Canton, Massachusetts · Saved source text
Canton Annual Town Report — 2024
Saved text from 144 source pages. Transcription and OCR may contain errors; verify figures and wording against the original. Retrieved 2026-10-18.
Source page 1
Town of Canton Annual Report 2024
Source page 2
On the cover: Town of Canton Hybrid Vehicles at the Paul Revere Heritage Rolling Mill Photo courtesy of the Public Works Department
Source page 3
ANNUAL TOWN REPORT
TOWN OF CANTON
2024
2022Source page 4
IN RECOGNITION OF THE FOLLOWING RETIREES FOR THEIR DEDICATED SERVICE TO
THE TOWN
Edward Butler, Building Maintenance Technician
Patricia Cawley, Water & Sewer Office Administrator
Richard Connor, DPW Heavy Equipment Operator
Paul Digiampietro, Canton Police Sergeant
Paul Gallagher, Canton Police Lieutenant
W. Scott Lenhart, Canton Police Prosecutor
Eric Wade, Canton Police Officer
Cheryl Cunningham, Teacher
Kimberley Eardley, HR Administrative Assistant
Jasminka Friedman, Teacher
Julie Gelerman, Teacher
Theresa Grogan, Teacher
Martha Lawless, Canton Schools Director of Food Services
Linda Leoni, Teacher
Lareine Olsen, School Food Services
Rogelio Triana, Custodian
IN MEMORIAM OF THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED THE TOWN
Peter Scott, Teacher
Alfred E. Nordgren, Jr., Teacher
Kenneth N. Berkowitz, Police Chief
Jeanette Winthrop, Teacher
Felicita A. Tyrrell, School Nurse
Grace Gangemi, Election Worker
Joan M. Nordgren, Teacher
Walter Molis, Veteran’s Council
Marie C. Corcoran, Teacher
Joan M. Smith, Teacher
John Fralick, Police Officer
Marilyn Browne, Guidance Counselor
Helen Cragan, Teacher
Jean Duggan, School Food Services
Arlene Carter, Accountant
Beatrice Swartz, Librarian
Robert Ringuette, Guidance Counselor
Conrad Schwartz, Electrical Inspector
2
2Source page 5
CANTON COMMUNITY PROFILE
• Settled: 1650
• Incorporated: 1797
• Location: Southeastern Massachusetts at the foot of the Blue Hills
• Roadways: Town 115 miles and State 5.3 miles
• Altitude: 126.8 feet above sea level
• Population: 22,845
• Form of Government: Open Town Meeting
• Annual Town Election: First Tuesday after the first Monday in April
• Annual Town Meeting: Second Monday in May
• Total Number of Registered Voters: 18,763
• Tax Rate: Residential: $9.97 Commercial: $20.80
• Taxable Property: $7,608,654,220
• School System: 3 Elementary, 1 Parochial Elementary, 1 Middle, 1 High School and 1 Regional High School
• Police: Chief, 2 Deputy Chiefs, 3 Lieutenants, 7 Sergeants, 32 Patrolmen, 1 Animal Control Officer, 1 Admin.
Aide
• Fire: Chief, 2 Deputy Chiefs, 5 Captains, 9 Lieutenants, 40 Firefighters, 1 EMS Coordinator, 1 Admin. Aide
• United States Senators for Massachusetts: Elizabeth Warren and Edward Markey
• United States Congressman Representing the 8th District of Massachusetts: Stephen Lynch
• Massachusetts Governor’s Council District 2: Tamisha L. Civil
• State Senator for Norfolk & Bristol Districts: Paul R. Feeney
• Representative in Massachusetts General Court 6th District: William C. Galvin
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3Source page 6
ELECTED OFFICIALS
Select Board, Board of Public Works & Licensing Board Town Clerk
Michael C. Loughran, Chair 2027 Tracy Kenney 2027
John R. McCourt, Vice-Chair 2026
Christopher M. Albert, Clerk 2026 Board of Assessors
Patricia M. Boyden 2027 William C. Galvin 2025
John J. Connolly 2025 Gene Manning 2026
Rocco Digirolamo 2027
Board of Health
Dr. Alan M. Rapoport, O.D. 2025 School Committee
Anjali Bayliss, MSOT, OTR/L 2026 Kristian Darigan Merenda 2025
Dr. Julie E. Goodman, Ph.D. 2027 Kendall O’Halloran 2027
Maureen E. Moran 2025
Planning Board Kimberly McCourt 2026
Patricia McDermott 2026 Sonja Grauds 2025
David McCarthy 2025
Kathy Gibbs McCormack 2029 Trustees of the Library
James Quigley 2027 Margaret Mead 2025
Sean Robinson 2026 George Comeau 2026
Nancy Connery 2025
Canton Housing Authority Jan Chamberlain 2027
Lisa Lopez 2027 Susan Cogliano 2026
Glen Hannington 2027 Joan Schottenfeld 2027
Adam Brothers 2028 Emily Prigot 2025
Agnes Hagan 2026 Christine Untersee 2027
Janet Walrod 2025 Betty Chelmow 2026
Moderator
Alan Hines/Richard Staiti
APPOINTED BY THE SELECT BOARD
Beautification Committee CAASA
Christopher Connolly 2027 Janet Donnelly 2025
Michael McHugo 2025 Harriet Burak 2025
Helen McHowell 2027 Helena Rafferty, Police Chief 2025
Alan Rapoport 2025 Wendell Robery, Fire Chief 2025
Michael Molway 2026 Tyler Radicioni 2027
Adam Hughes 2025
Board of Directors Paul Revere Heritage Trust
Alan Hines 2027 Cable License Renewal Committee
Elizabeth Sugameli 2028 Tanya Willow 2025
Victor Del Vecchio 2029 Louis Jutras 2025
Stephen Schottenfeld 2026 Brian Lynch 2025
Matthew McDonald 2025 Charles Doody 2025
George Comeau 2025 Peter Hennessy 2025
Sherry Alpert 2029 Constables
Fredrick E. Fairfield 2027 Brad Slocum 2027
Joyce Stenmon 2027 Helena Rafferty, Police Chief 2027
Stuart Gregerman 2029 Thomas Keleher, Deputy Police Chief 2027
Robert Martello 2029 Patricia Sherrill, Deputy Police Chief 2027
Harold March 2027
Paul Close 2027
4
4Source page 7
Canton Affordable Housing Trust Conservation Commission
David McCarthy 2025 Kevin Colmey 2026
Canton Doody
Charles Affordable Housing Trust 2025 Conservation
Melissa MayerCommission 2025
David
CantonMcCarthy
William Affordable
R. Scollins, Housing
III Trust 2025 Kevin Colmey Commission
Conservation
Paul Degnan 2026
Canton
Charles
TJ Torres
David Affordable
Doody
McCarthy Housing Trust 2025 Conservation
Melissa
Thomas Mayer Commission
Birmingham
Kevin Colmey 2025
2027
2026
David
CharlesMcCarthy
William
Michael R. Scollins, III
Loughran
Doody 2025
2026 Kevin
Paul
Robert
MelissaColmey
Degnan
McDonald
Mayer 2026
2027
2025
Charles
TJ Torres
Glen Doody
Hannington
William R. Scollins, III 2025
2024 Melissa
Thomas
Carolyn Mayer
Birmingham
Elkort
Paul Degnan 2025
2027
2026
William
Michael
TJ Torres
Melissa R. Scollins, III
Loughran
Mayer 2026
2025 Paul
Robert
Thomas
GeraldDegnan
McDonald
Birmingham
Carmichael 2026
2027
2025
TJ Torres
Glen Hannington
Michael Loughran 2025
2024
2026 Thomas
Carolyn Birmingham
Elkort
Robert McDonald 2027
Michael
Melissa Loughran
Mayer
Glen Hannington 2026
2025
2024 Robert
Gerald McDonald
CarolynCarmichael
Elkort 2027
2025
Glen
CantonHannington
Cultural Council
Melissa Mayer 2024
2025 Carolyn Elkort
Gerald Carmichael 2027
2025
MelissaMouradian
Angela Mayer 2025 Gerald Carmichael
Council on Aging 2025
Canton
Maria Cultural Council
Bueno 2026 Peter Marshalka 2026
Angela Mouradian
CantonGalinsky
Arielle Cultural Council 2025
2026 Council
Jane Pratton Aging 2026
Canton
Maria
Diane Cultural Council
AngelaBueno
Mouradian
Silva 2025
2026 Peter
Council
Elaine Marshalka
on Aging
Glimore 2026
2025
Angela
Arielle
Patricia Mouradian
Galinsky
Cohen
Maria Bueno 2025
2026
2027 Council
Jane
PeterPratt
Ellen on Aging
Donovan
Marshalka 2026
2027
Maria
ArielleBueno
Diane
Stephen Silva
Coughlin
Galinsky 2026
2027 Peter
Elaine
RichardMarshalka
Glimore
Jane PrattKulas 2026
2025
2027
Arielle
Patricia
Lien
DianePhanGalinsky
Cohen
Silva 2026
2027 Jane
Ellen
Paul
ElainePratt
Donovan
Sloan
Glimore 2027
2026
2025
Diane
PatriciaSilva
Stephen
Pamela Coughlin
Berman
Cohen 2026
2027 Elaine
Richard
Janet Glimore
Kulas
Ellen Walrod
Donovan 2025
2027
Patricia
Lien
AgnesPhan
Stephen Cohen
Hagan
Coughlin 2027 Ellen
Paul Donovan
Sloan
Richard Kulas 2027
2026
Stephen
Pamela
Joyce Coughlin
Berman
Stenmon
Lien Phan 2027 Richard
Janet Kulas
Walrod
Diversity,
Paul Sloan Equity & Inclusion Committee 2027
2026
Lien
Agnes
NancyPhan
Pamela Hagan
McCusker
Berman 2027
2025 Paul
JanetSloan
Chief Helena Rafferty
Walrod 2026
2025
2027
Pamela
Joyce Berman
AgnesStenmon
Alexandra Hapenny
Hagan 2027
2026 JanetMcCourt
Kim Walrod
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee 2027
2025
Agnes
Nancy Hagan
McCusker
Joyce Stenmon 2027
2025 Chief Helena
Diversity,
Matthew Rafferty
Equity & Inclusion Committee
Masciarelli 2025
Joyce
NancyStenmon
Alexandra
Commission Hapenny
on Disabilities
McCusker 2027
2026
2025 Diversity,
Kim
ChiefMcCourt
DesmondHelenaEquity & Inclusion Committee
Rafferty
Sumrall 2025
Nancy
Laura McCusker
Findlen-Lane
Alexandra Hapenny 2025
2026 Chief
Matthew
Amy Helena
Peterson
Kim McCourt Rafferty
Masciarelli 2025
Commission
Alexandra on Disabilities
Hapenny 2026 Kim
SherryMcCourt
Desmond
Matthew Sumrall
Herzog
Masciarelli 2025
Laura
HeatherFindlen-Lane
CommissionCahillon Disabilities 2025
2027 Matthew
Amy
Jestin
DesmondKingMasciarelli
Peterson
Sumrall 2025
Commission
Alexandra
Cynthia on Disabilities
Hapenny
Thomas
Laura Findlen-Lane 2026
2027
2025 Desmond
Sherry
Joan Sumrall
Herzog
Amy Schottenfeld
Peterson 2025
Laura
Heather
Lynn Findlen-Lane
Cahill
Findlen-Valkanas
Alexandra Hapenny 2025
2027
2026 Amy
JestinPeterson
SherryKing
Melanie Martin
Herzog 2025
Alexandra
Cynthia Hapenny
Thomas
Heather Cahill 2026
2027 Sherry
Joan Herzog
JestinSchottenfeld
Naomi Akan
King 2025
Heather
Lynn
Community
Cynthia Cahill
Findlen-Valkanas
Preservation Committee
Thomas 2027
2025 Jestin
Melanie
Alan King
Martin
Rapoport
Joan Schottenfeld 2025
Cynthia
Kendall Thomas
O’Halloran
Lynn Findlen-Valkanas 2027
2025 Joan
Naomi
WillieSchottenfeld
Melanie Akan
Wilson
Martin 2025
Lynn
C. Findlen-Valkanas
Community
David Preservation Committee
Emhardt 2025
2027 Melanie
Alan
Naomi Martin
Rapoport
Akan 2025
Kendall
Community
Melissa O’Halloran
MayerPreservation Committee 2025
2027 Naomi
Willie
EconomicAkan
Wilson
Alan RapoportDevelopment 2025
Community
C. David
Adam
Kendall Preservation Committee
Emhardt
Brothers
O’Halloran 2027
2025 Alan Rapoport
Tyrishma Allen
Willie Wilson 2025
Kendall
Melissa
Thomas O’Halloran
C. DavidMayer
W. Theodore
Emhardt 2027
2025 WillieRapoport
Economic
Alan Wilson
Development 2025
C. David
Adam
Christopher
Melissa Emhardt
Brothers
Albert
Mayer 2025
2027 Tyrishma
Economic
Mindy Allen
Development
Millman 2025
Melissa
Thomas
Allyson Mayer
W. Theodore
Grossman
Adam Brothers 2027
2025 Economic
Alan
Greg Murphy
Tyrishma Development
Rapoport
Allen 2025
Adam
David
Thomas Brothers
Christopher Albert
McCarthy
W. Theodore 2025
2027 Tyrishma
Mindy
Gene Allen
Millman
Manning
Alan Rapoport 2025
Thomas
Allyson
George W. Theodore
Grossman
Comeau
Christopher Albert 2025
2027 Alan
MindyRapoport
Greg
EmilioMurphy
Mauro, Jr.
Millman 2025
Christopher
David Albert
McCarthy
Allyson Grossman 2027
2025 Mindy
Gene Millman
Manning
Greg Kull
Tera Murphy 2025
Allyson
George Grossman
Comeau
David McCarthy
Comprehensive Water Resource Management Plan 2025
2027 Greg
Gene Murphy
Emilio Mauro, Jr.
Manning 2025
David
Alan
George McCarthy
Rapoport
Comeau 2027
2025 Gene
Tera
Emilio Manning
Kull
Mauro, Jr. 2025
George Comeau
Comprehensive
Michael TrottaWater Resource Management Plan 2027
2025 Emilio Mauro, Jr.
Tera Kull 2025
Alan Rapoport
William R. Scollins,
Comprehensive III
Water Resource Management Plan 2025 Tera KullAdvisory Committee
Energy 2025
Comprehensive
Michael
Charles TrottaWater Resource Management Plan
Doody
Alan Rapoport 2025 Thomas Birmingham 2025
Alan
Regen Rapoport
William
Michael R. Scollins, III
Jamieson
Trotta 2025 Energy
ChristineAdvisory
Smith Committee 2025
Michael
Charles
Sean Trotta
Doody
Robinson
William R. Scollins, III 2025 Thomas
Energy
Carl Birmingham
Advisory
Engelbourg Committee 2025
William
Regen R. Scollins,
Christopher
DoodySykes III
CharlesJamieson 2025 Energy
Christine
Emily
Thomas Advisory
Smith Committee
Torres-Cullinane
Birmingham 2025
Charles
Sean Doody
RegenRobinson
Jamieson 2025 Thomas
Carl Birmingham
Engelbourg
Christine Smith 2025
Regen Jamieson
Christopher
Sean Robinson Sykes 2025 Christine
Emily Smith
Torres-Cullinane
Carl Engelbourg 2025
Sean Robinson
Christopher Sykes 2025 Carl
EmilyEngelbourg
Torres-Cullinane 2025
Christopher Sykes 2025 Emily Torres-Cullinane 2025
5
5
5
5
5Source page 8
Kelsey Quinlan 2025 William Gamble 2025
Alfons Koka 2025 Peter Hennessey 2025
Master Plan Implementation Committee Robert Maffie 2025
Stacey Gorman 2025 Francis Labollita 2025
Mapping
Peg Mead Commission 2025 Canton Veteran’s Council
Louis
Mapping
MichaelJutras
Commission
Nourse 2025 Robert
CantonDeYeso
Veteran’s Council 2025
Michael Trotta
Louis Jutras
Kristian Merenda 2025 Darren Bouwmeester
Robert DeYeso 2025
Kelsey Quinlan
MichaelMauro
Emilio Trotta 2025 William Gamble
Darren Bouwmeester 2025
Alfons
Kelsey
Jim Koka
Quinlan
Quigley 2025 Peter Hennessey
William Gamble 2025
Master Plan Implementation Committee
Alfons MacDonald
Robert Koka Robert Maffie
2025 Peter Hennessey 2025
Stacey
Master
Alan Gorman
Plan Implementation Committee
Rapoport 2025 Francis Labollita
Robert Maffie 2025
Peg Mead
Stacey
PatriciaGorman
Boyden 2025 Francis Labollita 2025
Michael
Peg Mead Nourse 2025 Sick Bank Committee
Kristian Merenda
MichaelAdvisory
Permit Nourse Committee 2025 Jody Middleton 2024
Emilio
KristianMauro
Charles Merenda
Doody 2025 Ellen Jones 2024
Jim Quigley
Emilio
Robert Mauro
McCarthy 2025 Diane Tynan 2024
Robert MacDonald
Jim Quigley
Edward Walsh 2025 Karen Lawlor 2024
Alan
RobertRapoport
Gregory MacDonald
Pando 2025 Tamra Stock 2024
Patricia Boyden
Alan Rapoport
Regen Jamieson 2025 Sue Desjardins 2024
Patricia Chief
Deputy BoydenTom Keleher 2025 Sick
SusanBank
Musto Committee 2024
Permit Advisory
Chief Wendell Committee
Robery 2025 Jody Middleton
Sick Bank Committee 2024
Charles
Permit
TJ TorresDoody
Advisory Committee 2025 Ellen
Jody Jones
Middleton
Sustainability Committee 2024
Robert
James McCarthy
CharlesQuigley
Doody 2025 Diane Tynan
Ellen Clarke
Katy Jones 2024
2025
Edward
Gene Walsh
RobertManning
McCarthy 2025 Karen Lawlor
Diane Tynan
Angelika Mayman 2024
2025
Gregory Pando
Edward Walsh 2025 Tamra Stock
Karen Lawlor
Patricia McDermott 2024
2025
Regen Jamieson
Playground
Gregory & Recreation Commission
Pando 2025 Sue
TamraDesjardins
Stock 2024
Deputy Chief Tom Keleher
RegenGrossman
Mark Jamieson 2025 Susan Musto
Sue Desjardins 2024
Chief
DeputyWendell
Allison GrossmanRobery
Chief Tom Keleher 2025 Traffic
Susan Musto
Committee 2024
TJ Torres
Chief
Marsha Wendell
Armando Robery 2025 Sustainability
James SchmakelCommittee 2025
James Quigley
TJ Torres
Cabot Devoll 2025 Katy
Sgt. Clarke
Sustainability
Sean GoodeCommittee 2025
Gene
JamesManning
Stacey Quigley
Gorman 2025 Angelika
Katy Clarke
Alfons Mayman
Koka 2025
Gene Manning
Debra Kelley 2025 Patricia
2026 Angelika
TJ Torres McDermott
Mayman 2025
Playground & Recreation Commission
Janice McCarthy Patricia McDermott
2025 Heather Cahill 2025
Mark Grossman
Playground & Recreation Commission 2025 Patricia Boyden 2025
Allison
RegistrarGrossman
Mark Grossman
of Voters 2025 Traffic Committee
Kathy Gibbs McCormick 2025
Marsha Armando
AllisonKenney
Tracy Grossman 2025
2027 James
TrafficSchmakel
Committee
Quigley 2025
Cabot
MarshaDevoll
Marilyn Armando
Curran 2025
2026 Sgt.
JamesSean
Jordan Goode
Schmakel
Jones 2025
Stacey
Cabot
J. Gorman
Devoll
Daneene Pate 2025 Alfons
Sgt. Sean
Matthew Koka
Goode
Isaacs 2025
Debra
StaceyKelley
Robin Gorman
O’Connell-McCarthy 2026
2025 TJ Torres
Alfons
Michael Koka
Loughran 2025
Janice McCarthy
Reservoir
Debra KelleyPond Advisory Committee 2025
2026 Heather
TJ TorresCahill 2025
Janice McCarthy
Robert Gorham 2025 Patricia
Heather
Walk, BikeBoyden
Cahill
& Hike Committee 2025
Registrar
Deputy Chiefof Voters
Keleher 2025 Kathy
PatriciaGibbs
Jeffrey McCormick
Boyden
Sullivan 2025
Tracy
Chief Kenney
Registrar of Voters
Wendell Robery 2027
2025 James
Kathy Quigley
PatriciaGibbs McCormick
McDermott 2025
2027
Marilyn
William Curran
Tracy Kenney
Walsh 2026
2027 Jordan
2025 James
Tim Jones
Quigley
Calabrese 2025
J. Daneene
Marilyn
David Pate
Curran
Cahill 2025
2026 Matthew Isaacs
JordanSilverstein
Linda Jones 2025
Robin
Janet O’Connell-McCarthy
J. Daneene
DonahuePate 2026
2025 Michael
Matthew
Debra Loughran
Isaacs
Stein-Sharpe 2025
Reservoir
Pauline O’Leary Advisory Committee
Pond
Robin O’Connell-McCarthy 2026 Brian
2025 Michael Loughran
Loughran 2025
Robert
Julie Gorham
Reservoir
MoffatPond Advisory Committee 2025 Walk,
AllisonBike
Paige&Patton
Hike Committee 2025
Deputy Chief
Robert Gorham
Marsha Keleher
Armando 2025 Jeffrey Sullivan
Walk, Bike & Hike Committee 2025
Chief
Deputy
John Wendell
R. Chief Robery
Keleher
McCourt 2025 Patricia McDermott
Jeffrey Sullivan 2027
2025
William Walsh Robery
Chief Wendell 2025 Tim Calabrese
Patricia McDermott 2025
2027
David
WilliamCahill
Walsh 6 Calabrese
2025 Linda
Tim Silverstein 2025
Janet
DavidDonahue
Cahill 2025 Debra Stein-Sharpe
Linda Silverstein 2025
Pauline O’Leary
Janet Donahue 2025 Brian
DebraLoughran
Stein-Sharpe 2025
Julie Moffat
Pauline O’Leary 2025 Allison Paige Patton
Brian Loughran 2025
Marsha Armando
Julie Moffat 2025 Allison Paige Patton 2025
John
MarshaR. Armando
McCourt 2025
John R. McCourt 2025
6
6
6Source page 9
Historical Commission
Historical Commission
Paul Mitcheroney 2025
Paul Mitcheroney
Historical Commission 2025
Paul
Emily Mitcheroney
Prigot 2025
Emily Prigot
Paul Mitcheroney 2025
Emily
George Prigot
Comeau 2025
2026
George Comeau
Emily Prigot 2026
2025
Water & Sewer Rate Policy Committee George
Gerald Comeau
Carmichael 2026
Water & Sewer Rate Policy Committee Gerald
George Carmichael
Comeau 2026
Water
William&R.Sewer Rate Policy Committee
Scollins 2025 Gerald
Sepp Carmichael
Bergschneider 2026
2025
William
Water R.Sewer
Scollins 2025 Sepp Bergschneider 2025
Michael Trotta Rate Policy Committee
William &R. Scollins 2025 Gerald
Sepp Carmichael
Bergschneider
Michael Nourse
Historical
Historical Commission
Commission 2026
2025
Michael
William Trotta
R. Scollins 2025
2025 Michael
Sepp Nourse
Bergschneider 2026
2025
Michael Jerrier
Trotta 2025 Michael
Paul Nourse
Mitcheroney 2026
Michael Jerrier
Trotta 2025 Michael Nourse 2026
Michael
C. DavidJerrier
Emhardt 2025 Emily Prigot 2025
C. David Emhardt 2025
Michael
C. David
Gerald Jerrier
Emhardt
Carmichael 2025 George Comeau 2026
Gerald
C. DavidCarmichael 2025
Gerald
Water & Emhardt
Carmichael
ChristopherSewer
SykesRate Policy Committee 2025 Gerald Carmichael 2026
Christopher
Gerald Sykes
Carmichael 2025
Christopher
Daniel Cole
William Sykes
R. Scollins 2025 Sepp Bergschneider 2025
Daniel Cole
Christopher Sykes 2025
Daniel
Michael Cole
Joseph Ridge
Trotta 2025 Michael Nourse 2026
Joseph
Daniel Ridge
Cole 2025
2025
Joseph Ridge
Michael Jerrier 2025 Zoning Board of Appeals
Joseph Ridge Zoning Board of Appeals
Sustainability
C. David & Climate Action Plan Committee
Emhardt 2025 Zoning
Michael Board
Khouryof Appeals 2025
Sustainability & Climate Action Plan Committee Michael Khouryof Appeals 2025
Sustainability
TJ Torres
Gerald & Climate Action Plan Committee
Carmichael 2025 Zoning
GregoryBoard
Michael Khoury
Pando 2025
2026
TJ Torres
Sustainability & Climate Action Plan Committee 2025 Gregory Pando 2026
TJ TorresMeaney
Kristine
Christopher Sykes 2025 Michael
Gregory Khoury
Brian BlackPando 2025
2026
2027
Kristine
TJ TorresMeaney 2025 Brian
Gregory Black
Pando 2027
2026
Kristine
Daniel
Patricia Meaney
Cole
McDermott 2025 Brian Black
Alternate Matthew Carlton 2027
2025
Patricia
Kristine McDermott
Meaney 2025 Alternate
Brian Black Matthew Carlton 2025
2027
Patricia McDermott
TimothyRidge
Joseph Calabrese 2025 Alternate Matthew Carlton
Barbara St. Andre 2025
Timothy
Patricia Calabrese
McDermott 2025 Alternate Barbara
Matthew St. Andre
Carlton 2025
Timothy Calabrese
Thomas Birmingham 2025 Alternate Barbara St.
Zoning Board of Appeals Andre 2025
Thomas
Timothy Birmingham
Calabrese 2025
2025 Alternate Barbara St. Andre Committee 2025
Thomas Birmingham
Greg Murphy
Sustainability & Climate Action Plan Committee 2025 Health Insurance
Michael Khoury Advisory
Greg
ThomasMurphy
Birmingham 2025 Health Insurance Advisory Committee
Greg
Alana
TJ Murphy
Murphy
Torres 2025 Health
WilliamInsurance
Gregory R. ScollinsAdvisory
Pando III Committee 2025
2026
Alana
Greg Murphy
Murphy 2025 William
Health R. ScollinsAdvisory
Insurance III Committee 2025
Alana Murphy
Jennifer
Kristine Wexler
Meaney 2025 William
Charles
Brian R.Doody
E.
Black Scollins III 2025
2027
Jennifer Wexler
Alana Murphy 2025 Charles
William E. Doody
R.Matthew
ScollinsCarlton
III 2025
Jennifer
Patricia Wexler
Collins
McDermott 2025 Charles E. Doody
Jody Middleton
Alternate 2025
Jennifer Wexler
Collins 2025 Jody
CharlesMiddleton
E. Doody St. Andre 2025
Jennifer
MatthewCollins
Timothy Calabrese
Masciarelli 2025 Jody Middleton
Alternate Barbara
Rae 2025
Matthew
Jennifer Masciarelli
Collins 2025 Charles
Jody Rae
Middleton 2025
Matthew Masciarelli
Isabella Luca
Thomas Birmingham 2025 Charles Rae
Diane Tynan 2025
Isabella
Matthew Luca
Masciarelli 2025
2025 Diane
Charles Tynan
Rae 2025
2025
Isabella Luca
Alan Abend
Greg Murphy 2025 Diane
Derek Tynan
Health Insurance
Folan Advisory Committee 2025
Alan Abend
Isabella Luca 2025 Derek
Diane Folan 2025
Alan
Alana Abend
Murphy
Kathleen O’Connell 2025 RobertTynan
Derek
William Folan
R. Scollins III
Collins 2025
Kathleen
Alan O’Connell
Abend 2025 Robert
Derek Collins
Folan 2025
Kathleen
Steven
Jennifer O’Connell
Colson
Wexler 2025 Robert Collins
Jane Consalvi
Charles E. Doody 2025
Steven
KathleenColson
O’Connell 2025 Jane
Robert Consalvi
Collins 2025
Steven
JenniferColson
Collins 2025 Jane
Tamra
Jody Consalvi
Stock
Middleton 2025
Steven Colson Tamra
Jane Stock
Consalvi 2025
Matthew Masciarelli 2025 Tamra
Kimberly
Charles Stock
Willett
Rae 2025
Kimberly
Tamra Willett
Stock 2025
Isabella Luca 2025 Kimberly
Diane
James Tynan Willett
Galanis 2025
James
KimberlyGalanis
Willett 2025
2025
Alan Abend 2025 James
Courtney
Derek Galanis
Gaboury
Folan 2025
Courtney Gaboury
James Galanis 2025
Kathleen O’Connell 2025 Courtney
Robert Gaboury
Collins 2025
Steven ColsonBY THE MODERATOR 2025 Courtney
Jane Gaboury
Consalvi 2025
APPOINTED
APPOINTED BY THE MODERATOR Tamra Stock 2025
APPOINTED BY THE MODERATOR
Finance Committee George Comeau 2027
Finance Committee
APPOINTED BY THE MODERATOR Kimberly Willett
George Comeau 2025
2027
Finance Committee
John Leonetti 2027 George
C.
JamesDavidComeau
Emhardt
Galanis 2027
2025
John Leonetti
Finance Committee 2027 C. David
George Emhardt
Comeau 2027
2027
John
ReukiLeonetti
Schutt 2027
2026 C. David
Maureen
Courtney Emhardt
McDonough
Gaboury 2025
2027
2025
Reuki Schutt
John Leonetti 2026
2027 Maureen
C. David McDonough
Emhardt 2025
2027
Reuki
MaureenSchutt
Menconi 2026 Maureen
John McDonough
McCourt 2025
Maureen Menconi
Reuki Schutt 2026 John McCourt
Maureen McDonough 2027
2025
Maureen
Daniel Menconi
Cole 2026 John
RobertMcCourt
Benedetti 2027
2026
Daniel
APPOINTED
Maureen Cole BY THE MODERATOR
Menconi 2026 Robert Benedetti
John McCourt 2026
2027
Daniel
CynthiaCole
Thomas 2026
2025 Robert
Mary Benedetti
Graziano 2026
Cynthia Thomas
Daniel Cole 2025
2026 Mary Graziano
Benedetti 2026
Finance
Emilio
Cynthia Committee
Mauro
Thomas 2025
2024 Mary
RobertGraziano
George McCarthy
Comeau 2026
2025
2027
Emilio
Cynthia Mauro
Thomas 2024
2025 Robert
Mary McCarthy
Graziano 2025
2026
Emilio
John Mauro
DavidLeonetti
Clough 2024
2027 Robert
C. McCarthy
David Emhardt
Kathleen Butters 2025
2027
David
Emilio Clough
Mauro 2025
2024 Kathleen
Robert Butters
McCarthy 2025
2025
David
Reuki Clough
KristinSchutt
Mirliani 2025
2026 Kathleen
Maureen Butters
McDonough 2025
Kristin Mirliani
David Clough 2026
2025 Kathleen Butters Committee 2025
Kristin
Maureen Mirliani
Menconi 2026 Capital
John Planning
McCourt 2024
2027
Kristin Cole
Mirliani Capital Planning Committee 2024
Daniel 2026 Capital
Robert Planning
Christopher Deck Committee
Benedetti 2024
2026
Christopher
Capital Deck Committee
Planning 2024
BuildingThomas
Cynthia Renovations Committee 2025 Christopher
Mary Deck
Jason Graziano
Green 2024
2026
2025
Building Renovations Committee Jason Green
Christopher Deck 2025
2024
Building
Emilio Renovations Committee
AllysonMauro
Podgurski 2027
2024 Jason Green
C. David
Robert Emhardt
McCarthy 2025
Allyson
Building Podgurski
Renovations Committee 2027 C. David
Jason Emhardt
Green 2024
2025
Allyson
John Podgurski
Connolly
David Clough 2027
2025 C. David
Adam Emhardt
Nichols
Kathleen Butters 2024
2026
John Connolly
Allyson Podgurski 2025
2027 Adam
C. Nichols
David Emhardt 2026
2024
John Connolly
Kristin
KristianMirliani
Merenda 2025
2026 Adam
GregoryNichols
Murphy 2026
2025
Kristian
John Merenda
Connolly 2027
2025 Gregory
Adam Murphy
Nichols 2025
2026
Kristian
Charles Merenda
Doody 2027 Gregory
Capital Murphy Committee
Planning
Lisa Lopez 2025
2024
Charles Doody
Kristian Doody
Merenda 2025
2027 Lisa Lopez
Gregory Murphy 2026
2025
Charles 2025 Lisa Lopez
Christopher Deck 2026
2024
Charles Doody
Building Renovations Committee 2025 Lisa Lopez
Jason Green 2026
2025
Allyson Podgurski 2027 C. David Emhardt 2024
John Connolly 2025 7Adam Nichols 2026
Kristian Merenda 2027 7Gregory Murphy 2025
7
Charles Doody 2025 7Lisa Lopez 2026
77Source page 10
DEPARTMENT AND DIVISION HEADS
Charles E. Doody, Town Administrator
Jennifer N. Kemalian, Assistant Town Administrator
William R. Scollins, III, Finance Director/Collector/Treasurer
Helena Rafferty, Police Chief
Thomas A. Keleher Jr., Deputy Police Chief
Patricia A. Sherrill, Deputy Police Chief
Wendell Robery, Fire Chief
Scott E. Johnson, Deputy Fire Chief
Edwin Freitas, Deputy Fire Chief
Derek F. Folan, Superintendent of Public Schools
Carolyn Floyd, Director of Assessing
Margaret Goldstein, Director of Public Health
Edward T. Walsh, Building Commissioner/Zoning Enforcement Officer
Regen Jamieson, Conservation Agent
Diane M. Tynan, Director of Elder and Human Services
Allyson M. Podgurski, Town Accountant
Cody Pratt, Assistant Town Accountant
Louis M. Jutras, Information Systems Manager
Susan Desjardins, Assistant Treasurer/Collector
Jody K. Middleton, Human Resources Director
Andrea J. Capone, Library Director
Tyler Radicioni, Parks & Recreation Director
AJ Gauthier, Parks & Recreation Assistant Director
Michael P. Trotta, Superintendent of Public Works
Alfons Koka, Town Engineer
Josh Gittings, Assistant Town Engineer
William J. Walsh, Operations Manager
Larry Bogue, Highway Supervisor
Christopher J. Sykes, Water and Sewer Supervisor
Brian Lynch, Director of Facilities and Grounds
Stephen D. Choiniere, Facilities and Grounds Supervisor
Paul R. DeRensis, Esq, Town Counsel
TJ Torres, Town Planner
Arafat M. Knight, Department of Veteran’s Services Director and Veteran’s Agent
Tracy K. Kenney, Town Clerk
Gale M. McHugo, Assistant Town Clerk
Stacy Nee, Animal Control Officer
8
8Source page 11
Report of the
SELECT BOARD
Michael C. Loughran, Chairman 801 Washington St.
John R. McCourt, Vice-Chairman Canton, MA 02021
Christopher M. Albert, Clerk Telephone 781-821-5000
Patricia M. Boyden, Member
John J. Connolly, Member Fax 781-821-2935
bos@town.canton.ma.us
Charles E. Doody, Town Administrator
Kemalian Assistant
Jennifer N. Kemalian, Assistant Town
Town Administrator
Office Hours: Monday, Wednesday & Thursday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Tuesday 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM, Friday 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Introduction
2024 was another eventful year for Canton with many important projects, improved services and program changes which contributed
to the betterment of our community and for the benefit of our residents. Many of those initiatives are described below.
Chief Berkowitz – Passing December 28th
The Town of Canton suffered a tremendous loss with the passing of retired Police Chief Kenneth Berkowitz on December 28, 2024
after a long battle with cancer. Chief Berkowitz joined the department in 1992 and served as Canton’s Police Chief from 2005 to
2022. The Select Board is grateful for his 3 decades of service to the people of Canton.
Paul Revere Heritage site – 9th amendment
The Select Board approved the 8th and 9th amendments to the development agreement between the Town and Canton Holdings
codifying the construction of two new dog parks, one for large dogs and one for small dogs, at the Paul Revere Heritage site. In
addition, the agreement also includes the construction of a 5 story, 63-unit apartment building with 8 units dedicated as affordable.
Canton Electricity Choice
The Select Board announced the launch of Canton Electricity Choice, a type of group electricity buying program from the Town that
gives residents and businesses more choice and control over the electricity they buy. Canton joined nearly 170 other Massachusetts
communities that have this type of electricity program, including Milton, Sharon and Walpole. The Board voted to allow the Town
Administrator to sign a two-year contract with the winning bidder, Constellation Energy.
Through Canton Electricity Choice and the collective buying power of the community, Canton electricity customers will get more of
their electricity from renewable sources for a price that is lower than Eversource’s current residential Basic Service price, though
future savings compared with Eversource cannot be guaranteed. Canton received state regulatory approval for the program in
December 2023, and the program launched in June 2024.
Serenity Garden Dedication November
On November 23rd, the Community Club of Canton hosted the long-awaited dedication for the Serenity Garden located at the William
Armando Recreation Center on Pleasant Street. The project was delayed by the COVID 19 pandemic but came to fruition with the
construction of a brick walkway and patio, in addition to the installation of granite benches and trees. In total, the display has over
2,000 bricks, many of them engraved with the names of loved ones who were lost to substance use disorder. Many thanks to the
Department of Public Works and Engineering Division for designing and building the Serenity Garden.
American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Projects
In 2024, the Town expended or obligated the remainder of over 4 million dollars of ARPA funding for a variety of town projects. The
federal funds were distributed by Norfolk County who managed a rigorous application process. The Town, through its Finance
Director was able to obtain 100% of Canton’s allocation to fund projects such as filtration system replacements at the Moran and
Sullivan Water Treatment Plants, replacement of 30 community defibrillators, premium pay for employees who worked through
COVID, walkway and parking reconstruction at the Hemenway Housing Complex, and several other infrastructure projects.
ADA Transition Plan
In October of 2023, the Town of Canton was awarded $40,000 in grant funding for the completion of the Town’s ADA assessment
and transition plan for Town facilities. The Town of Canton received the funding as part of a Community Compact Best Practices
Grant, which is a state grant program administered by the State Division of Local Services.
Altura Solutions, LLC was selected in March as a consultant to complete the Town of Canton’s Americans with Disabilities Act
(ADA) Transition Plan. The ADA Transition Plan allows planners to gather a full scope of the current accessibility of public facilities
and programs. Accessibility of all town parks, schools and municipal buildings will be considered. Once the planning phase of the
project has been completed, the results will be used to inform future capital expenditures as well as grant applications aimed at
correcting barriers to accessibility. 9
Select Board Changes
In April the Board welcomed its newest member, Patricia Boyden. 9Board member Boyden unseated incumbent Thomas Theodore in
the April election. The Board thanks former Select Board member Theodore for his years of dedicated service to the Town of Canton.
The Board elected to hold their bi-weekly meetings remotely via zoom in beginning in July. The practice continued throughout 2024Source page 12
project has been completed, the results will be used to inform future capital expenditures as well as grant applications aimed at
correcting barriers to accessibility.
Select Board Changes
In April the Board welcomed its newest member, Patricia Boyden. Board member Boyden unseated incumbent Thomas Theodore in
the April election. The Board thanks former Select Board member Theodore for his years of dedicated service to the Town of Canton.
The Board elected to hold their bi-weekly meetings remotely via zoom beginning in July. The practice continued throughout 2024
and is planned to continue until at least March of 2025. The change to Open Meeting Law was initiated by Governor Baker and the
Massachusetts Legislature in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 emergency.
Trash and Recycle Contract Renewal
In June, Republic Services once again was awarded the Town’s curbside trash collection contract through an RFP process. Republic
has served the community for over 20 years and will continue to do so for 5 more years. Waste Management was also retained to
manage disposal of the Town’s recyclables.
Affordable Housing Trust
The Affordable Housing Trust remained active in 2024 continuing to work on the Town’s affordable housing needs. The committee
finalized the Housing Production Plan which was approved by the Select Board and will sent to the state in 2025 for final approval.
The AHT also finalized the sale of 50 Copperworks Unit 104 in June. The unit was conveyed to the Trust by Canton Holdings as part
of the development agreement for the Copperworks development. The unit sold for $525,000.00 and the funds are under the direct
control of the AHT for purpose of maintaining Canton’s affordable housing inventory.
Finance Department Certificate of Achievement for Excellence-18th year
The Finance Department received the Certificate of Achievement Award for Excellence for the 18th year in a row. This high level
award given in governmental accounting and financial reporting highlights Canton’s excellence in financial achievement.
Congratulations to the entire finance department and information systems department for their hard work and commitment to
excellence.
Annual Town Meeting
Annual Town Meeting in May passed several important articles including the MBTA communities Law, bringing Canton into
compliance with the new state statute by creating a new zoning district within a half mile of the Canton Junction train station which
allows for the multi-family construction. In addition, a seven-member By-Law Modernization Committee was created to study the
Town’s By-Laws and make recommendations to update and improve the by-laws to make local government more efficient. Finally,
Town Meeting voted to create a Central Maintenance Department to oversee the maintenance of municipal buildings. The Town hired
Brian Lynch to head the department and build out the staff.
In addition, a Special Town Meeting was convened in November asking voters to appropriate the necessary funds to construct a new
William H. Galvin Middle School on the current site at 55 Pecunit Street. The new school is projected to have an enrollment of 1,020
students in grades 5 through 8. Voters overwhelmingly approved the project with an estimated construction cost of $241,764,676. The
project was accepted into the Massachusetts School Building Authority reimbursement program in which the MSBA committed
$74,357,676 to the Town of Canton to offset construction costs.
Canton Appoints an Assistant Town Administrator
The Select Board appointed the Town’s first ever Assistant Town Administrator. Jennifer Kemalian, an Executive Office employee
for 20 years, who has held a variety of positions in the office, was elevated to her new role in July. Ms. Kemalian will work alongside
Town Administrator Charles Doody managing the day to day operations of the Town of Canton.
The Board offers its sincerest congratulations to Ms. Kemalian and thanks to Town Administrator Charles Doody, and the other
dedicated staff members in the Executive Office, Laurie Bogue and Judy Levitsky for their diligent work serving the Board and
residents of Canton.
Conclusion
I would like to thank my fellow Board members, John Connolly, JR McCourt, Christopher Albert and Patricia Boyden for their efforts
to ensure the Town’s business was conducted and vital services continued to be provided to our residents.
Finally, I would like to thank all of department heads, employees and volunteers for their efforts in providing excellent service to our
residents. Their professionalism and compassion impact so many in our community on a daily basis. We are fortunate to live in
Canton.
Sincerely,
Michael C. Loughran, Chair
10
10Source page 13
Report of the
BLUE HILL REGIONAL DISTRICT SCHOOL COMMITTEE
800 Randolph Street, Canton, MA 02021 Phone: (781) 828-5800 Fax: (781) 828-0794
Serving Avon – Braintree – Canton – Dedham – Holbrook – Milton – Norwood – Randolph - Westwood
Ms. Jill M. Rossetti, Superintendent-Director Mr. Carl Walker, Avon
Ms. Michelle Resendes, Business Manager Mr. Eric C. Erskine ’81, Braintree
January 1, 2023 – June 2023 Vice Chair Mr. Mark Driscoll ’87, Canton
Ms. Jill M Brilhante, Business Manager Mr. Thomas R. Polito, Jr., Dedham
Mr. Geoffrey Zini, Principal Secretary Ms. Taryn M. Mohan ’96, Holbrook
Ms. Marybeth Joyce, Milton
Chair Mr. Kevin L. Connolly, Norwood
Ms. Karen Graves, Randolph
Ms. Sheila C. Vazquez, Westwood
The Blue Hills Regional District School Committee is pleased to submit its Annual Report to the residents of the town of Canton.
Blue Hills Regional Technical School continues its steadfast commitment to providing the highest caliber academic and technical
instruction to students in grades nine through twelve, and to adults receiving postgraduate training. The nine towns comprising the
District include Avon, Braintree, Canton, Dedham, Holbrook, Milton, Norwood, Randolph, and Westwood.
Ms. Jill Rossetti continues to serve as Superintendent, Mr. Geoff Zini serves as Principal, Ms. Jill Brilhante serves as Business
Manager, and Mr. Mark Driscoll is the Canton representative and Vice Chair of the District School Committee.
The District School Committee meets once a month with the caveat that additional meetings will be added to the schedule should they
be needed to address the needs of the District. These meetings take place in the William T. Buckly District Board Room (Room W-
218) at Blue Hills Regional and begin at 7:00 PM. Although the state continues to allow remote or hybrid meetings, Blue Hills
Regional’s District School Committee meetings are In-Person. The School Committee continues to encourage public attendance.
Further, public participation is welcomed during the Public Comment portion of any meeting by community members that have signed
up to be heard.
There were 910 students enrolled at Blue Hills as of October 1, 2024. Ninety students (90) are from Canton.
The Blue Hills Sports Program is enjoying record participation numbers from the student body and the individual teams are working
and playing hard. Most have had winning seasons as well as participating in local, vocational, state championship games and
tournaments. The Golf and Football teams are Mayflower League Champions, the Girls Soccer team was exceptional, and the Swim
and Volleyball teams had outstanding seasons. To date, the Girls Basketball team is undefeated. Go Warriors!
The Superintendent –Director introduced an initiative whereby students in grades 10, 11, and 12 are invited to apply to participate on a
council with the Superintendent-Director. Students participating in this Cabinet, Superintendent-Director’s Student Cabinet (SDSC),
will represent their class and fellow students, play a critical role in enhancing student experience at Blue Hills by elevating their voice
to the district level. The students will work cooperatively by engaging in meaningful discussions that directly effect students,
advocating for positive change, addressing issues, sharing diverse perspectives and provide feedback, spearheading projects aimed at
enhancing school culture, and fostering greater student involvement in district initiatives and programs. When the group was asked
what their primary responsibility was, they answered that “We advocate for the student’s perspective”.
The service project the cabinet selected was to organize a gently used clothing drive to aid Caties Closet. They planned, promoted and
collected over 30 bags of clothing. The Cabinet members felt that they had learned a lot and set up a good foundation for the next
group to build on.
This year’s SDSC members include Jaina Kimble, Isabel Rosario, Thalia Bizile, Phoenix Duggan, Caitlin Dennehy, Natalie Finch,
Samantha Caul, Kabirah Azeez, Jean Gakaya, Alyssa Rabs, Kaily Hixon, and Saige O’Keefe.
The academic and vocational programs proved to be successful as demonstrated by Blue Hills MCAS scores. (2022, 2023 and 2024).
Typical student support, coupled with specialized help put in place during the pandemic continue to aide all students. Blue Hills
Regional was cited by DESE and named “A School of Recognition” for having the highest score (95% rating) in the state of
Massachusetts. This is an exceptional accomplishment for Blue Hills under Superintendent-Director Rossetti’s leadership.
11
11Source page 14
Summer School was offered again this past summer; 14 students registering at Blue Hills and an additional student parti
Summer School was
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students on-site.
End-of-year awards, celebrations, accomplishments and honors were noted and celebrated in both the spring and fall of
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awards, accomplishments
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participants turned out in record numbers. Activities include Prom, Field Day, the National Honor
participants turned out in record numbers. Activities include Prom, Field Day, the National Honor Society Induction Ceremony,who
team recognition events, and Senior Awards Night. This past fall, we Society
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in November. Both events enjoyed
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success sparking student imagination and some very impressive ideas were shared and enjoyed by the school community.enjoyed by the school community.
Senior Scholarship and Awards Night was celebrated on May 23, 2024. Dozens of students were honored for their achie
Senior Scholarship and Awards
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Commencement was held on June 4, 2024, on the BHTS Turf Field. There were 220 graduates. Canton graduates includ
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V. F. Labolita,
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and Arianis A. Gonzalez
John B. DeOliveria, Austin J. Maguire,
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A year and a half ago, Luca, BR’s Therapy Dog in Training, joined our school community and the smiles, laughter, and
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The Practical Nursing Program (Postsecondary) was a full-time program of study provided to adults on a tuition and fee
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final Commencement on June 20, 2024, celebrating
final Commencement on June 20, 2024, celebrating 20 graduates.20 graduates.
Blue Hills continues to offer and provide our students and school community the very best academic and vocational edu
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very best academic education education
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experiences for their immediate and future success.
Respectfully Submitted,
Respectfully Submitted,Submitted,
Respectfully
Mark Driscoll, Canton Representative and Vice Chair of the DSC, Blue Hills Regional Technical School District
Mark Driscoll,
MarkCanton Representative
Driscoll, and Vice Chair
Canton Representative of the
and Vice DSC,
Chair of Blue HillsBlue
the DSC, Regional
Hills Technical
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Technical School District
12
12 12
12Source page 15
Report of the
BOARD OF ASSESSORS
William C. Galvin, Chairman 801 Washington St.
Eugene Manning, Vice-Chairman Canton, MA 02021
Rocco DiGirolamo, Member Telephone 781-821-5008
Fax 781-575-6624
Carolyn Floyd, Director of Assessing assessing@town.canton.ma.us
Office Hours: Monday, Wednesday & Thursday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Tuesday 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM, Friday 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM
The Board of Assessors hereby submits its annual report:
Gross Amount to be Raised by Taxation: $154,181,052.18
Total Estimated Receipts and Available Funds: $55,177,045.97
Net Amount to be Raised by Taxation: $99,004,006.21
Residential Valuation: $6,053,461,536
Commercial, Industrial & Personal Property Value: $1,913,705,214
Total Taxable Valuation: $7,967,166,750
Residential Tax Rate: $9.89
Commercial Tax Rate: $20.45
The Department of Revenue approved the tax rates for the Town of Canton. New Growth was $1,495,530. The value of the Town
increased more than 358 million. 1435 Residential and Commercial permits were processed. Over 200 Forms of list for business
personal property and over 170 Income and expense forms were processed for commercial and industrial properties. 257 exemption
applications were processed, of which 131 are Veterans. 1461 excise abatements were processed during the calendar year of 2024. We
would like to thank Susan Langan and wish her well on her promotion to the Water Department. We would like to welcome Lara
McNeely to the position of Assessing Technician. We would also like to thank our current staff, Carolyn Floyd, Director of Assessing,
Mary Tynan-Cassidy, Assistant to the Director and Patricia Brooks, Board Secretary for all their hard work and dedication throughout
this past year. We would also like to thank all of the different Town Boards and Departments that we work with.
Report of the
BOARD OF HEALTH
Anjali Bayliss, MSOT, OTR/L, Chair
Dr. Julie E. Goodman, Ph.D.
Dr. Alan M. Rapoport, O.D. Canton, MA 02021
Telephone 781-821-5021
Fax 781-821-0337
mgoldstein@town.canton.ma.us
Margaret Goldstein, RN, Director of Public Health
Timothy Marble, R.S., Sanitarian
Ruth Slattery, Health Agent/Administrative Assistant
Maeve Moore, RN, Public Health Nurse
Karen Murphy, Recording Secretary
Deborah Tyler, Harriet Blackman, Donna Jean Downer, Joel Skolnick: Senior Volunteers
Office Hours: Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M., Tuesday 8:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M., Friday 8:00 A.M. to 1:00
P.M.
The Board of Health is comprised of three elected citizens that oversee and authorize the Health Department to take actions that
protect the public health of the people of Canton. The Health Department implements and oversees the policies and regulations
mandated by the Board of Health, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, and Massachusetts Department of Environmental
Protection.
13
13Source page 16
The mission and responsibility of the Board of Health is to protect the health of our community through permitting, surveillance, and
healthy lifestyle promotion.
The following permits were issued by the Board of Health in 2024:
• Animal Keeping License: 15
• Body Art Practitioner/Establishment: 4
• Day Camp License: 16
• Disposal Works Installer License: 27
• Food Establishment License: 239 (includes brick, mobile, farmers market and temporary)
• Funeral Director: 4
• Haul Offal: 13
• Hazardous Materials Storage License: 37
• Public Pool License: 23
• Tanning Facility: 1
• Tobacco License: 20
• Recombinant DNA License: 2
• Keeping of Lab Animals: 1
The following surveillance activities were conducted by the Board of Health staff in 2024 :
• Food: 376 inspections of restaurants, retail food stores, mobile food trucks, caterers, function hall kitchens and farmers’
market vendors. Number does not include inspections resulting from food complaints or other food emergencies.
• Title 5 Septic Systems: 27 field inspections including septic system installations and soil testing.
• Public and semi-public swimming pools: 46
• Housing and State Sanitary Code inspections: 21
• Health Clubs: 5
• Tanning Establishments: 2
• Septic Haulers: 4
• Body Art: 8
• Keeping of Animals: 7
• Children’s Camps: 13
• Miscellaneous complaint/nuisance investigations: 136
The following healthy lifestyle promotions were undertaken by the Board of Health in 2024:
• Mosquito, tick, and sun safety information were provided on Heritage Day.
• Free COVID tests and Narcan were distributed on Grandparents’ Day at the Farmer’s Market.
• Healthy habit information and related activities were shared throughout the year in the Library.
• Free hygiene and personal care products were made available at the Library. These products are meant for the unstably
housed or those experiencing economic difficulties.
• The Narcan program was expanded with four outdoor boxes, 280 cartons of Narcan dispensed and over 1,000 fentanyl strips
distributed. Now called the Canton Overdose Education and Naloxone Distribution (Canton Overdose END) program also
provided resources and information on substance use treatment via the outside boxes and the library. The health department
secured 13,000 dollars in funding for nurse lead opioid overdose trainings.
In addition to providing 234 flu shots in the Fall of 2024, the Board of Health supported our community in the following:
• Launched new adult vaccine program, providing vaccines at no cost to Canton residents
• Communicable disease surveillance
• Daily Tuberculosis treatment observation
• Weekly blood pressure screenings
• Vitamin B-12 injections
• Office and home visits
• Increasing nurse volunteers through the MRC
• Sponsored high school interns
• Sharps disposal program
• Approximately 1,000 Covid tests given out
The Canton Board of Health Fair returned in the fall of 2024. Sponsored by the Board of Health, offerings included but were not
limited to: flu vaccination, CPR & first aid information, cholesterol screenings, diabetes risk information, blood pressure screenings,
14
14Source page 17
mental health awareness, skin cancer information, recovery information, and environmental health information. Participants included
representatives from local residential care facilities, the Norfolk County Sheriff’s Office, Narcotics Anonymous, MA Reserve Corps,
HESSCO Elder Services, Forsyth Dental, Canton Alliance Against Substance Abuse, and Canton Fire.
As always, the Board of Health is pleased and privileged to serve the Town of Canton and its citizens.
Respectfully submitted, Anjali Bayliss, MSOT, OTR/L, Chair; Dr. Julie E. Goodman, Ph.D.; Dr. Alan M. Rapoport, O.D.
Report of the
BUILDING DEPARTMENT
Edward T. Walsh, Building Commissioner/Zoning Enforcement Officer 801 Washington St.
Canton, MA 02021
Paul McCarthy, Local Building Inspector Telephone 781-821-5003
Marc Zade, Plumbing/Gas Inspector Fax 781-575-6574
Jonathan Levis, Electrical Inspector
bldg_dept@town.canton.ma.us
Tamra Stock, Administrative Assistant
Ingrid Hartfiel, Department Assistant
Office Hours: Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM Tuesday 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM and Friday 7:30 AM
to 1:00 PM
PLUMBING AND GAS DIVISION
Plumbing permits issued - 509 Fees collected - $67,579
Gas permits issued - 355 Fees collected - $14,617
ELECTRICAL DIVISION
Electrical permits issued - 801 Fees collected - $173,554.18
BUILDING DIVISION
Summary Report of the Building Permits Issued
New Single-Family Dwellings 6 Commercial Solar 3
New Two-Family/Multi Dwellings 0 New Commercial/Industrial Buildings 2
Additions to Residential Dwellings 46 Additions to Commercial Buildings 1
Alterations and Repairs to Residential Dwellings 827 Alterations and Repairs to Comm/Ind Buildings 77
Signs 24 Swimming Pools 12
Renewed, Replace Permits 11 Occupancy Permits 49
Residential Solar 97 Stoves 2
Accessory Buildings, Sheds, Barns, etc. 18 Demolition Permits 13
Temporary Structures, Tents, etc. 21 Foundation Permits 6
Amendments to Permits 15 Sprinkler/Fire Protection 25
TOTAL - 1255
Valuation on Building Permits Issued - $58,420,588.57
Fees collected Building Permits Issued $793,841.79 Fees collected Annual/Assembly Certificates $2,480.00
Issued
Fees collected Plumbing/Gas Permits Issued $85,860.00 Fees collected Electrical Permits Issued $173,554.18
TOTAL REVENUE - $1,055,735.97
Respectfully submitted, Edward T. Walsh, Building Commissioner
15
15Source page 18
Report of the
BUILDING RENOVATION COMMITTEE
Town of Canton
801 Washington St.
Canton, Massachusetts 02021
Bob McCarthy Chairman, John McCourt ,Vice Chairman, Bob Benedetti, Kathy Butters, Mary Graziano, Maureen McDonough, At Large Members.
Kristian Merenda School Comm.; John Connolly SB; Allison Podgurski, Finance Dept, George Comeau, Library
During the 2024 year the Building Renovation Committee (“BRC”) continued its management of the projects approved at
earlier Town Meetings. The Following is a list of some of the projects that were addressed by the Building Renovation Committee in
the past year:
.
1) The Hansen Playground project funded by Town Meeting at $286,924 was completed
2) Galvin Middle School Feasibility Study was voted by a special Town Meeting on November 18, 2024. Town Meeting
supported a cost of $241,764,835 that passed Town Meeting by the required 2/3 vote. The override was held on
December 10,2024 where it was approved. The project will be overseen by the BRC appointed subcommittee The
Canton School Building Committee required by the state’s MSBA. The Owners Project Manager (OPM) is Left Field.
The Architect for the project is Ai3 Architect. The General Contractor is Consigli Construction. Design will occur in
2025. Construction will begin in May 2026 and Substantial completion will be May 2028. Project total completion will
May 2029
3) The JFK Bathroom & Snack Shack: The Architect was Socotec AE Consulting, (Formely CBI Consulting)This project
has finally gone out to bid in May 2023 and Page Building Constructions was the low bid at $1,061,970. Construction
began in September 2023 and the project was completed in the spring of 2024
4) Library Project: In January 2023 RGB is the Architect hired at $120,000 to assess the damage at the Library. The
conditions were far worse than expected. Town Meeting voted an additional $3,931,210 for this project. The Architect’s
fee increased $224,156.30 to a Total of $344,156.30. An Owners Project Manager (OPM) was hired. Anser Advisory at
$169,065 in September. The Project went out to bid in December 2023. Greenwood Industries was the low bid at
$3,043,000. This project will be completed in early 2025. This project is only addressing the exterior of the Library.
The Interior will have to addressed in 2025
We wish to also give thanks to Charles Doody, Town Administrator. Randy Scollins, Finance Director, Brian Lynch, Business
Manager Canton Public Schools, Brian Lynch, Supervisor of Facilities. Mike Trotta, Superintendent of Canton Public Works. Bill
Walsh, Operations Manager, Canton Public Works. Regen Milani, Conservation Agent and all the other professional employee’s at
Town Hall. As a volunteer committee these people keep us informed and perform the day to day work necessary to allow these
projects to be completed on time, on budget.
I would like to thank my fellow committee members. Their knowledge and expertise is what makes this committee function
so well.
Respectfully Submitted, Robert J. McCarthy, Chairman, Building Renovation Committee
Report of the
COMMUNITY PRESERVATION COMMITTEE
801 Washington St.
George Comeau, Chairperson, Historical Commission Canton, MA 02021
Melissa Mayer, Vice-Chairperson, Conservation Commission Telephone 339-502-5729
David Emhardt, Treasurer, Capital Planning Committee ccpc@town.canton.ma.us
Alison Grossman, Clerk, Parks & Recreation Commission
Christopher Albert, Select Board
Adam Brothers, Housing Authority
Kendall O’Halloran, School Committee
David McCarthy, Planning Board
Thomas Theodore, Citizen-at-Large
16
16Source page 19
CPA IN CANTON
The Canton Community Preservation Committee (CCPC) is the town board that implements the Community Preservation Act (CPA)
which was adopted by Canton voters in 2012. Through the CPA, state and local funds are collected to fund open space, affordable
housing, historic preservation, and recreation projects. Local funds are raised through a 1% surcharge on all real estate property tax
bills with three exemptions: (1) residential property owned and occupied by any person who qualifies for low-income housing, or low-
or moderate-income senior housing; (2) the first $100,000 of taxable value of all residential real property; and (3) the first $100,000 of
taxable value of all commercial and industrial property.
FUNCTION & COMPOSITION
The CCPC administers the community preservation fund, writes and adopts a Community Preservation Plan based on community input,
receives proposals from the community for expenditures from the fund, recommends projects to Town Meeting to be considered for
funding, and monitors the progress of approved projects. The Committee is comprised of nine volunteer members: one citizen-at-large
and one member each from the Conservation Commission, Historical Commission, Housing Authority, Planning Board, Parks &
Recreation Commission, Select Board, Capital Planning Committee, and School Committee. Given this composition, the CCPC
typically experiences turnover in one or more of the seats in any given year. In 2024 the CCPC welcomed Adam Brothers as the Housing
Authority representative, Christopher Albert as the Select Board representative, and Thomas Theodore as the Citizen-At-Large. The
Committee would like to thank John McSweeney and John Leonetti for their service to the Committee and Town.
Activity:
Due to the pause in recommending funding for projects in FY24 there was significantly more money available for FY25 projects than
in previous grant cycles. 8 projects were recommended for funding and approved by the voters at Town Meeting in 2024 for a total of
$1,860,908.00 in CPA funds going to FY25 projects.
Community Housing Projects
Affordable Housing Trust Coordinator $40,000
• Funding to pay the salary and administrative costs of a part-time Housing Coordinator
to implement and expand Housing Trust goals and priorities
Hemenway Window Replacements – Phase III $140,908
• Funding to replace severely leaking windows on 2 sides of the Hemenway apartment
building.
Open Space/Recreation Projects
Gibson Field Lighting $502,500
• Installation of pole-mounted LED lights to allow for night use of the field.
JFK School Playground $175,000
• Funding to remove the outdated and potentially unsafe equipment and install a new
playground.
Library Park Phase I $452,500
• Funding for the creation of outdoor amenities for the Canton Public Library, with
Phase I being a reading park in front of the building.
Pequitside Farm Playground $350,000
• Funding to fully replace the playground at Pequitside Farm with specific focus on
creating a fully accessible playground.
Wardwell Master Plan $100,000
• Funding for the creation of a Master Plan for the Wardwell Conservation Area to
inform improvements, enhance climate change mitigation and habitat preservation
plans, and explore other compatible uses for the property.
Wentworth Master Plan $100,000
• Funding for the creation of a Master Plan for the creation of a recreation park at the
Wentworth Recreational Facility.
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17Source page 20
The Committee recommended that $223,740 be appropriated to pay the 6th of 10 contracted bond payments on the Paul Revere Heritage
Site, $45,196 be set aside for administrative spending (5% of the expected income for FY25), and 10% of the expected FY25 income
($90,393) be transferred into the reserve account for Historic Preservation as required given that no Historic Preservation projects were
recommended for funding in FY25.
Pre-applications for CPA funding in FY26 were due by August 16, 2024. 9 eligible pre-applications were submitted, totaling $1,343,000.
Final applications were due by October 18th. 8 final applications were received totaling $1,253,000 in CPA funding requests for FY26.
On December 2nd, 2024 the Committee voted to recommend all 8 projects for funding at Town Meeting in May 2025 at or above the
requested amount, for a total recommendation of $1,303,000.
FINANCIALS
Total CPA revenues in fiscal year 2024 were $1,092,578.99. This includes surcharge revenue of $794,945.35, a State Match of $159,133
(21.13%), and $138,500.64 in other revenue. $147,192 was received in late 2024 for FY25 (a match of approximately 18%). Unlike
other Town departments, unexpended funds in a Community Preservation account roll over from year to year and unappropriated funds
continue to accumulate in the various CPA accounts. The following chart captures the last 5 years of the fund’s revenue streams:
CPA Revenue by Fiscal Year
Fiscal Year Surcharge Collections State CPA Other Total Revenue
Distribution
FY2020 $619,735.77 $147,419.00 $30,548.53 $797,703.30
FY2021 $684,473.45 $181,402.00 $16,524.16 $882,399.61
FY2022 $711,659.16 $299,178.00 $13,742.80 $1,024,579.96
FY2023 $753,081.71 $275,006.00 $82,740.85 $1,110,828.56
FY2024 $794,945.35 $159,133 $138,500.64 $1,092,578.99
The total revenue for the CPA Program in Canton FY2014-FY2024 is $8,839,987.81. Based on the revenue data above, and following
discussions with the Town’s financial professionals, the Committee used an estimated revenue figure of $903,925.00 for FY25.
The Committee wishes to thank past and current project sponsors, Canton citizens, Town officials, the Massachusetts Community
Preservation Coalition, and each of its Committee members for their continued dedication to the CPA.
Respectfully submitted, George Comeau, Chairperson
Report of the
CONSERVATION COMMISSION
Kevin Colmey, Chair Pequitside Farm
Melissa Mayer, Vice-Chair 79 Pleasant Street
Robert MacDonald, Treasurer Canton, MA 02021
Paul Degnan, Clerk Telephone 781-821-5035
Thomas Birmingham rjamieson@town.canton.ma.us
Carolyn Elkort
Gerald Carmichael
Regen Jamieson, Conservation Agent
Robin O’Connell-McCarthy, Senior Clerk
Meghan Sullivan, Recording Secretary/Compliance Inspector
Office Hours: Monday through Thursday 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Friday 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Established in 1963, the Canton Conservation Commission is dedicated to preserving the town’s natural resources for the benefit of
current and future generations. The Commission owns and manages over 500 hundred acres of conservation land. Most land is
specifically set aside for the intrinsic and economic value that natural areas provide to the community – flood control and mitigation,
uptake and filtering of pollution, preservation of the unique natural heritage of Canton, water quality and quantity, climate change
mitigation, and so much more. In addition, several large properties, including Pequitside Farm and Ward Well Conservation Area, are
open to the public for recreational activities such as hiking, walking, snowshoeing, bird watching, animal tracking, nature study,
photography, and picnicking. The Commission is responsible for developing and overseeing the Canton Open Space and Recreation
18
18Source page 21
Plan, seeking grants for acquisition of open space, and accepting gifts of land or money for conservation purposes through its
Conservation Land Fund.
The Commission holds public meetings on the second and fourth Wednesdays of most months at Pequitside Farm in the Tavern Room
located at the rear of the Edward J. Lynch, Jr. House. Meetings begin at 7:00 P.M. All meetings are open to the public and recorded
by Canton Community Television.
The Conservation Commission works directly with developers, town departments, and residents regarding both new and
redevelopment projects, including new subdivisions, construction of new single-family homes, building additions, landscaping, and
more to help ensure an understanding of the requirements for compliance with state and local laws. The Commission administers
the Massachusetts Wetland Protection Act and Regulations (1972), the Town of Canton Wetland Protection Bylaw and Regulations
(1980), and the Town of Canton Stormwater Bylaw and Regulations (2007). Copies of current regulations and forms are available
on the Conservation Department website https://town.canton.ma.us/335/About-Conservation-Commission or at the Conservation
Office (781) 821-5035.
In 2024 Joshua Cohen decided not to renew his appointment to serve on the Commission after many years, including eight as Chair.
We sincerely thank Josh for his dedicated service to the community volunteering as a Commission member. The open seat was filled
by Carolyn Elkort who was appointed for a three year term. Welcome Carolyn! This year we hired Jared Penta an undergraduate
student in environmental science at the University of Rhode Island full time for the summer months in our new Ranger position.
Jared was a huge help taking care of our properties, spearheading our project to add tree identification markers to 28 different tree
species found at Pequitside Farm. Jared also published several informational articles in the Canton Citizen on invasive species and
white-tailed deer overpopulation.
Also added to Pequitside Farm in 2024 was seven new interpretive panels thanks to funding secured by Senator Paul Feeney. Five
are on the history of the property including two for the Tilden House, and two are on nature-related topics. One on pollinator species
and one on the importance of wetlands.
At the 2024 Town Meeting ownership of Shepard Pond, Messinger Pond, and Bolivar Pond was transferred from the Select Board
to the Conservation Commission. Next the Commission will need to prepare confirmatory deeds. We are continuing to address non-
native, invasive species in the Pond’s owned by the town with treatments at Messinger and Bolivar Ponds in 2024. At right above is
an image of water chestnut, the Eurasian aquatic plant that is plaguing the small pond on Messenger Street. In 2024 we treated non-
native, invasive garlic mustard and Japanese Knotweed at Pequitside Farm. We identified invasive parrot’s feather (Myriophyllym
aquaticum) on town property at one of the cemeteries and have issued an Order of Conditions for the town to be able to address the
small population while it is still contained.
Also at 2024 Town Meeting the Commission was awarded $100,000 from the Community Preservation Committee to produce a
Master Plan for Ward Well Conservation Area. A selection committee chose Horsley Witten as the firm who will help us produce the
plan, and a contract was signed. It is anticipated that the plan will be finalized by June 2025. The Commission also received Capital
funds to prepare an 81X survey plan of the Ward Well property. The parcels that make up Ward Well were acquired by the town in
the late 1800s and early 1900s as takings of land for water supply and after their acquisition no subsequent survey plan was recorded
so we are making sure this is properly done. Also at the Ward Well property the Select Board was asking to provide permanent
easements to MA DOT to install new sidewalks and stormwater management improvements. The Conservation Department was
integral in ensuring that MA DOT provided “funding in lieu” under the new 2023 open space Act (H.5381) that regulates disposition
of Article 97 lands under state law. Canton will receive almost $250,000 into its Conservation Land Fund to purchase open space
19Source page 22
for conservation purposes as part of this project. Canton was the first town under the new Act to receive “funding in lieu” for the
part of this project. Canton was the first town under the new Act to receive “funding in lieu” for the disposition of land protected under
disposition of land protected under Article 97. The Commission will have to carefully select an appropriate parcel to protect with
Article 97. The Commission will have to carefully select an appropriate parcel to protect with these funds. In addition to this money, we
these funds. In addition to this money, we received donations of $10,000 and $5,000 into the Conservation Land Fund this year from
received donations of $10,000 and $5,000 into the Conservation Land Fund this year from Canton Copperworks LLC and the Roger
Canton Copperworks LLC and the Roger Winfield Scott Foundation, respectively.
Winfield Scott Foundation, respectively.
In 2024, the
In 2024, the Commission
Commissionheldheld1919meetings
meetingswith with127
127agenda
agenda items.The
items. The Commission
Commission issued
issued a total
a total ofnew
of 23 23 new wetland
wetland permits,
permits, 7 new 7
new stormwater
stormwater permits,
permits, and 83and 83 Certificates
Certificates of Compliance
of Compliance (Table
(Table I). I). Itbeshould
It should be noted
noted that thatprojects
wetland wetland projects
over 20,000over 20,000
s.f. in s.f. in
disturbance
disturbance
also must meetalso
themust meet thestandards
performance performanceof thestandards of the Canton
Canton Stormwater Stormwater
Bylaw, although aBylaw,
separatealthough a not
permit is separate permit
issued. Openisconservation
not issued.
Open conservation permits encumber the title of the property for which the permit was taken. These encumbrances
permits encumber the title of the property for which the permit was taken. These encumbrances can hold up a closing date when can hold the
up
aowner
closing date when the owner goes to sell the home. Therefore, it is very important that after the permitted work
goes to sell the home. Therefore, it is very important that after the permitted work is completed, applicants/property owners is completed,
applicants/property
return owners
to the Commission to return
receivetoa the Commission
Certificate to receive a Certificate of Compliance.
of Compliance.
TABLE I
Breakdown of permits issued and actions taken by the Conservation Commission January 1 to December 31, 2024.
Stormwater Permits Land Disturbance
Wetland Permits Permits
Order of Conditions (OOC) 15 SMP Permit 7 LDP Permit n/a
Duplicate OOC 0 Duplicate SMP 0 Duplicate LDP 0
Amended OOC 2 Amended SMP 1 Amended LDP n/a
OOC Extension 4 SMP Extension 1 LDP Extension 1
Bylaw only OOC 1 SMP violation notice 1 LDP violation notice n/a
Order of Resource Area 0 SMP Certificate of 26 LDP Certificate of 24
Delineation (ORAD) Compliance (COC) Compliance (COC)
Determination of 8 Partial SMP COC 4 Partial LDP COC 0
Applicability
Violation Notice 1 Invalid SMP COC 0 Invalid LDP COC 0
Enforcement Order 1
Certificate of Compliance 24
(COC)
Partial COC 2
Invalid COC 3
Duplicate COC 1
Total agenda items 62 40 25
Percent of agenda items 49% 31% 20%
Fees collected under Wetland Protection Act: $ 7,192.00
Fees collected under Wetland Protection Bylaw: $16,883.00
Fees collected under Stormwater Management Bylaw: $ 5,400.00
Fines charged for Violations: $ 0.00
Total fees collected in 2024: $29,725.00
A reminder if you happen to find a rare plant or animal in Canton, or an invasive species, please take photos (don’t disturb), and
document the date, time, and location with GPS if possible, and call the Agent right away. This important data will help us to protect
the Town’s natural history.
Finally, it is with sadness that we mention that long time Canton consultant and friend Tom Houston of Professional Services Group
passed away in August of this year. Tom was a civil engineer who had performed peer reviews of applications for the Planning Board
for over 20 years. In 2019, the Commission started also working with Tom’s firm to provide third party reviews of the stormwater
management portion of our submissions. Tom was a sincere pleasure to work with over these past five years and is sorely missed. You
will find a new bench under a young oak tree overlooking the soccer fields as you pull into Pequitside Farm now dedicated in his
memory.
Respectfully Submitted, Kevin Colmey, Chair, Regen Jamieson, Agent
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Report of the
COA/DEPARTMENT OF ELDER AND HUMAN SERVICES
Chairman, Janet Walrod 500 Pleasant St Vice-
Chairman, Elaine Gilmore Canton, Ma 02021
Secretary, Ellen Donovan Telephone: 781-828-1323
Member, Jane Pratt dtynan@town.canton.ma.us
Member, Rich Kulas
Member, Marshalka
Member, Paul Sloan
Diane Tynan, Director, Victoria DiMaria, Social Worker, Alexandra Benjamin, Social Worker, Elizabeth Barrera, Principal Clerk
Donna Porcello, Program Coordinator, Marylou Sullivan, Program Coordinator, Bus Drivers: Richard D'Attanasio, Al Widberg, Steve
Genatossio, Fred Rausa, Bob Trayers & James Paschal
Department of Elder and Human Services (DEHS) Annual Report
The Department of Elder and Human Services (DEHS) plays a central role in addressing the Canton community's physical, social,
emotional, and economic needs, focusing on older adults. Over the past year, fulfilling this mission has been more crucial than ever.
We remain committed to providing various onsite and outreach programs to support our community.
Programs
The Center offers a variety of informational, social, and fitness programs designed to engage and support participants. Our discussion
groups and speaker events focus on current, relevant issues, while our social programs include special occasion lunches, day trips, and
various fitness classes, such as dance. Recognizing the importance of socialization in aging in place, as emphasized by the
Massachusetts Aging Network, our Social Workers provide essential social services onsite and through home visits when necessary.
As Canton's primary public social service agency, the Center works tirelessly to address the community's immediate needs, including
transportation for shopping, medical appointments, and prescription delivery. The impact of social isolation during the pandemic is
reflected in the increased participation in programs that foster connection. Many members view the Center as their "clubhouse," where
they can meet friends, attend day trips, enjoy pizza or ice cream parties, and engage in card games.
The demand for economic assistance has risen significantly in light of the ongoing financial challenges. We assist residents in
determining their eligibility for various resources, though space and personnel remain limited. The population of retirees continues to
grow as more people live longer and move to Canton. We are actively exploring plans for the Center's expansion to ensure we meet
these expanding needs.
Transportation Services
2024 highlighted the efficiency and flexibility of our transportation program. Despite limited seating capacity, we maintained our
scheduled runs, providing transportation for medical appointments, shopping, and lunch outings. The program continues to be a vital
resource for many in our community.
Health and Wellness
Physical activity is essential to healthy aging, and the Center offers a variety of well-attended exercise programs, including Heart Fit,
modified Chair Fit, Zumba, Men's Fitness, Yoga, Tai Chi, Line Dancing, and Pickleball. We also host health-related seminars and
clinics throughout the year, often in partnership with the Canton Board of Health and Fire Department. To ensure accessibility, many
programs are also available virtually, allowing participants to stay active and connected from home.
Outreach and Social Services
The DEHS remains Canton's primary provider of social services, assisting individuals of all ages, not just older adults. Our services
include support for housing and homelessness, foreclosure and eviction prevention, fuel assistance, SNAP benefits, employment
services, home care, tax abatements, long-term care placement, prescription drug programs, and more. Two licensed social workers
oversee both onsite and outreach services, with a strong focus on socialization and community involvement for those aging in place.
Tax Work Program
Canton's Tax Work-Off Program offers older adult homeowners (ages 60+) and veterans of any age the opportunity to earn a real
estate tax credit of up to $1,500 by providing work for various town departments. This program benefits both participants and the
community, strengthening our collective ties.
Staff & Volunteers
21
21Source page 24
estate tax credit of up to $1,500 by providing work for various town departments. This program benefits both participants and the
community, strengthening our collective ties.
Staff & Volunteers
Though our staff is limited, the Center's team continues to be highly efficient, versatile, and committed to serving the community. In
addition to our staff, we are supported by a dedicated group of volunteers
21 who play a critical role in ensuring the Center operates
smoothly. We are deeply grateful to all the individuals, organizations, and town departments whose time, talent, and resources
contribute to the success of our programs.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to the townspeople, the Board of Selectmen, and all Canton Boards and Departments for their ongoing
support throughout the year.
Respectfully submitted, Janet Walrod, Chairman; Diane Tynan, Director
Report of the
FINANCE DEPARTMENT
William R. Scollins, Finance Director 801 Washington St.
rscollins@town.canton.ma.us 781-575-6612 Canton, MA 02021
Fax 781-575-6608
Allyson Podgurski, Town Accountant
apodgurski@town.canton.ma.us 781-575-6605
Cody Pratt, Assistant Town Accountant
cpratt@town.canton.ma.us 781-575-6605
Susan Desjardins, Asst. Treasurer/Collector
sdesjardins@town.canton.ma.us 781-821-5006
Louis M. Jutras, Information Systems Manager
ljutras@town.canton.ma.us 781-821-5069
Office Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Tuesday 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM and Friday, 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM
In FY 2024 we were pleased to welcome Deanna O’Neil to the Accounting team as our Accounts Payable Coordinator and David Kelley
to the MIS team as our Assistant MIS Manager. We wish Deanna and David the best of success in their new roles with the Town.
The Finance Department contributed to several major accomplishments during the year:
• Received from the Government Finance Officers Association their Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting
related to our preparing an Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) for fiscal 2023. This is the 18th consecutive year we
have received this award.
• Prepared an Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for fiscal 2024, and submitted it for consideration for GFOA’s Certificate for
Excellence, which is available on the Town’s website on the Finance department webpage.
• Issued bonds in May 2024, amounting to a net of $5.15 million for: Water Main replacement project on Greenlodge & Elm streets;
Phase 1 of a Sewer Infiltration & Inflow rehabilitation project; replacement of a DPW 6 Wheel Dump Truck; Design Services for
School Building Masonry Repairs; replacement of two DPW 4WD Pick-Up Trucks and Plows; replacement of 50 Police department
Tasers; SCADA System Upgrade; and a New DPW Ford Explorer Hybrid. Bancroft Capital, LLC, purchased the bonds at an
effective interest rate of 3.48%
• Standard & Poor’s reaffirmed Canton’s AAA rating prior to the May 2024 bond sale.
• Navigated bringing forward a balanced Town-wide FY 2025 budget to Town Meeting in a challenging revenue environment.
Coordination with all Town boards, committees and departments lead to a positive result in planning for the funding of services for
FY 2025, despite a minimal and delayed state-aid increase and the second lowest new growth property tax in six years.
• Collected 98.69% of the property taxes due for fiscal 2024 in fiscal 2024, amounting to $93.8 million, which was in line with
historical collection rates in the year of tax.
• Developed a comprehensive funding plan for the $241.76 million Galvin Middle School replacement project. Funding plan
leverages multi-year capital stabilization savings, strategy to establish and then utilize unused tax levy capacity, and anticipated
pension assessment savings. The result being that excluded debt tax will not need to be levied until fiscal 2030 and will only be
needed to fund 40% of the project’s total debt service. Excluded debt impact on the average residential taxpayer is estimated at an
average of ~$441 per year over 30 years.
22
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• Continued administration of a major Federal grant program, American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021. Funds are providing a
needed stimulus to the recovering COVID impacted economy. All of the $6,976,662 in ARPA Funds have been received to date.
Canton is a direct recipient of ~$2.5MM and a subrecipient of Norfolk County for another ~$4.49MM.
• The Select Board voted to fund 35 requested projects with ARPA funds after a public vetting process. All of the funds have been
committed by the December 31, 2024 federal deadline. Funds were allocated to all of the allowable spending categories: Public
Health; Negative Economic Impacts; Services to Disproportionately Impacted Communities; Premium Pay; Infrastructure; and
Revenue Replacement.
• Supported the annual tax rate setting process.
• Invested cash balances in a flattening interest rate environment resulting in FY24 interest income of $2.15 million in all
Governmental funds, the highest amount on record. $814.5 thousand in interest income was also earned in Water, Sewer and Rink
Enterprise funds, the highest amount on record.
• Continued to manage solar credits generated at closed landfill on Pine Street with net financial benefit amounting to $760,150 in
fiscal 2024.
• Submitted various required financial reports to the Department of Revenue. Free Cash reserve was certified at $10.94 million as of
June 30, 2024, the highest on record. This undesignated fund balance along with $10.54MM in the Stabilization Fund, and $4.66MM
in Overlay Reserve will help to maintain the Town’s highest bond rating of AAA and to fund one-time expenditure needs.
• Updated OPEB (retiree health benefits) actuarial study estimates a net unfunded liability of $86.98MM, a decrease of $7.1MM,
driven primarily by a GASB standards driven change to the discount rate (5.87% to 6.66%) and positive investment performance.
• Successfully planned and executed the migration of all municipal employees from weekly to bi-weekly payroll.
• Continued responsibility of issuing stickers to allow commuters to park along Greenlodge Street.
• Completed annual process of attempting to locate recipients of uncashed Town checks.
• For the November 2024 Special Town Meeting:
o Recommended $222K appropriation to supplement the School department budget related to the Governor’s delay in signing
the FY 2025 budget bill;
o Recommended $4.2 million appropriation for replacement of the Neponset Water Treatment Facility filtration system.
The Information Systems division successfully managed several important technology projects, including: a nice refresh of the Town’s
website; assisted listening loop and headset installation at the Library; finalized our town wide switch replacement project; rollout of
new police vehicle and body camera recorders; migrated phone circuits to SD-WAN for better redundancy; and maintained various
software renewals and other hardware refresh projects.
We have prepared a comparative balance sheet and statement of revenue and expenditures for the Town’s general fund. We have also
prepared a report on trust fund cash balances and long-term debt.
Thank you to the entire Finance & IT staff for their diligent efforts in successfully managing all of the Finance and IT operations for the
Town during extraordinary and challenging times in the aftermath of the worldwide COVID pandemic.
23
23Source page 26
TOWN OF CANTON, MASSACHUSETTS Balance Sheet (1) General Fund for the Fiscal Year Ending June 30 As of June 30 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 Assets Cash and Short-Term Investments $ 48,776,431 $ 45,577,329 $ 42,268,784 $ 35,532,272 $ 26,541,458 Receivables-Net of Uncollectible Amounts: Property Taxes 1,062,675 741,651 645,984 629,391 1,466,488 Tax Liens and Foreclosures 1,746,222 1,663,537 1,645,968 1,530,013 1,165,361 Excise Taxes 577,871 506,242 530,998 609,781 736,262 Due From Other Governments ie) 0 33,089 65,119 504,594 Leases 4,937,329 4,801,273 4,290,283 (e) 0) Other Assets 1,085,391 0 976,550 751,282 1,803,556 Total Assets $58,185,919 $ 53,290,032 $ 50,391,656 $ 39,117,858 $32,217,719 Liabilities and Fund Equity Liabilities Accounts Payable $ 2,812,431 $ 1,633,787 $ 1.638.317 $ 1,614,086 $ 1,403,487 Payroll Payable 6,757,644 5,662,998 7,386,764 4.838.560 4,713,867 Other Liabilities 1,129,741 3,777,791 2,984,763 1,076,407 434,087 Deferred Revenue 7,592,723 7,274,747 7,026,702 2,310,318 1,240,856 Provision for Abatements & Exemptions 4,950,884 1,141,795 1,257,816 1.218.014 2,119,816 Total Liabilities 23,243,423 19,491,118 20,294,362 11,057,385 9,912,113 Fund Equity Restricted/Nonspendable (a) ia) ie) ie) 115,915 Committed. 3,333,047 4,029,719 3,628,842 1,108,984 1,148,811 Assigned 4,599,607 4,598,262 3,688,869 4,872,726 1,354,167 Unassigned 27,009,842 25,170,933 22,779,583 22,078,763 19,686,713 Total Fund Equity 34,942,496 33,798,914 30,097,294 28,060,473 22,305,606 $ 50,391,656 $ 39,117.858 $ 32,217,719 Total Liabilities and Fund Equity (D Excerpts from audited financial statements. 24
Source page 27
TOWN OF CANTON, MASSACHUSETTS Combined Statements of Revenues, Expenditures and Changes in Fund Balance (1) General Fund for the Fiscal Year Ending June 30 (000's omitted) Revenues 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 Property Taxes $ 93,277 $ 89,550 $ 84527 $ 84,134 $ 78,318 Payments in Lieu of Taxes 1,994 1,937 1,883 282 254 Tax Liens Redeemed 163 223 149 221 235 Excise Taxes 5,644 5,290 5,014 5,058 4,560 Penalties and Interest 347 314 285 382 240 Departmental and other revenue 1,200 1,567 1,009 1,173 937 Licenses and Permits 1,248 1,726 1,610 1,945 1,422 Intergovernmental - State 21,542 18,591 16,885 22,800 21,021 Fines and Forfeitures 7B 58 39 53 55 Earnings on Investments 3,363 1,955 214 832 1,299 Hotel and Meals Taxes 1,256 1,024 718 422 569 Total Revenues $ 130,108 $ 122,235 $ 112,334 $ 117,300 $ 108,910 Expenditures General Government $ 4.917 $ 4475 $ 4149 $ 4,058 $ 4,092 Public Safety 14,791 14,365 13,611 12,364 12,738 Education 57,696 53,052 50,500 47,002 46,109 Public Works 7,842 7,784 6,402 6,471 5,886 Human Services 1,154 1,147 1,090 985 1,007 Culture and Recreation 2,956 2,546 2,558 2,241 2,250 Pension Benefits 16,399 14,084 13,094 18,872 16,801 Employee Benefits 14,420 13,992 13,730 13,626 13,315 State and County Charges 1,505 1,513 1,462 1,425 1,187 Debt Service 4,750 4,765 4,568 5,183 4,571 Total Expenditures 126,429 117,724 111,164 112,226 107,956 Excess (Deficiency) of Revenues Over Expenditures 3,678 4511 1,170 5,075 954 Other Financing Sources (Uses) Premium from Issuance of Debt 0 0) 0) 245 10) Proceeds from refunding bonds 0 0 0 2,060 0 Payments of refunded bonds 0 0 (0) (2,305) 0 Operating Transfers - In 2,097 1,292 1,878 1,311 1,970 Operating Transfers - Out 4,632 2,102) 1,011 (631 875 Total Other Financing Sources (Uses) 2,535) 810) 867 680 1,095 Excess (Deficiency) of Revenues and Other Financing Sources (Uses) Over Expenditures 1,144 3,702 2,037 5,755 2,049 Fund Balance - Beginning 33,799 30,097 28,060 22,306 376 Fund Balance - Ending $34,942 $ 33,799 $ 30,097 $ 28,060 $ 2,425 (1) Excerpts from audited financial statements. 25
Source page 28
TOWN OF CANTON, MASSACHUSETTS Report of Cash Activity and Trust Balances For the Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2024 6/30/23 INCREASE 6/30/24 TRUST FUNDS BALANCE (DECREASE) _INTEREST BALANCE Affordable Housing Trust 0 504,307 0 504,307 C.T. Downes Library Fund 15,759 1,472 17,231 Cemetery P.C. Fund 672,674 (5,000) 48,527 716,201 Compensated Absences 61,348 (56,219) 475 5,604 Conservation Land Fund 188,449 1,827 9,162 199,438 Dean Luce Scholarship Fund 27,412 (1,500) 1,465 27,377 Dental Trust Fund 1,218,807 66,041 32,723 1,317,572 Drug Forfeiture Acct 180,591 (3,521) 14,107 191,178 E. Bolster Library Trust 68,306 3,900 72,207 E.C. Harding Lib Fund 1,749 160 1,909 E. Kenealy Memorial Trust 4,003 227 4,230 Frederico Memorial Fund 4,588 510 5,098 G.E. Downes Library Fund 17,446 1,342 18,787 Health Claims Trust Fund 9,337,515 (533,111) 287,757 9,092,160 Helen Martis Scholarship Fund 6,001 343 6,343 High School Scholarship Fund 16,393 (2,000) 964 15,356 Jack Galvin Library Fund 5,229 82 214 5,525 Joanna A Connors Fund 3,831 218 4,049 Kendall Recreation Fund 1,353 71 1,424 Kennedy Scholarship Fund 11,864 (300) 752 12,316 Langwidth Scholarship Fund 0 93,873 10,757 104,630 M Badoian School Fund 2,757 15 2,772 Municipal Bldg. Insurance Fund 23,156 1,106 24,262 OPEB 10,534,554 1,250,000 1,322,822 13,107,376 Police Detective Bureau 21,808 (1,127) 11,791 32,471 Scholar Dollar Fund 6,774 (5,000) 411 2,185 Second Century Library Trust 53,825 3,073 56,898 Senior Center 2,722 155 2,876 Shaler Charity Fund 2,297 828 3,125 Solar Stabilization 232,334 12,146 244,480 Capital Stabilization 1,025,877 1,000,000 92,879 2,118,756 Stabilization Fund 2,995,271 156,582 3,151,853 Stabilization Fund 7,076,350 318,655 7,395,005 Teen Activity Center 3,338 191 3,529 Unemployment Comp Trust 378,821 58,728 17,689 455,238 Van Schagen Library Trust 6,988 398 7,386 Victoria Chaisson Memorial Trust 430,194 (2,500) 24,030 451,724 Workers' Comp Trust 121 89 210 Total Trust Funds 34,640,502 1,860,273 2,378,007 38,878,782 26
Source page 29
DATE ISSUED VW 8/ 1l/ 3/ 3/ 3/ BF 4/ 3/ 5/ 8/10 9/13 13/13 3/14 35/15 7/16 6/17 S/IT 5/18 1/19 5/20/20 V 5/20 8/24/20 1/25/21 5/ 8/ 5/21 3/21 3/22/22 4 2s 3/22 8/23 3/4/24 6/6/24 Totals TOWN OF CANTON, MASSACHUSETTS INTEREST RATE 2.00% 0% 2.00% to 5.00% 2.50% to 5.00% 2.50% to 3.00% 2.50% to 3.00% 3.00% 2.00% to 4.00% 3.00% to 5.00% 3.00% to 5.00% 2.50% to 5.00% 2.00% 0% 0% 2.00% to 5.00% 0% 2.25% to 5.00% 0% 2.00% to 3.50% 0% 4.00% to 5.00% Long Term Debt For the Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2024 6/30/23 6/30/24 INTEREST PRINCIPAL NEW PRINCIPAL PRINCIPAL PAID IN BALANCE _ BOND ISSUE PAYMENTS BALANCE FY 2024 1,679,889 195,584 1,484,305 31,642 109,000 109,000 0 0 600,000 350,000 250,000 18,000 1,085,000 585,000 500,000 29,000 780,000 335,000 445,000 19,500 720,000 255,000 465,000 14,400 4,860,000 440,000 4,420,000 145,800 1,200,000 230,000 970,000 30,738 2,580,000 395,000 2,185,000 101,300 4,825,000 595,000 4,230,000 190,300 9,080,000 790,000 8,290,000 331,619 224,694 15,991 208,703 4,414 2,080,000 260,000 1,820,000 0 54,520 6,815 47,705 ny) 6,195,000 780,000 5,415,000 228,750 1,004,400 111,600 892,800 0 13,330,000 1,105,000 12,225,000 523,191 40,129 4,459 35,670 0 10,920,000 655,000 10,265,000 488,758 0 334,350 0 334,350 0 0 5,265,000 0) 5,265,000 0 61,367,632 5,599,350 7,218,449 59,748,533 2,157,412 27
Source page 30
Report of the
FIRE DEPARTMENT and EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
Wendell Robery, Fire Chief 99 Revere St.
Canton, MA 02021
Telephone 781-821-5095
Fax 781-821-0956
cdoody@town.canton.ma.us
The Canton Fire department welcomed three new members, James Kominsky, Ryan Lamb and Kevin Albert to the department in
2024. The three new members along with FF Michaela Kelly graduated from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy and became
certified Firefighter I / II. FF Timothy Nuttall resigned and took a job with Brockton Fire.
The Canton Fire Department responded to 5400 calls for service in 2024 which is a 7.5% increase from 2023.
The Canton Fire Department was able to secure the following grants:
AFG – 83,000$ which will be used for training.
Massachusetts Firefighter Safety Grant- 18,000$ which was used to fund hoses and nozzles.
Safe and Senior Safe Grants totaling 8,000$ used for fire education and smoke detectors for the elderly.
The Fire prevention Division was actively involved in the many construction projects both commercial and residential, ensuring work
is completed to the current Fire Code.
Canton Fire Prevention will continue to visit schools and educate our youth on the importance of fire safety and preparedness in our
community. We also will continue to install smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors in homes of Canton's seniors. These
programs are available with the help of grants obtained from the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services.
In addition, inspections were conducted in all schools, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, restaurants, many
commercial businesses, and hotels.
The Following permits and inspections were performed by the Canton Fire Department, Fire Prevention Division in the Year 2024.
• 303 Smoke Detector Inspections
• 25 Plan Reviews
• 37 Oil Burner permits
• 28 Cutting and Welding permits
• 33 Liquid Propane permits
• 6 General permits
• 2 Blasting Permits
• 14 Flammable Liquids permits
• 6 Diesel Storage permits
• 26 Tank Removals
• 3 Storage tank permits
• 1 Waste Oil Storage permit
• 2 Flammable Gas permit
• 1 Hazardous Material processing permit
• 30 Candle permits
• 157 Burning permits
• Total revenue brought in was $20,535.00
Total EMS calls in 2024 were 2919, which is a continued increase vs our previous average totals of annual runs, in many cases
requiring the use of our 3rd ambulance staffed with call-back personnel, to provide emergency response. Of that number, Canton FD
28
28Source page 31
• Total revenue brought in was $20,535.00
Total EMS calls in 2024 were 2919, which is a continued increase vs our previous average totals of annual runs, in many cases
requiring the use of our 3rd ambulance staffed with call-back personnel, to provide emergency response. Of that number, Canton FD
apparatus transported 2711 patients to Metro-Boston area hospitals. Notably, of the total transports, 632 calls were for trauma, and 230
calls were Cardiovascular in nature including cardiac arrest, chest 28
pain, stroke, and suspected STEMI’s. Additionally, there were 18
calls for opiate related overdoses which required the use of Narcan. CFD EMS also responded to 203 motor vehicle accidents. Our
crews continued to adapt well to the ever-changing conditions and problems presented by the resurgence of influenza and other
respiratory illnesses, the statewide private EMS shortages resulting in increased calls for service at our area nursing and long-term care
facilities, the challenges presented by the reduced number of available area Hospitals and ER overcrowding, and added new
emergency care protocols and equipment to their arsenal of skills. CFD EMS also responded to 38 calls for our ground-breaking, first-
of-its-kind in Massachusetts, Whole Blood Field Transfusion Paramedic program. The program enjoyed unprecedented success, by
successfully transfusing 15 critically injured trauma patients in the field with a 98% survival rate. This is well over the previous
average of 40% survival rate for similarly injured patients found in systems without this vital life-saving service. CFD EMS continues
its partnership with Boston Medical Center to spearhead significant advancements in pre-hospital Trauma care.
Training / Safety Division remained committed to promoting firefighter safety and training to its members so they can best serve the
Town of Canton. Trainings were provided by department members and outside subject experts throughout the year to on duty
personnel as well as off duty training provided at the Canton Fire Department, Massachusetts Firefighting Academy’s, and remote
training locations. Topics included live-fire training, equipment use, skills maintenance, rescue techniques, vehicle operations and site
tours of existing and new structures and areas throughout the town.
The Canton Fire Department remains committed to its firefighter’s health and well-being. Through its Health and Safety Committee
firefighter physical examinations, cancer screenings, and physical fitness programs were continued, reviewed and revised.
Canton Fire would also like to acknowledge the following foundations that have donated money to fund the different projects to help
the fire department better serve the community: Elizabeth Simoni Foundation, Chestnut Hill Properties. We also appreciate the kind
citizens who generously made donations in appreciation of services received by our firefighters
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
E. Wendell Robery, Emergency Management Director
Paul Clark, Deputy Emergency Management Director Canton, MA 02021
Emergency Management continues to work with the Regional Emergency Planning Committee (REPC) in preplanning for area
emergencies and disasters. This year Canton along with other local communities trained and updated a data base called CAMEO with
information for each area town on critical infrastructure and hazardous materials for response and preplanning.
The Department continues to train with Eversource on a computer program that tracks power outages throughout the town. This will
allow the Fire Department to work closely with an Eversource liaison during these storms.
The Department received an Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) from the Massachusetts Emergency Management
Agency (MEMA) in the sum of 4850.00. The department will purchase tablets to use with our current computer program to do
preplanning of critical structures and target hazards in the town.
Emergency Management continues to train with (MEMA) on a continual basis and has updated the Comprehensive Emergency
Management Plan (CEMP) in collaboration with (MEMA).
29Source page 32
Report of the
HISTORICAL COMMISSION
Sepp J Bergschneider, Chairman 801 Washington St.
George Comeau, Member Canton, MA 02021
Michael Nourse, Member Telephone 781-821-5000
Emily Prigot, Member histcomm@town.canton.ma.us
The Historical Commission is responsible for community-wide historic preservation planning. The Commission’s duty is to identify,
protect and preserve Canton’s properties and sites that are of historic significance.
The Commission works in cooperation with other municipal agencies, such as the Board of Selectmen, Building Inspector,
Community Preservation Committee, Conservation Commission, Planning Board, and the Zoning Board of Appeals to ensure that the
goals of historic preservation are considered in the planning and future development of the Town.
The inventory of Cultural and Historic Resources for the Town is one of the principal and ongoing projects of the Commission. As of
2024 the Commission has completed 510 surveys of historic properties which are listed on the Massachusetts Historical Commission’s
State Register of Historic Places. The inventory forms may be found through the Massachusetts Cultural Resources Information
System (MACRIS). Also available on MACRIS is the national Register of Historic Places nomination form for the Canton Corner
Historic District. Links to MACRIS are on the Historical Commission’s webpage on the town website.
Over the past year the Commission did engage a historian to survey several properties, some of which were slated for demolition.
Although a building may be lost to demolition it is important to town history to have photographic and written documentation of a
property for future research.
In 2012 the Canton voters adopted the Community Preservation ACT (CPA) which has been a great benefit to the Commission’s
ongoing projects throughout the Town. Prior to the adoption of the CPA the Commission was able to have only minimal impact due to
fiscal limitations. Due to funding from the Canton Community Preservation Committee (CCPC) the Commission has been able to
complete several projects such as headstone preservation at both the Canton Corner and Olde English Cemeteries, restorative work of
the Canton Corner Receiving Tombs, partake in the restoration/rehabilitation of the Tilden House, the Paul Revere Heritage Site, and
the Hannaman 1829 hand pumper. These projects offer the rare opportunity to preserve, restore and rehabilitate historic structures and
items for the general welfare and enjoyment of the town’s citizens. It is hoped that the Town will continue to stand behind these, and
future, projects that highlight the rich historic nature of Canton.
Respectfully submitted,
Sepp J. Bergschneider, Chairman
Report of the
HOUSING AUTHORITY
Glen Hannington, Chair 660 Washington St.
Janet Walrod, Vice-Chairman/ State Appointee Canton, MA 02021
Agnes Hagan, Resident Member Telephone 781-828-5144
Adam Brothers, Member cantonhous@aol.com
Lisa Lopez, Member
Mark Roy, Executive Director
Office Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. and Wednesday 12:30 P.M. to 4:00 P.M.
During Covid outbreaks, we may be closed to the public. Taking phone calls during regular office hours.
The Canton Housing Authority reports the following activities for 2024.
Our administrative staff includes Executive Director Mark, Denise, Shanna, Janice, volunteer Nancy and our Resident Services
Coordinator Christine. We thank them for all their hard work! Our maintenance guys are John, Mike, Tim and Andrew. They work
tirelessly to handle daily work orders and nonstop emergencies. They managed to turn over 21 elderly units and 2 family units.
Several units were longtime residents and required significant rehab. The guys are to be commended for all their hard work!
We had a number of capital improvement projects including: window replacement during unit turnover and kitchen floors at our
elderly complexes, exterior metal stairs and HVAC upgrade at Hagan Court, underground water/ sewer line replacement at Rubin
Court, hallway flooring replacement at both Hagan and Rubin Courts, exterior door replacement at Brayton Circle, walkway
replacement and elevator replacement at the Hemenway. We look forward to continued window replacement at the Hemenway this
30
30Source page 33
Spring, We want to thank the Town for their continued commitment to CPA funds for the windows project. A big thank you to John
McCourt for his supervision of all these projects on behalf of the Authority.
The Canton Housing Authority manages 202 units of elderly housing, 33 units of family housing, 12 units of barrier-free housing, 25
Massachusetts Rental Housing Vouchers, and we handle paperwork for one Section 8 Voucher for another housing authority. Canton
does not have an actual Section 8 program and therefore cannot issue any vouchers.
The wait for standard elderly Canton applicants is several months. The age requirement is 60. There is a preference for veterans
throughout the state. The wait for “non-elderly/ handicap” applicants is also long, even for Canton residents. Our family wait list can
be several years. Top priority will go to emergency applicants who are local veterans. We now work off a statewide wait list, which
limits our ability to do that sometimes.
The Board holds its monthly meetings virtually on the second Tuesday starting at 6:00pm. We wish to express our continued
appreciation to the Town (in particular the Police Department, Fire Department, DPW, DEHS, BOH, BOS, CCPC and IT
Department), our entire staff and our residents for their support in our effort to provide decent, safe and sanitary housing within our
community.
Respectfully submitted, Glen Hannington, Chairman
Report of the
HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT
Jody K. Middleton, Human Resources Director 801 Washington St.
jmiddleton@town.canton.ma.us 781-821-2936 Canton, MA 02021
Fax 781-575-6602
Meredith L. Hartling, Human Resources Generalist
mhartling@town.canton.ma.us 339-502-5727
Office Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, Tuesday 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM and Friday 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM
I am pleased to share with you the 2024 Annual Report for the Human Resources Department.
The Human Resources Department plays a key role in collaborating with both Town and School departments to ensure we act as
advocates for employees while also partnering with management. Our work continues to reflect the Town’s mission and vision through
effective recruitment, training, and adherence to policies and procedures.
The Town works closely with Julie Shore, the Personnel Director, and Emily Kelly, the HR Generalist, in fostering collaboration and
supporting HR initiatives.
The Human Resources Department continues to move forward with updating our policies through Lexipol, a company that helps
municipalities ensure compliance with state and federal regulations.
Recruitment efforts remained a significant focus for the HR Department this year. We coordinated advertising, recruiting, interviewing,
and conducting background checks for both union and non-union positions across various departments. Some of these departments
included:
• Board of Health • Canton Public Library • Parks and Recreation • Public Works
Additionally, the HR Department continues to manage benefit services and offer ongoing support to more than 600 school and municipal
employees, as well as over 400 retirees. For more information, please visit: http://town.canton.ma.us/Human-Resources-Department
Looking ahead, the Human Resources Department is eager to continue its work with Town and School employees, boards,
commissions, and committees. I would like to express my gratitude to everyone for their ongoing support and cooperation throughout
the past year.
Respectfully submitted,
Jody K. Middleton, Human Resources Director; Meredith L. Hartling, Human Resources Generalist
31
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Report of the
LIBRARY
Joan Schottenfeld, Chair 786 Washington St.
Nancy Connery, Vice-Chair Canton, MA 02021
Christine Untersee, Secretary Telephone 781-821-5027
calib@ocln.org
Andrea J. Capone, Library Director
Regular Hours of Service: Monday 1:00pm - 9:00pm, Tuesday - Thursday 10:00am - 9:00pm, Friday - Saturday 10:00am - 5:30 pm.
Service hours are subject to change due to weather or unforeseen circumstances. Please check our website for the most recent hours of
operation.
The Canton Public Library continued to be led by a dedicated 9 member elected Board of Trustees. Joan Schottenfeld assumed the
position of Chair, while Nancy Connery and Christine Untersee stepped into the positions of vice-chair and secretary respectively.
Library staff remained largely unchanged except for the addition of Obena Osei Duker, “Benny”, who replaced Jarod Cole in the YA
Associate position. Bonnie Jette, our Circulation Supervisor announced her plans to retire after 11 years of excellent service. We thank
her for her dedication and compassion. Her bubbly personality and welcoming atmosphere that she cultivated over the years will be
missed. Carolyn Elkort has been appointed to step into that role upon her departure.
In 2024 the Library remained fine free and continued to offer all of our programs and services to the Community at no cost. 9,105
borrowers held Canton Public Library cards, up from 8,458 from last year. Our librarians overall held 628 programs attended by
15,159 adults and children. We continued to serve many of our patrons offsite with our repeated presence at the Paul Revere Heritage
Day and Farmer's Markets held on the lawn at Canton High School.
The Library circulated 185,255 physical materials and 99,047 digital checkouts through our many online platforms: Kanopy, Hoopla,
Overdrive, New York Times and Wall Street Journal online. We added two new subscriptions — Niche Academy and Mango
Languages.
The Library met the highest levels of compliance for state aid again this year and received a State Aid Award of $55,221.68. OF
NOTE: Our most recent resident count from the DOR 2023 Tax Year had our official resident count at 24,609. When we reach 25,000
residents our population category will change, and we will need to increase our hours of operation in order to be in compliance for
state aid. Funding for additional staff and hours will become critical in FY26. Surveys and focus groups have repeatedly shown that
Sunday hours are important. This is especially true for working parents.
The Library continued to serve as a gathering place for the Community. Library book clubs, tech drop-in help, crafting programs, the
first Fix It Clinic, educational seminars and classes for our adult library users remained extremely popular. Our Young Adult
librarians continued to actively engage our teen population with regularly scheduled interactive and educational programming
including bullet journaling, writing club, D&D, Everyone Eats, Teen Game Night and a summertime Sustainability program. The
annual Pumpkin Carving and Pie Baking programs remained huge hits. Our Children's librarians continued to offer weekly story
times, Tot Toy & Playtime, STEAM programs, crafts, outside performers and programs to keep our youngest patrons engaged.
Canton Reads was once again a popular town-wide reading program that included talks, cooking demonstrations and other programs
tied into the chosen book “ Lessons in Chemistry” by Bonnie Grammus.
In April the Library hosted over 250 people on our lawn for the Solar Eclipse.
Circulation Supervisor Bonnie Jette continued to oversee our passport acceptance program which continues to thrive since its
inception in 2011. Andrea Capone, Bonnie Jette, Carolyn Elkort, Matt Amory, Deb Sundin, Sheel Rege and Lisa Quinn are certified
agents who successfully completed their annual re-certification training. Our 7 agents processed 1,170 applications and took 903
passport photos. This remained a very popular program.
Several staff members attended trainings this year: Seamus Pecarraro attended custodial training, Benny Duker attended the Boston
Comics in Color Conference and our Junior Room staff participated in a professional development course “Supercharging Your
Storytime”. Reference librarian Ashley Perry discovered correspondence of Evangeline Simpson Whipple and the Bense Family of
Canton hidden in our Local History Collection which led to a collaboration with the New York Public Library and Tilly Laskey, co-
author of Precious and Adored: The Love Letters of Rose Cleveland and Evangeline Simpson Whipple 1890-1918.
32
The Library received over $30,000 in grants this past year thanks to our dedicated and innovative librarians.
The “Next Chapter” repair and renovation began in earnest this year.
32 Chapter One: Roof and HVAC replacement is nearly complete
and significantly under budget thanks to the Building Renovation Committee. Chapter Two: will create a park at the front of the
Library facing Washington Street. The lawn will be transformed into a park for the public to enjoy and for the Library to use forSource page 35
The Library received over $30,000 in grants this past year thanks to our dedicated and innovative librarians.
The “Next Chapter” repair and renovation began in earnest this year. Chapter One: Roof and HVAC replacement is nearly complete
and significantly under budget thanks to the Building Renovation Committee. Chapter Two: will create a park at the front of the
Library facing Washington Street. The lawn will be transformed into a park for the public to enjoy and for the Library to use for
outdoor programming. The park is funded by CPA funds of $452,500 which were approved at Town Meeting 2024. Additional
funding has been provided by donation and the sale of over 300 personalized bricks to local citizens and businesses. Chapter Three:
Interior repair and renovation. Plans have begun for this project.
William Quinn was re-elected President of the Friends of the Canton Public Library. The Friends reprised their popular fundraisers
with great success again this year. The Friends fundraising efforts help make possible programs outside of the Library's operating
budget by raising money to support our Museum Pass program, Maker Space, mobile hot spots and many of the programs offered
throughout the year. Events such as Comedy Night, Sip & Shop and our Book Sales (both perpetual and semi-annual happenings)
highlight the various ways the Library is integral to the Community. This year also saw the Friends’ very first 5K Fun Run which
kicked off the fundraising activities for our Next Chapter capital campaign.
The Open Book Coffee House completed its 16th season under the leadership of Emily Prigot, Library Trustee and Friend. Kevin
Boyce led a successful 15th year of Canton Writes. Many thanks to Library Friend Mary Jane Mangan for her tireless efforts in
producing the annual Canton Writes book that contains the submissions of all the participants each year.
We are indebted to our many volunteers and senior tax program workers whose service helps to keep the Library running smoothly
and to the Friends of the Library whose support of the Library is essential. We gratefully acknowledge the commitment of our Library
staff to serving each individual with care and respect, and for the team spirit of all town departments. We thank our patrons for
encouraging words and constructive criticism, and we always welcome public participation in helping the Library better serve our
Community.
Respectfully Submitted, Joan Schottenfeld, Chair; Lisa Quinn, Interim Library Director
Report of the
MASTER PLAN IMPLEMENTATION COMMITTEE
Emilio E. Mauro, Jr., Finance Committee (MPIC Chair) 801 Washington St.
Kristian Merenda, School Committee (MPIC Vice Chair) Canton, MA 02021
Patricia Boyden, Select Board Telephone: 781-821-5019
Stacey Gorman, Playground and Recreation Commission mpic@town.canton.ma.us
Bob MacDonald, Conservation Commission www.cantonmasterplan.com
Margaret Mead, Citizen-At-Large
Michael Nourse, Historical Commission
Jim Quigley, Planning Board
Alan Rapoport, Economic Development Committee
Taylor (TJ) Torres, Town Planner / Committee Staff
MISSION
The Canton Master Plan Implementation Committee (MPIC) was established by the Select Board to coordinate the effort of
implementing the Town of Canton Master Plan and it started meeting in February 2021. The current Master Plan was developed
through a process that began through action at the Annual Town Meeting in 2017 that funded the update of the Master Plan, which
was then led by the Master Plan Steering Committee and the hired consulting firm of Horsley Witten to reach out to all stakeholders in
town to complete the fifteen-year Master Plan that was approved by the Planning Board in 2020. The goal of creating the Master Plan
itself was to evaluate existing conditions at the time of the plan's creation, identify needs in town, recommend actions that could help
meet those needs, and identify parties who could be responsible for implementing those actions. The MPIC has been working with
responsible parties to both raise awareness about the plan and to advance the recommendations and goals of the Master Plan through
education, coordination, collaboration, and cooperation between these ultimately responsible departments, boards, and committees.
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The vision expressed in the Master Plan covers most aspects of life in Canton. This long-range vision built by the entire community
can lead to great achievements by 2035. This includes what housing is available in town and what the town’s neighborhoods look like.
The Master Plan has recommendations for how the Town should address public health issues and foster social well-being. There are
goals on how to improve all town services to meet the needs of a diverse public while including all residents and stakeholders in Town
decisions. There are guidelines on how to promote economic development in ways that make Canton competitive and prosperous
while also meeting the needs of the workforces and consumers in town. There are actions to help encourage and expand access to
parks, open spaces, and other recreational facilities in Town for all residents. The plan provides steps on how to develop safe and
accessible multimodal neighborhood, town-wide, and regional connectivity in transportation that serve all residents and commuters
well. It supports the protection of historical resources and encourages the community to foster the arts and support diverse cultures in
town to build a more robust community. It also provides guidance to preserve the town’s ecosystems and landscapes through wise
environmental stewardship. It will help ensure that Canton is ready to adapt to changing needs in energy and sustainability as growing
natural hazards arise brought on by climate change. The Master Plan identifies special focus areas (Canton Junction, Downtown
Canton, and Route 138) where many Master Plan goals can be realized together. The plan has a wide range of diverse goals and it will
take all stakeholders in Canton, whether public government, commercial entities, organizations, or private residents to help implement
the plan through awareness, advocacy, and policy choices. The MPIC has the responsibility of bringing a wide range of groups
together to advance these goals and implementation is ongoing.
The nine-member MPIC is composed of members from eight different town boards and committees. The committee is constituted to
also have a place for a citizen-at-large as its ninth member to ensure a stronger voice for residents.
2024 COMMITTEE ACTION
The committee has been meeting approximately once-per-month or every other month via Zoom and it has continued the process of
meeting or working with featured guest department heads, boards, committees, or other stakeholder or advocates and has had
productive meetings.
In 2024, those attending as guests or presenters included leaders (or other representatives of), the Canton Energy Advisory Committee,
Canton Farmers Market; Canton Public Schools (and Galvin Middle School construction professionals), Canton Public Library, Paul
Revere Museum of Innovation and Discovery, and the Sustainability and Climate Action Plan Committee. In addition, the MPIC met
with the Town Engineer and regularly worked with the Town Planner (as its staff member).
The MPIC also engaged in some outreach on behalf of the committee by participating in the Canton Heritage Festival on May 18,
2024. The MPIC had a table in the community tent where visitors were educated about the Master Plan while also being given an
opportunity to provide public feedback and suggestions. This information was then reviewed by the MPIC and the Town Planner.
The MPIC also supported projects and Town Meeting Warrant Articles that were consistent with the goals of the Master Plan. The
committee supported several successful Articles at the 2024 Annual Town Meeting held in May 2024. This included articles to
establish a stabilization account to eventually redevelop 1860 Washington Street (ATM 2024, Article 20), an increase to the
Conservation Land Fund (ATM 2024, Article 27), and several zoning articles (ATM 2024 Articles 32, 34 and 36). Most notable of the
zoning articles supported was Article 32 that authorized the establishment of the Canton Junction Overlay District that reflected the
transit-oriented development and housing goals of both the Master Plan and the state-mandated MBTA Communities Law. Further,
three Community Preservation Act projects supported by the MPIC through letters of support to the Canton Community Preservation
Committee (CCPC) in November 2023 (the Wentworth Recreation Facility Master Plan; Library Park, Phase I; and the continued
funding of the position of Housing Coordinator) were also approved at the 2024 Annual Town Meeting as part of Article 17 of the
Warrant.
Later in the year, the MPIC also supported some Articles appearing on the Warrants for the two Autumn 2024 Special Town Meetings
held on the same day in November 2024. In addition to some important zoning articles, including those regarding compliance with a
new state law involving accessory dwelling units, the MPIC supported the rebuild of the Galvin Middle School as presented in Article
2 of the first STM, which met a number of Master Plan action goals ranging from improving public services to promoting
sustainability, among other goals.
The MPIC also authorized the Chair to write two letters of support for Community Preservation Act funding applications in
September 2024 that were considered by the Canton Community Preservation Committee (CCPC) for approval at the 2025 Annual
Town Meeting for FY 26. The two projects, among others, were eventually recommended by the CCPC for approval by the May 2025
Annual Town Meeting, which is currently pending. The two MPIC supported projects were the restoration of the historic rooms of the
Canton Public Library and funding an update of the Open Space and Recreation Master Plan.
The MPIC has also monitored the progress of a wide range of ongoing activities in Canton. These included the development of the
Climate Action Plan, the Americans with Disabilities Act Transition Plan, the formation of the By-law Modernization Committee, the
34
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Annual Town Meeting, which is currently pending. The two MPIC supported projects were the restoration of the historic rooms of the
Canton Public Library and funding an update of the Open Space and Recreation Master Plan.
The MPIC has also monitored the progress of a wide range of ongoing activities in Canton. These included the development of the
Climate Action Plan, the Americans with Disabilities Act Transition Plan, the formation of the By-law Modernization Committee, the
proposal to have the Town join the commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Massachusetts program, among several other
34
activities that the committee monitored or was updated on during the year.
As the Canton Master Plan is reaching its five-year point since adoption, the Town Planner and the Chair of the MPIC launched an
effort, with the support of the MPIC, to update the Action Plan and the Strategic Framework of the plan for the second five-year
period. This proposal would result in the hiring of a consulting firm to review what items in the plan have been achieved in the first
five years, identify obstacles to achieving action goals, and determine what changes should be made to the Action Plan and Strategic
Framework reflecting new developments and changing times. This proposal will help ensure that the Canton Master Plan is a living
document for the full fifteen years of implementation. In order to obtain the funding for this proposed update of the Action Plan and
the related Strategic Framework, the MPIC supported and submitted a Warrant Article for the May 2025 Annual Town Meeting that is
currently pending.
Like many Town committees, the MPIC meetings were aired and streamed online through Canton Community Television and this has
allowed the committee to reach a larger number of members of the community and raise greater awareness for the Master Plan and the
issues being discussed. The committee is appreciative that this outreach medium is available.
The chair acknowledges the volunteer committee members that make up the MPIC for being committed to the goal of promoting the
Master Plan and for the thoughtfulness and dedication that they have brought to committee meetings. These meetings have succeeded
in allowing responsible parties identified in the Master Plan to discuss shared priorities with individuals representing a cross-section of
Town boards and committees. It has also allowed the MPIC to, at times, act as a forum to discuss ideas or proposals related to Master
Plan goals. These efforts will continue.
Respectfully submitted, Emilio E. Mauro, Jr., Chair
Report of the
PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT
William J. Armando Recreation Facility
Stacey Gorman, Chairman 92 Pleasant St.
Mark Grossman, Vice-Chairman Canton, MA 02021
Marsha Armando, Member Telephone 781-821-5030
Alison Grossman, Member Fax 781-575-6587
Cab Devoll, Member www.cantonrec.com
Debra Kelly, Member rec_dept@town.canton.ma.us
Tyler Radicioni, Recreation Director , Alfred Gauthier, Assistant Recreation Director, Zach Reingold, Recreation Supervisor,
Izzy Nolan, Youth Program Substance Abuse Coordinator, Audrey Cohen, Secretary/Principal Clerk, Dennis Aldrich, Recreation
Maintenance Supervisor
Office Hours: Monday through Friday 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
The Department of the Parks and Recreation is dedicated to enriching the lives of all citizens through diverse and innovative
recreation programs and services. With a focus of arts, sports and games, the outdoors, education, and community events, we provide
both active and passive social opportunities that build community and inspire personal growth. Our parks provide support for
recreation that contributes to enhancing the quality of life. The department encourages citizens to become active, responsible, and
engaged members of the community.
The members of the Parks and Recreation Commission are appointed by the Select Board, embody a cross section of Canton
residence. The Commission works with the department staff to implement its mission and to meet the needs of the community. The
Commission members also play a vital role in planning and implementation of community events sponsored by the Parks and
Recreation Department.
FACILITIES
The Department of Parks and Recreation manage three main facilities: the Armando Recreation Facility, Metropolis Skating Rink, and
Bolivar Swimming Pool. In addition, the department is responsible for maintenance of nineteen athletic fields and seven playgrounds
located in thirteen locations throughout the town of Canton. The various facilities services Canton's youth sports programs in soccer,
ice hockey, lacrosse, football, baseball, and softball as well as adult softball leagues, summer playground and camp programs, other
rental groups and Canton citizens throughout the year.
The Department of Parks and Recreation is also responsible for the lawns and required waterway treatments of the Paul Revere
Heritage Site and the Earl Newhouse Waterfront.
35Source page 38
PROGRAMING
A full lineup of program offerings for citizens of all ages includes many popular returning programs such as summer camp, swim
lessons, and youth and adult programs. In the past year over 163 programs were offered to residents and non-residents and as the
department continues to grow additional program offerings will be made. As always, the demand is high for these programs run
directly through Canton Parks and Recreation and fill up quickly on a first come first serve basis. Visit the Recreation Website for all
program offering and registration timelines.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
During the course of the year the Parks and Recreation Commission work closely with the other town departments to offer numerous
community events. This past year the Department ran an Easter Egg Hunt, Halloween Parade, The Billy Armando Golf Tournament,
The 4th of July Celebration, Breakfast with Santa and partnered with the COA for the annual Holiday Senior Party. The Department
also partnered with CAASA to run the second ever Back to School Bash which saw over 600 people attend.
COLLABORATION
A Special thanks to Public Works, Fire, Police, Canton Public Schools, Conservation, Council on Aging, Board of Health, The Library
and the Select Board for their consistent contributions and cooperation throughout the year to assist us in our community events and
our programs.
The Department would like to thank its staff, volunteers, the staff of all other supporting departments, the Select Board and the
citizens of Canton for their support in 2025.
Respectfully Submitted, Stacy Gorman, Chair
Report of the
PLANNING BOARD
David McCarthy, Chair 801 Washington St.
Jim Quigley, Vice-Chair Canton, MA 02021
Patricia McDermott, Clerk Telephone 781-821-5019
Kathy Gibbs McCormack, Member planning_board@town.canton.ma.us
Sean Robinson, Member
Karen Lawlor, Administrative Assistant
Thomas Houston, Professional Services, Inc.
Office Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Tuesday: 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m., Friday: 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Organization and Membership
On April 2, 2024, Kathy Gibbs McCormack was elected as a Planning Board member for her second five (5) year term and Sean
Robinson was elect to the Board for a two-year term. On June 26, 2024, the Planning Board reorganized, at which time David
McCarthy was re-elected Chair; Jim Quigley was elected Vice Chair; and Patricia McDermott was elected Clerk.
Function
The Planning Board is comprised of five elected, volunteer town residents of varied backgrounds. They are charged with the
following responsibilities:
• Preparation and updating of the Town’s Master Plan;
• Review and approval of the construction of new subdivisions;
• Adoption and Review of Town’s Subdivision Rules and Regulations;
• Presenting new streets to Town Meeting for Acceptance;
• Review and recommendation of site plans for the Zoning Board of Appeals;
• Proposal of amendments to the Zoning By-laws and reporting on amendments filed by others;
• Overseeing the Town’s Scenic Ways;
• Approval of some special permits as permitted under the Zoning By-Laws;
• Appointment of the Canton Center Design Review Board;
• Any other duty as prescribed under the General Laws of the Commonwealth and the By-Laws of the Town of Canton.
36
Development Activity
36
The Planning Board conducted technical Site Plan Reviews for five (5) projects, and their approval or denial; and separate Lot
Releases for Approved Definitive Subdivisions. The Board continued reviewing two (2) existing Subdivisions Plans; reviewed six
(6) Approval Not Required (ANR) Plans for division of land having frontage on existing roads and streets; reviewed four (4)Source page 39
• Any other duty as prescribed under the General Laws of the Commonwealth and the By-Laws of the Town of Canton.
Development Activity
The Planning Board conducted technical Site Plan Reviews for five (5) projects, and their approval or denial; and separate Lot
Releases for Approved Definitive Subdivisions. The Board continued reviewing two (2) existing Subdivisions Plans; reviewed six
(6) Approval Not Required (ANR) Plans for division of land having frontage on existing roads and streets; reviewed four (4)
applications for Design Review Board Approval for signage; reviewed one (1) Scenic Way application; and informational hearings to
review streets to be completed, review bond reductions and bond releases.
The Planning Board played an active role in 2024 during the Town Meeting process. Annual Town Meeting was held in May, as well
as a Special Town Meeting in November. Planning Board sponsored and held public hearings on Zoning Articles. These articles
included, but were not limited to housekeeping articles and corrections for definitions; review of table of use regulations; MBTA
Community Law Compliance Multi-family Zoning Districts Under Section 3A of the Zoning Act; Creation of the Canton Junction
Overlay District; updating the regulations governing Accessory Dwelling Units; and updating of the Zoning Map of the Town of
Canton.
T.J. Torres, Town Planner, has worked with the Planning Board and provided technical review and assistance for projects reviewed by
the Board, along with drafting and preparing Town Meeting Articles for both Town Meetings in 2024, which implementation of the
Master Plan; working and preparing the MBTA Communities Law Compliance under Section 3A; working with a consultant on the
preparation and presentation of the Housing Production Plan; applying for Community Preservation Act funds to update the Open
Space and Recreation Plan; and also working with the Select Board to procure grants and accomplish other special projects to reach
Town goals.
The Board has continued to work to implement the MAPC Downtown Canton Report’s Downtown Canton Zoning & Design
Guidelines Update. The goal is to create a strong sense of place in Canton Center. It will be walkable, vibrant with activity, have a
broad range of uses, and connect to nearby destinations. This will implement vision; provide detailed recommendations and language
for this process; with recommendations for updated zoning, along with updated design guidelines.
Committees
The Planning Board appointed the following members to various Boards: Community Preservation Committee, David McCarthy;
Comprehensive Water Resource Management Committee, Sean Robinson; Master Plan Implementation Committee, Jim Quigley;
Permit Advisory Committee, Jim Quigley; Sustainability Committee, Patricia McDermott; Sustainability and Climate Action Plan
Committee, Patricia McDermott; and Walk, Bike and Hike Committee, Patricia McDermott, Jim Quigley.
Other Initiatives
This year the Planning Board, Town Planner, Building Commissioner, Zoning Board Chair, and Town Administrator, worked together
to draft Warrant Articles for Town Meeting 2024. The Planning Board continued to work with various consultants on a number of
planning efforts, including the Mary E. Wentworth Boardwalk & Recreation Site Renovation; MAPC Study on the Canton Center
Zoning and Design Guidelines; Master Plan Implementation Committee; Walk Bike & Hike Committee; Housing Production Plan;
Paul Revere Museum; various grants; and Municipal Housing Trust. The Board has also worked collaboratively with Engineering,
Conservation, Public Works, and the Zoning Board of Appeals to review stormwater best practices and evaluate the Town’s internal
permitting and review processes.
We wish to extend our sincere appreciation to the Zoning Board of Appeals, the Engineering Division, Town Counsel, Paul DeRensis
and John Richard Hucksam, Jr., and HR Administrator Jody Middleton for their continued support throughout the year.
The Planning Board suffered a terrible loss this year. Our longtime Engineering Consultant, Thomas C. Houston, suddenly passed
away in August. He was the Planning Board’s primary consultant since the 1990’s and it was a devastating loss to all who worked
with and knew him. He was the founder and longtime owner of Professional Services Corporation and he contributed his civil
engineering and zoning expertise to countless projects, along with his friendship. We would like to thank our Consultant Engineer,
Thomas Houston, and his entire staff at PSC for their efforts in assisting the Planning Board for all these years and he will be greatly
missed.
Finally, on behalf of the Board, I would like to express our gratitude to Karen Lawlor, Administrative Assistant. Ms. Lawlor has been
extremely helpful in the operation of this department this past year and her work is greatly appreciated.
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Report of the
POLICE DEPARTMENT
Helena Rafferty, Chief of Police #1440 1492 Washington St.
Canton, MA 02021
Telephone 781-828-1212
Fax 781-821-2549
The Canton, MA Police Department was first established in 1875 and has a proud and storied history of
delivering professional and dedicated police service, to all residents and business owners within our jurisdiction. As your 14th Chief of
Police, I am so honored and privileged to lead this Department and offer my report for calendar year 2024.
Dedication
It is without question, that this report should be dedicated to the memory of Retired Chief Kenneth N. Berkowitz, who passed away in
December 2024. However, I know he would be uncomfortable with that, as the annual report was dedicated to him upon his
retirement in 2022. Therefore, in his honor, this year’s annual report will be dedicated to the incredible men and women of the Canton
Police Department. Chief Berkowitz considered these officers to be the “backbone” of this organization. Day in and day out, they
stand ready to protect and assist while placing themselves on the front line to ensure the safety of everyone in this community.
Additionally, they act as mentors, problem solvers, empathetic mental health advocates and a plethora of other important roles. During
this difficult past couple of years, they have stood tall with a steadfast devotion to duty. I want to extend my deepest gratitude to each
of them for their sacrifices, resilience and character. Your service and contributions to this wonderful town are invaluable and
appreciated!
Personnel
In October of 2024, we experienced the death of retired Officer Johnny Fralick, another member of the “Olde Guarde” at the Canton
Police Department, and just like that, another connection to the past history of this organization is gone.
2024 was a year of loss and gain internally. We saw the departure of so many valued employees whose cumulative service to the
town was over 100 years. In January, Officer Eric Wade retired. February gave rise to the retirement of Court Prosecutor Scott
Lenhart. It was also the month that third generation Canton Police Officer, Scott Brown, transferred to pursue different opportunities
with the Mansfield Police Department. In August, Lt. Paul Gallagher dealt the organization a blow with his retirement. In October,
he was followed by his academy classmate, Sgt. Paul DiGiampietro. However, we also infused our ranks in May, with the addition of
new and talented personnel who will help to take this department into the next era-Officers Michael Staffiere and Michael Antonelli.
Since the patron saint of police officers is St. Michael, I would say we are in capable hands as we move into the future 😊😊
We held promotional assessment centers, conducted by an outside company, for both the rank of Sergeant and Lieutenant.
In August, Sergeant Joseph Silvasy was promoted to Lieutenant and Officer Brendan Healy to 4-12 shift Sergeant. In September,
Officer Benjamin Berkowitz was promoted to 12-8 Sergeant. He was then deployed by the military, so Officer Martin Dunlap was
placed into an Acting Sergeant role in his absence.
General Information
I am echoing my sentiments from last year and underscoring how the world of law enforcement has consistently posed challenges, but
its complexity has notably increased in recent years with a rise in the level of mental health calls we are addressing. Last year, our full-
time clinician (Ciara McGuire) and officers jointly responded to 462 complex calls in our community related to those struggling
among us. As a reminder, the world is a difficult place to maneuver these days, for so many reasons. There is so much anger,
uneasiness and diversity in thought, and that does not always bring out the best in each of us. Mental health struggles are a REAL fall
out from this. As a nation, we need to develop a much better plan to help those we know need help yet won’t seek it AND those crying
out for help that can’t get it. Kudos to Ciara and all of our officers, yet again, for the lives I KNOW you have saved in more ways
than one!
In January, we initiated our Body Worn Camera (BWC) pilot project that had been in the works since the Fall of 2022. In November
2024, the whole department went live with the program and the officers love them! This obviously is a large step toward the
accountability and transparency many of our residents have sought and we welcome that wholeheartedly.
We also transitioned to our new duty weapons at the beginning of 2024 and the Glock 9 mm Model 45 Gen 5 is outstanding. The best
part about them is the vortex defender optic. It enhances accuracy and minimizes liability for each officer. Win/win all around.
In November 2024, we completed a mock “active assailant” drill on the property of our community partner, Meditech. “Training
brings proficiency, proficiency brings confidence and confidence brings restraint.” (Off. Scott Reitz, LAPD). I think we can all agree,
that most people would choose the surgeon who performs the procedure you are having on a daily basis, not the one who does it twice
a year. Policing is no different-we deal with life and death decisions daily and therefore, training is a critical tool to make sure we get
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