error or a misstatement.
A person who is speaking on behalf of another (such as an attorney) is required to disclose that fact before making
any statement.
A motion to reconsider is quite technical in nature. A person who intends to move reconsideration should discuss it
in advance with the moderator. Generally the motion may be made at any time so long as a sufficient interval has
elapsed since the last vote on the matter was taken, and/or additional information has become available, so as to
give a reasonable basis to believe the meeting might vote differently. When the motion to reconsider is pending
debate is limited to why reconsideration should prevail and not to the merits of the underlying motion.
When one voter is speaking every other voter in the hall should pay attention to what is being said. No person
should interrupt a speaker unless some ‘rule’ is being violated. If a voter believes a rule is being violated they
should rise in place, wait to be recognized by the moderator (For what purpose does the lady rise?) Voter: I rise to
a point of order. Moderator: State your point of Order. Voter: …The speaker is dealing in personalities, (or) the
remarks of the speaker are not germane to the subject at hand, etc.
Rather than read every warrant article the moderator may say “The chair asks unanimous consent that the reading
of the article be waived (Pause) Seeing no objection it is so ordered.”
Voters should refrain from displaying their approval or disfavor towards a speaker by applauding or by any other
means.
22Source page 23
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING - MAY 9, 2022
NOTE TO ALL VOTERS CONCERNING
TOWN MEETING PROCEDURES
At a previous Annual Town Meeting a by-law was adopted which requires that almost all warrant articles be acted
upon in the order they are drawn by a lottery, not the order they appear in the warrant. There are certain
exceptions, however, to the lottery system. The following should help you understand how the Town Meeting
works:
Town Meeting will be opened by the Town Clerk. A Moderator will be elected (Article 1); procedures to govern Town
Meeting will be adopted (Article 2); reports of all outstanding committees will be received (Article 3); and the
consent agenda (Article 4). The consent agenda is a list of articles that appear to be non-controversial and
therefore are voted as a group. If any voter wishes to discuss any article that is listed on the consent agenda, the
voter may simply ask for a hold on that article, and the article will be deleted from the consent agenda and acted
on separately in the normal course of the meeting.
After these four articles have been acted upon, all subsequent articles, except next year’s proposed annual
operating budget, will be voted on in the order in which they are drawn by the Town Clerk. There are instances,
however, where the Moderator may declare that for some legal or technical reason a particular article or articles
must be considered in some other sequence.
The proposed annual operating budget cannot be acted upon until all matters which affect it have been acted upon,
specifically, all collective bargaining agreements, and any warrant article that calls for an expenditure. This may
mean that the proposed annual operating budget may, in fact, be the last article acted upon at the Annual Town
Meeting. It is hoped that this brief explanation will be helpful to you in understanding the lottery system under
which the Town Meeting is currently operated.
23Source page 24
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING - MAY 9, 2022
SUMMARY of REVENUES and EXPENDITURES
FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023
ACTUAL Revised Budget Estimate
GENERAL FUND REVENUES:
PROPERTY TAX REVENUE 83,773,978 85,632,270 90,361,116
STATE AID 9,722,010 9,356,281 10,697,742
LOCAL RECEIPTS 9,186,431 9,262,844 8,800,000
TRANSFERS FROM OTHER FUNDS 2,795,521 2,871,011 2,870,617
TAX TITLE / FORECLOSURE REVENUE 221,451 184,564 0
TOTAL REVENUES 105,699,391 107,306,970 112,729,475
GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES:
SCHOOL EXPENSES 46,032,350 47,792,662 50,658,405
MUNICIPAL EXPENSES 22,340,658 23,618,027 25,025,058
FIXED COSTS 30,964,081 32,161,949 33,568,679
TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES 99,337,089 103,572,638 109,252,142
SCHOOL CASH CAPITAL 600,000 800,000 944,000
MUNICIPAL CASH CAPITAL 650,000 836,509 965,000
CASH CAPITAL EXPENDITURES 1,250,000 1,636,509 1,909,000
TRANSFERS TO STABILIZATION FUNDS 0 0 1,250,000
SPECIAL APPROPRIATIONS 878,429 3,212,418 1,728,000
STATE & COUNTY CHARGES 1,424,853 1,428,426 1,568,333
TOTAL EXPENDITURES 102,890,371 109,849,991 115,707,475
SURPLUS/(DEFICIT) - GENERAL FUND 2,809,021 (2,543,021) (2,978,000)
ONE-TIME SOURCE of FUNDS
FREE CASH RESERVE 829,130 2,175,494 2,978,000
MISCELLANEOUS FUNDS 9,409 1,011,924 0
OVERLAY SURPLUS 0 0 0
TOTAL NON-RECURRING SOURCES 838,539 3,187,418 2,978,000
ADJUSTED SURPLUS/(DEFICIT) - GENERAL FUND 3,647,560 644,397 -
ENTERPRISE FUNDS:
WATER REVENUE 7,787,484 7,885,870 8,611,036
SEWER REVENUE 7,431,333 6,650,517 6,825,939
RINK REVENUE 169,736 390,620 404,462
TOTAL ENTERPRISE FUNDS' REVENUE 15,388,553 14,927,007 15,841,437
ENTERPRISE FUNDS' SURPLUS USED 96,200 454,000 495,000
WATER EXPENSES 6,751,647 7,885,870 8,611,036
SEWER EXPENSES 6,465,399 6,650,517 6,825,939
RINK EXPENSES 227,514 390,620 404,462
TOTAL ENTERPRISE FUNDS EXPENSES 13,444,559 14,927,007 15,841,437
ENTERPRISE FUNDS' CASH CAPITAL EXPENDITURES 96,200 454,000 495,000
ENTERPRISE FUNDS' SURPLUS/(DEFICIT) 1,943,994 0 0
GRAND TOTAL APPROPRIATIONS 118,375,123 125,230,998 132,043,912
24Source page 25
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING - MAY 9, 2022
Town of Canton
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Norfolk, ss
To the Constables of the Town of Canton,
Greetings:
In the name of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts you are hereby required to
notify and warn the inhabitants of the Town of Canton to meet at Morse Auditorium, Canton High School, 900
Washington Street in said town on;
MONDAY, THE 9th DAY OF MAY 2022
At seven o’clock p.m.(7:00 P.M.) in the evening for the annual town meeting at which time and place the following
articles are to be acted upon:
ARTICLE 1
ELECT A MODERATOR
Article 1 To elect a Moderator to preside at this Town Meeting to serve until the commencement of Annual Town
Meeting in 2023; or to take any other action related thereto.
Select Board
DISCUSSION: Nominations will be accepted and a moderator elected at Town Meeting during the discussion of
this article.
APPROVED__________DISAPPROVED__________
ARTICLE 2
ADOPT RULES TO GOVERN TOWN MEETING
Article 2 To see if the Town will vote to adopt certain procedures to govern the conduct of the 2022 Annual Town
Meeting; or to take any other action related thereto.
Select Board
MOTION 1
MOVED: That this 2022 Annual Town Meeting shall meet on consecutive Monday and
Wednesday evenings in the Morse Auditorium on the grounds of the Canton High School, 900
Washington Street, until the business of this Annual Town Meeting has been concluded, each such
session to begin at 7:00 o’clock P.M. and to adjourn at 11:00 o’clock P.M., or as near that hour as may
be feasible, according to the nature of the business pending at the said hour.
FINANCE COMMITTEE VOTE: 8-0-0
DISCUSSION: The Finance Committee recommends adoption of this motion as it formalizes procedures that
have been followed by Town Meetings in the past.
APPROVED__________DISAPPROVED__________
25Source page 26
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING - MAY 9, 2022
MOTION 2
MOVED: That the following individuals be granted all of the rights and privileges of participation
in this Annual Town Meeting, except the right to vote, under any article of this warrant which affects
matters within their jurisdiction:
Charlie Aspinwall, Town Administrator
David Brauninger, Principal, Lt. Peter M. Hansen Elementary School
Steve Choiniere, Supervisor of Facilities and Grounds
Paul R. DeRensis, Town Counsel
Emily DiDonna, Principal of John F. Kennedy Elementary School
Derek Folan, Superintendent of Schools
Tom Houston, Professional Services Corporation, PC
Donna Kilday, Rodman Early Childhood Coordinator
Louis Jutras, Information Systems Manager
Arafat Knight, Veterans’ Agent
Yeshi Lamour, Principal, Dean S. Luce Elementary School
Karen Lawlor, Administrative Assistant, Canton Planning Board
Brian Lynch, Facility Director, School
Stephen Lynch, Representative in Congress
Steve Marshall, Director of Finance & Operations, School Department
Jason Mello, Town Engineer
M. Regen Milani, Conservation Commission Agent
Dianna Mullen, Director of Student Services, Canton Public Schools
Kristen Phelps, Canton Community Preservation Committee Administrator
Tyler Radicioni, Parks & Recreation Director
Helena Rafferty, Deputy Police Chief
Barbara Reardon, Board of Health Director
Michelle Resendes, Asst. Supt. for Business & Personnel, Blue Hills Reg. Technical School
Debbie Rooney, Director of Teaching and Learning PreK-12
Mark Roy, Executive Director, Canton Housing Authority
William Scollins, Finance Director
Sarah Shannon, Interim Asst. Superintendent of Schools
Julianne Shore, Director of Technology and Digital Learning
Laura Smead, Town Planner
Jeff Sperling, Principal of Canton High School
Walter Timilty, State Senator
Michael Trotta, Superintendent of Public Works
Diane Tynan, Director of the Department of Elder & Human Services
FINANCE COMMITTEE VOTE: 8-0-0
DISCUSSION: The Finance Committee recommends adoption of this motion as it allows key non-resident
officials and consultants to legally participate in the Town Meeting and it formalizes procedures that have been
followed by Town Meetings in the past.
APPROVED__________DISAPPROVED__________
26Source page 27
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING - MAY 9, 2022
MOTION 3
MOVED: That whenever during discussion under any article in this warrant during this year’s
annual town meeting, irrespective of which session such discussion is reached during the progress of
the annual town meeting, a motion is made, the effect of which is to increase the total amount to be
appropriated beyond that which is recommended by the Finance Committee or which changes the
method of obtaining funds to meet that appropriation, the moderator shall not accept such motion
unless said motion also contains a corresponding decrease in another appropriation as contained in an
appropriation article on this specific warrant or a corresponding transfer from any other available
funding source or borrowing as an alternative funding source, so that the total amount to be
appropriated by the town, at this town meeting, and to be expended thereafter, for all the
appropriation articles contained in this warrant, shall not in any event exceed the total dollar amount
recommended by the Finance Committee as set forth in the published Report of the Finance Committee
Recommendations as may be increased by any transfer from available funds provided, however that
nothing in this motion shall prevent an increase in appropriation funding contingent upon the passage
of a Proposition 2½ override.
FINANCE COMMITTEE VOTE: 8-0-0
DISCUSSION: The Finance Committee recommends adoption of this motion as it formalizes procedures that
have been followed by Town Meeting in the past to ensure that Town Meeting ends with the adoption of a balanced
budget.
APPROVED__________DISAPPROVED__________
ARTICLE 3
HEAR REPORTS OF COMMITTEES APPOINTED AT PRIOR TOWN MEETINGS
Article 3 To hear the reports of all committees appointed at previous town meetings, which have not yet been
discharged; or to take any other action related thereto.
Select Board
MOVED: That reports of the following committees appointed at previous Town Meetings be
heard:
Economic Development Committee (ATM 2004, Article 14)
Community Preservation Committee (ATM 2011, Article 39)
Canton Alliance Against Substance Abuse (CAASA) (ATM 2016, Article 32)
FINANCE COMMITTEE VOTE: 8-0-0
DISCUSSION: The Finance Committee supports adoption of this motion to hear the reports of standing
committees appointed at prior Town Meetings.
APPROVED__________DISAPPROVED__________
27Source page 28
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING - MAY 9, 2022
ARTICLE 4
ACT ON “CONSENT AGENDA”
Article 4 To see if the Town will vote to dispose of certain articles in this warrant by a single vote, in accordance
with a so-called “consent agenda” or to take any other action related thereto.
Select Board
MOVED: That the following articles be disposed of by a single vote, in accordance with the
Finance Committee motions as written in the report of the Finance Committee: 6, 9, 12, 14, 16, 18, 21,
27 and 28.
FINCOM
Article Description Motion VOTE Reason
There are no
Personal Service Contracts Postpone
6 8-0-0 personal service
under the BOS Indefinitely
contracts to fund.
Postpone There are no FY22
9 Adjust FY22 Accounts 6-0-0
Indefinitely accounts to adjust.
Accept Laws Enacted by Postpone No laws proposed to
12 8-0-0
the General Court Indefinitely be accepted.
Community Recognition
14
$5,000 Supplemental Adopt this Article 6-0-0 Non-controversial.
Funding
4th of July Community
16 Celebration - $35,000 Free Adopt this Article 6-0-0 Non-controversial.
Cash Funded Appropriation
Amend General By-Laws
18 Article 1, Section 2 – Adopt this Article 6-0-0 Non-controversial.
Enforcement
Appropriate supplement to Postpone Funding from other
21 8-0-0
budget for Pickle Ball Court Indefinitely sources.
Amend General By-Laws
27 Article XIV Section 48.
Adopt this Article 8-0-0 Non-controversial.
Alarm System, Registration
& Regulations By-Law
Amend General By-Law
There is no General
Article X Section 6 Canton Postpone
28 7-0-0 By-Law amendment
Affordable Housing Trust Indefinitely
to adopt.
Fund
FINANCE COMMITTEE VOTE: 7-0-0
DISCUSSION: The consent agenda is a list of articles that are voted as a group. Articles placed on the consent
agenda are considered non-controversial and can be voted in one block. If voters would like an article removed
from the consent agenda, they may place a hold on that article. If a hold is placed on an article, it will be deleted
from the consent agenda and acted on separately in the normal course of the meeting. The discussion on each
article in the consent agenda can be found under the individual article.
APPROVED__________DISAPPROVED__________
28Source page 29
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING - MAY 9, 2022
ARTICLE 5
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS UNDER THE SELECT BOARD
Article 5 To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, transfer from available funds, or transfer from Free
Cash, a sum of money for the purpose of funding any new cost items contained in any collective bargaining
agreements entered into by the Select Board, on behalf of the Town, with any group of employees, serving under
its jurisdiction; or to take any other action related thereto.
Select Board
MOVED: That the sum of One Hundred Seventy Eight Thousand Dollars ($178,000) be
transferred from Free Cash (Undesignated Fund Balance) to increase the appropriation voted in Article
42 of the May 2021 Annual Town Meeting to the Fire Department (220) budget in Fiscal Year 2022, for
the purpose of funding cost items contained in the collective bargaining agreements executed by the
Select Board.
FINANCE COMMITTEE VOTE: 6-0-0
DISCUSSION: The Finance Committee supports transferring $178,000 from Free Cash to the Fire Department
budget. This supports funding new cost items contained in the collective bargaining agreements entered into by
the Select Board. New cost items included unfunded increases to EMT and Paramedic stipends which will increase
in the current fiscal year and have been built into the budget going forward.
APPROVED__________DISAPPROVED__________
ARTICLE 6
PERSONAL SERVICE CONTRACTS UNDER THE SELECT BOARD
Article 6 To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, transfer from available funds, or transfer from Free
Cash, such sums of money as may be necessary to fund new cost items contained in contracts for personal
services with any individual employee; or take any action related thereto.
Select Board
MOVED: That the subject matter of Article 6 be indefinitely postponed.
FINANCE COMMITTEE VOTE: 8-0-0
DISCUSSION: The Finance Committee voted unanimously to postpone indefinitely the subject matter of this
article as there are currently no newly-negotiated personal service agreements to fund.
APPROVED__________DISAPPROVED__________
29Source page 30
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING - MAY 9, 2022
ARTICLE 7
SET SALARIES OF ELECTED OFFICERS
Article 7 To see if the Town will vote, in accordance with the provisions of section one hundred and eight of
chapter forty-one (G. L. chapter 41, §108) to fix the salary and compensation of all elected officers of the town; or
to take any other action related thereto.
Select Board
Article 7 - MOTION 1
MOVED: That the salary and compensation for the Town Clerk be fixed at $101,069 for the 2023
Fiscal Year beginning July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023.
FINANCE COMMITTEE VOTE: 6-0-0
DISCUSSION: The Finance Committee voted unanimously to support the Town Clerk's salary. The Town Clerk is
a full-time elected official, and the Committee voted to support the salary of $101,069 finding that it is appropriate
for the 2023 Fiscal Year of July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023.
APPROVED__________DISAPPROVED__________
Article 7 - MOTION 2
MOVED: That the salary and compensation for all part-time elected officials of the Town be fixed
for the 2023 Fiscal Year beginning July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023, as follows:
Board of Assessors $2,400.00, for each member
Board of Health $600.00, for each member
Select Board $1,400.00, for each member, with an additional
$200.00 to chairperson
Planning Board $0.00
School Committee $0.00
Library Trustees $0.00
FINANCE COMMITTEE VOTE: 8-0-0
DISCUSSION: The Finance Committee voted to support the elected official’s salaries and compensation by a
unanimous vote. The Finance Committee noted that these salaries and compensation are traditional for Canton,
and town meeting has consistently supported them; however a request to the Select Board to appoint a committee
to review and investigate historical rationale and equity among these elected officials’ salaries and compensation is
recommended, for further discussion at ATM 2023.
APPROVED__________DISAPPROVED__________
30Source page 31
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING - MAY 9, 2022
ARTICLE 8
PAY BILLS OF PRIOR FISCAL YEAR
Article 8 To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, transfer from available funds, transfer from Free
Cash, or borrow pursuant to any applicable statute, a sum or sums of money to pay any unpaid bills of any prior
fiscal year; or to take any other action related thereto.
Select Board
MOVED: That a total of F i f t e e n T h o u s a n d T w o H u n d r e d S i x Dollars and Ninety-Nine
Cents ($15,206.99) be appropriated to pay bills from prior fiscal years for the purposes and
vendors set forth below, and to meet this appropriation a total of F i f t e e n T h o u s a n d T w o
H u n d r e d S i x Dollars and Ninety-Nine Cents ($15,206.99) be charged to the listed F Y 2 022
appropriation accounts voted pursuant to Article 42 of the 2021 Annual Town Meeting as follows:
Source of Funds
Vendor Purpose Amount Account
Dennis K. Burke Diesel Exhaust Fluid $389.98 12202-52410
Schwaab, Inc. Stamper 42.75 11752-54200
Schwaab, Inc. Stamper Ink Pad 21.00 11752-54200
Canton Fire Employees FY21 Juneteenth Holiday Pay 14,753.26 12201-51420
TOTAL $15,206.99
FINANCE COMMITTEE VOTE: 8-0-0
DISCUSSION: The Finance Committee voted unanimously to pay prior years bills. The Town of Canton requires
a current year appropriation of funds to pay prior year expenditures.
The first three vendors missed the cutoff for paying these invoices in fiscal year 2021. They include $389.98 for
diesel fuel, $47.75 for a stamper, and $21 for an ink pad.
The amount $14,753.26 listed for Canton Fire Employees was for Juneteenth holiday pay the Fire Department did
not submit for in fiscal year 2021. These wages are contractual through collective bargaining. Other town
departments did receive Juneteenth holiday pay.
APPROVED__________DISAPPROVED__________
31Source page 32
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING - MAY 9, 2022
ARTICLE 9
ADJUST FISCAL ’22 ACCOUNTS
Article 9 To see if the Town will vote to increase/decrease or otherwise adjust the appropriations heretofore made
for the Fiscal Year 2022 beginning on July 1, 2021 and ending on June 30, 2022 and the revenues sources to meet
those appropriations, as voted pursuant to Article 42 of the warrant for the 2021 Annual Town Meeting, and to
raise and appropriate, transfer from available funds or transfer from Free Cash to meet any such increases or
adjustments; or to take any other action related thereto.
Select Board
MOVED: That the subject matter of Article 9 be indefinitely postponed.
FINANCE COMMITTEE VOTE: 6-0-0
DISCUSSION: The Finance Committee voted unanimously to postpone this article indefinitely, as there are no
fiscal year 2022 accounts to adjust.
APPROVED__________DISAPPROVED__________
32Source page 33
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING - MAY 9, 2022
ARTICLE 10
AUTHORIZE CERTAIN REVOLVING FUNDS
Article 10 To see what new or additional revolving funds, pursuant to c. 44, section 53E ½ of the General Laws of
the Commonwealth, the Town may establish by amendment to Article VIII (“Financial Regulations”), Section 16
(“Departmental Revolving Funds”) of the General Bylaws of the Town and to see what amendments if any the
town may vote to existing revolving funds contained in the Town’s Bylaw, and to determine the limit on total
amount that may be expended from the Town’s revolving accounts, for various boards, commissions or
departments of the town, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2022 and ending June 30, 2023; or to take any other
action related thereto.
Select Board
MOTION 1: That Article VIII, “Financial Regulations” Section 16 “Departmental Revolving Funds”
of the General By-Laws of the Town be hereby amended by striking the words “and” and “2018” as
indicated by a strikethrough and adding in the underlined words in Revolving Fund #130 as follows:
Revolving Program or Activity Expenses Fiscal
Fund Payable from Fund Years
Fiscal Year
#130 - Payment of bills, and charges, expenses, wages
2018 2023 and
Recreation and capital costs in connection with any
subsequent years
Revolving programs or any proposed programs sponsored
Fund by Parks & Recreation.
FINANCE COMMITTEE VOTE: 8-0-0
DISCUSSION: The Finance Committee voted to support this motion which adds clarity to eligible spending
items of Article VIII Section 16 of the General By-Laws of the Town.
APPROVED__________DISAPPROVED__________
33Source page 34
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING - MAY 9, 2022
MOTION 2: That Article VIII, “Financial Regulations” Section 16 “Departmental Revolving Funds”
of the General By-Laws of the Town be hereby amended by striking the words “and” and “2018” as
indicated by a strikethrough and adding in the underlined words in Revolving Fund #137 as follows:
Revolving Program or Activity Expenses Fiscal
Fund Payable from Fund Years
#137 - Fiscal Year
Payment for veterinary services, and payments
Animal 2018 2023 and
to the Animal Control Officer, and any operating
Control subsequent years
or capital expenses associated with the
Special
department.
Revenues
FINANCE COMMITTEE VOTE: 8-0-0
DISCUSSION: The Finance Committee voted to support this motion which adds clarity to eligible spending
items of Article VIII Section 16 of the General By-Laws of the Town.
APPROVED__________DISAPPROVED__________
34Source page 35
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING - MAY 9, 2022
MOTION 3:
MOVED: That the spending limits for the revolving funds established pursuant to General
By-Laws Article VIII, Section 16 pursuant to the provisions of MGL chapter 44, section 53 E ½ for the
2023 fiscal year beginning July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2023, and that each Revolving Fund
shall be credited with the balance remaining in such fund at the end of the FY 2022 as set forth
below:
Revolving
Fund # Name of Revolving Fund FY23 Spending Limit
110 Veteran’s Services Special Revenues $100,000
119 Library Revolving Fund $75,000
130 Recreation Revolving Fund $500,000
132 Student Parking Fees $100,000
134 Pequitside Farm Rentals $50,000
135 Greenlodge Street Parking Fees $100,000
136 Beautification Fund $10,000
137 Animal Control Special Revenues $50,000
138 Library Building Rentals $50,000
140 COA Revolving Fund $75,000
141 Board of Health Special Revenue $50,000
Paul Revere Heritage Site Rolling
142 Mill and Open Space Fund $120,000
145 Traffic Mitigation Fund $50,000
Paul Revere Heritage Site Museum
152 Fund $100,000
FINANCE COMMITTEE VOTE: 8-0-0
DISCUSSION: The Finance Committee supports this article which sets annual spending limits for each revolving
account. This article also specifies that each account be credited with the balance remaining in the account at the
end of FY22. Spending limits are consistent with the FY22 budget with the exception of the Council on Aging
Revolving Fund #140, which increased from $50,000 to $75,000 to support the ongoing needs of this department.
APPROVED__________DISAPPROVED__________
35Source page 36
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING - MAY 9, 2022
ARTICLE 11
INSURANCE PROCEEDS
Article 11 To see whether the Town will vote to appropriate all sums over $150,000 recovered under the terms of
any insurance policy and any other insurance proceeds paid to the Town in connection with any losses suffered by
the Town; or to take any other action related thereto.
Select Board
The Finance Committee will make a recommendation at Town Meeting.
FINANCE COMMITTEE VOTE: 7-0-0
DISCUSSION: The Finance Committee will make its motion on Town Meeting floor because the anticipated
insurance proceeds related to the Galvin Middle School water damage have not been received at the time of this
writing.
According to Massachusetts law, Town Meeting must vote to approve all sums over $150,000 recovered under the
terms of any insurance policy.
APPROVED__________DISAPPROVED__________
ARTICLE 12
ACCEPT GENERAL OR SESSION LAWS ENACTED BY THE GENERAL COURT
Article 12 To see if the Town will vote to accept any general or session laws enacted by the General Court for the
benefit of cities or towns or of benefit to the Town of Canton; or to take any other action related thereto.
Select Board
MOVED: That the subject matter of Article 12 be indefinitely postponed.
FINANCE COMMITTEE VOTE: 8-0-0
DISCUSSION: The Finance Committee voted unanimously to postpone this article indefinitely, as there are no
general or session laws enacted by the General Court to be accepted.
APPROVED__________DISAPPROVED__________
36Source page 37
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING - MAY 9, 2022
ARTICLE 13
APPROPRIATION TO SUPPLEMENT THE COMMONWEALTH’S CHAPTER 90 PROGRAM
Article 13 To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate, transfer from Free Cash, transfer from available
funds, transfer from water enterprise surplus (retained earnings), or borrow pursuant to any applicable statute, a
sum of money to be spent by the Select Board acting as the Board of Public Works to supplement the amount
received from the Chapter 90 Roads Program with improvements done in accordance with improvement
specifications as determined by and subject to, the approval of the Department of Public Works and consistent with
locations identified in the Town’s Pavement Management System, or to take any other action related thereto.
Select Board
MOVED: That the sum of $1.00 be hereby appropriated, from Free Cash in the Treasury of the
Town, to supplement the amount received by the Town from the Chapter 90 Road program State
funds, for the Canton Select Board acting as the Board of Public Works, to spend to acquire by
purchase, gift or eminent domain a certain area of land situated immediately adjacent to the easterly
side of Dedham Street, which land is a portion of the property located at 777 Dedham Street in the
town of Canton consisting of approximately 2,979 square feet, “0.07 Acres”, to Town of Canton on a
plan entitled “Easement Exhibit” dated February 11, 2022 by DiPrete Engineering, a copy of which is on
file with the office of the Canton Town Clerk, to be used by the Town for signal and traffic
improvements at this Dedham Street location.
FINANCE COMMITTEE VOTE: 7-0-0
DISCUSSION: The Finance Committee supports this article to appropriate the amount of $1.00 to supplement
the Chapter 90 Program funds that the Town receives from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to maintain and
improve local roadways. In connection with the ongoing project to reconstruct the I-95/Dedham Street interchange
that is being funded by outside sources, a small strip of land (approximately 2,528 square feet in area) along
Dedham Street is required from the owner of 777 Dedham Street to allow the Town to install and maintain traffic
signaling equipment. This equipment will support the road improvements to Dedham Street while also improving
traffic access to the 777 Dedham Street site. The owner of this property is a realty trust that works directly with
TopGolf and that aforementioned owner is willing to transfer this small portion of land to the Town. However, to
ensure the completion of this land acquisition and thus allow the Select Board to take this land, a one-time sum of
$1.00 will need to be appropriated from the Town’s General Fund “Free Cash” Reserve (Undesignated Fund
Balance) to supplement the Massachusetts Chapter 90 Program funds for this road improvement purpose.
APPROVED__________DISAPPROVED__________
37Source page 38
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING - MAY 9, 2022
ARTICLE 14
COMMUNITY RECOGNITION SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING
Article 14 To see if the Town will raise and appropriate, transfer from available funds, or borrow pursuant to
any applicable statute, a sum of money in order to increase the appropriation voted in Article 32 of the 2017
Annual Town meeting for the purposes named in said article for community recognition for present or former
town employees and town officials, subject to all the terms and conditions set forth in that 2017 appropriation; or
to take any other action related thereto.
Select Board
MOVED: That the sum of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000) be transferred from Free Cash
(Undesignated Fund Balance) to Fund 100 to increase the appropriation voted in Article 32 of the 2017
Annual Town Meeting for the purposes named in said article for community recognition for present or
former town employees and town officials, subject to all the terms and conditions set forth in that
2017 appropriation.
FINANCE COMMITTEE VOTE: 6-0-0
DISCUSSION: This fund was established through Article 32 of the 2017 Annual Town Meeting, with the initial
funding of $5,000 from Free Cash. The purpose of the fund is to provide recognition to present or former town
employees, the form of this recognition is set forth in the 2017 Motion. The fund has not been replenished since
2020 and the balance of the fund is very low with less than a few hundred dollars remaining. The Finance
Committee unanimously voted to support this Motion.
APPROVED__________DISAPPROVED__________
38Source page 39
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING - MAY 9, 2022
ARTICLE 15
“OMNIBUS” CAPITAL OUTLAY PROGRAM
Article 15 To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, transfer from available funds, transfer from Free
Cash, or to authorize the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Select Board, to borrow (and to issue bonds or
notes therefore) any sum or sums of money, or by any combination of these methods of financing, as may be
necessary or desirable, to make available funds for the purpose of purchasing, leasing, re-conditioning, improving
or replacing any motor vehicles or other items of equipment or machinery or other items of personal property for
any town agency, or for the purpose of contracting for any service, or for the design, repair, acquisition,
construction, replacement or relocation or improvement to any town building or other structure, public works
facility (including highway needs and traffic safety items), any other town owned facility or real property, or for any
other purposes for which borrowing may be authorized, to purchase, or to take by eminent domain, any land or
easements necessary for any such purposes and, where applicable, to authorize the trade-in of any presently
owned motor vehicles, equipment or machinery to reduce the purchase or acquisition cost of any item to be
acquired, and to include in any new capital project borrowing authorization and/or to amend such borrowing
authorizations from prior years Town Meetings to provide for the application of any bond premiums to reduce the
cost of such borrowings or to apply same to payment of project costs; or to take any other action related thereto.
Select Board for Capital Planning Committee
MOVED: (a) The acquisition of all vehicles and other motorized equipment that is authorized to
be purchased or otherwise acquired by any motion made under this warrant article shall be under the
responsibility of the Finance Director/Chief Procurement Officer. In addition to the procurement, the
“trade-in” or other disposition of all vehicles and other motorized equipment being replaced is also
authorized and shall be under the responsibility of the Finance Director/Chief Procurement Officer. In
all cases where by a motion made under this warrant article, a vehicle or other piece of motorized
equipment is to be acquired by a town agency such purchase or acquisition shall be subject to and
bound by the detailed specifications regarding such purchase or acquisition on file in the office of the
Town Clerk; provided, however, the Finance Director/Chief Procurement Officer, may, in appropriate
circumstances, waive or modify the said detailed specifications, subject to a vote of the Finance
Committee, taken within 30 (thirty) days following a decision to waive or to modify the foregoing
provision requiring full compliance with the specifications on file.
(b) All building related projects which are approved and or funded by any motion made under
this article shall be under the responsibility of the Building Renovations Committee appointed pursuant
to Canton By-law, Article X, section 4, except as may be provided by any specific motion made pursuant
to this article.
FINANCE COMMITTEE VOTE: 6-0-0
Article 15 - MOTION 1
DISCUSSION: This motion authorizes the Finance Director to supervise the acquisition, trade-ins, or other
disposition of vehicles and other motorized equipment. This motion also authorizes the Building Renovations
Committee to oversee all building/land projects.
APPROVED__________ DISAPPROVED__________
39Source page 40
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING - MAY 9, 2022
Article 15 - MOTION 2
MOVED: That Nine Hundred Sixty-Five Thousand Four Hundred Ninety-One Dollars ($965,491)
be appropriated from the Fiscal Year 2023 tax levy and other general revenues of the Town to be spent
by the Finance Director (in his capacity as Chief Procurement Officer) with the approval of various
Municipal Departments designated below and with the approval of the Select Board for the purposes
set forth below as follows:
FINCOM
RECOMMENDATIONS AMOUNT
Finance Department
Financial Chart of Accounts Upgrade $ 50,000
Server Replacement – Fire Dept. 12,000
Server & Software Replacement – Library 30,000
Desktop Computer Replacements (25-30) 32,500
Data Back-Up Appliance 61,000
Fire Department
Floor Replacement – Station #2 – Complete 24,000
Replace Deputy Fire Chief 2015 Vehicle 65,000
Replace Fire Prevention 2014 Vehicle 65,600
Update Diesel Exhaust Systems 23,000
Paint Interior – Station #2 15,000
EMS Simulation Mannequin 46,112
Library
Chiller Compressor Replacement 46,000
Parks & Recreation
Athletic Field Grooming Equipment 35,800
Stand-On Leaf Blower 11,000
Police Department
Replace Police Cruisers (4) 180,000
Bullet Resistant Vests – 12 12,000
Replace IMC Record Data Mgmt. System (2nd round) 19,479
Bola-Wrap Devices (4) 6,000
Property Maintenance
Replace Roof at Animal Kennel 43,000
Department of Public Works
Forge Pond Phase 1 Dam Inspection 9,000
Replace Truck #5 2014 Ford F-350 with F-550 4WD 71,000
Replace Truck #13 2000 F-250 with F-550 4WD 70,000
Revere & Son Heritage Trust
Monument Signs 38,000
_________
GRAND TOTAL $965,491
The amounts listed above for particular acquisitions are not to be construed as individual
appropriations. The sums shown are intended to be estimates of individual items but the amount
appropriated is one line item in the total sum of Nine Hundred Sixty-Five Thousand Four Hundred
Ninety-One Dollars ($965,491). The Finance Director and Town Administrator, acting jointly, are
hereby authorized to distribute such funds in such a manner as may be needed to accomplish the
foregoing list of purchases; provided, however, that each item contained in the list is procured and that
the excess funds are available because one or more items cost less than estimated and not because an
item intended to be procured is not so procured.
FINANCE COMMITTEE VOTE: 6-0-0
40