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March 11, 2019, Finance Committee Meeting. Minutes
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Meeting of the Canton Finance Committee Minutes voted on: 3/27/19
Meeting Minutes Vote: 8-0-1
Monday, March 11, 2019
Finance Committee Members Present:
Christos Arsondiadis, Rob Barker, Dan Cole, Cynthia Holcombe, Emilio Mauro, Tim McKenna, Cindy Thomas, and
Wai Wong.
Finance Committee Members Absent: Barbara Saint Andre.
Guests Present:
Charlie Aspinwall, Town Administrator
Yael Magen, Esq., Thomas A. Mullen, P.C.(representing James &Beatrice Salah Charitable Trust)(Articles 31 & 32)
Gene Manning, Economic Development Committee
Margaret Murphy, Chestnut Hill Realty (CHR)(Article 26)
Mark Porter, Chairman, Board of Selectmen
Michael Rak, Vice President, Spear Street Capital (Article 21)
Jim Murgia, Finance Director
Ellen Jones, Finance Committee Secretary
Opening: A meeting of the Canton Finance Committee was called to order by Chairman Barker at 7:03 p.m. on
Monday, March 13, 2019, in the Salah Meeting Room of Town Hall.
A. Approval of Agenda
Chairman Barker reviewed the items on the agenda.
B. Announcements
There were no announcements.
C. New Business
Chairman Barker stated the Finance Committee would take Articles 31, 32 and 21 out of order, so that they could
have a discussion with representatives of articles.
Article 31 —Acceptance of Cedarcrest Road Extension as a Town
Article 32 —Acceptance of Beatrice Way as a Town Way
Attorney Magen provided the following overview of the street acceptances for Cedarcrest Road Extension &
Beatrice Way:
• This project has been going on for the past two years. She is hopeful that it will be completed this year.
• An expensive new water pipe has been completed as required by the Town's Engineering Department.
This water pipe was connected to Shawmut Road.
• An easement for this water pipe through 120 Shawmut Road for an additional five feet was also
completed. This was another requirement by the Engineering Department. They have received a signed
easement agreement and this revised-as-built plan and acceptance plan were submitted to the Town's
Engineering Department.
• There were minor modifications to the as-built plans that was submitted to Engineering.
• Ms. Magen stated that she has been in contact with Ms. Grega of the Engineering Department who would
i nform the Finance Committee of the final approval on the plans.
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The Finance Committee will vote on Articles 31 and 32 at a future meeting.
Article 21 —Special Tax Agreement(STA) with Spear Street Capital
M r. Manning provided the following information regarding the former Reebok site:
• Spear Street Capital purchased the site in March 2018.
• The Town has a 20-year Tax Incremental Financing Plan (TIF) with the former owner (Adidas/Reebok)
w hich is due to expire soon. This TIF is on the entire property —buildings and land.
• Spear Street Capital is requesting afive-year tax abatement plan.
• There are two parcels to the site.
• The parcel has been assessed at a total value of $74.5 million. The land has been valued at $32.9 million
while the buildings have been valued at $41.5 million. Spear Street is looking for an abatement on the
value of the buildings only, not on the land.
• The STA agreement will be subject to review by the Massachusetts Department of Revenue.
• Both the Board of Assessors and Board of Selectmen have agreed to the five—year TIF.
• The assessment will be structured for each fiscal year as follows: Fiscal Year 1— 50%tax abatement on
the buildings; Year 2 — 40%; Year 3- 30%; Year 4 -20%and Year 5 — 10%.
• No additional abatements will be given during this five-year period.
• If the annual value of the buildings increase over 5%, Spear Street Capital may appeal the valuation with
the Board of Assessors.
• The proposed agreement shall expire in 2025.
• There is no clawback provision because Spear Street Capital is the holding company (owner) not the
leasing company.
• If Spear Street Capital sells the properties the STA becomes null and void.
M r. Manning turned the discussion over to Mr. Rak.
M r. Ral< provided a brief overview of Spear Street Capital (see meeting documents) and their interest in the Canton
site:
Spear Street Capital is headquartered in San Francisco with ten employees located on the east coast and
ten employees located on the west coast.
They are focused on rebranding the facility to reintroduce the asset to the market to compete with the
Back Bay area and downtown Boston facilities.
The facility has been renamed "The Block".
M r. Murgia stated that the additional tax revenue to the Town for FY20 would be approximately $174,497. There
could be approximately 1,000 additional jobs at the facility with the opportunity for employment with local
residents.
A Finance Committee member inquired about the use of the fields. Field use is currently being used by various
groups in the community on a good will basis. Long term commitment to allow community use would be
determined once the buildings are leased by tenants.
M r. Mauro spoke in favor of the land being exempt from the special tax assessment. He praised the balance
between encouraging redevelopment of the complex through an STA while remaining prudent on the taxation of
the land.
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Article 26 —Granting and Accepting of Easements at the Canton Aquatic Center and Waterfall Hills at Canton
Ms. Murphy of Chestnut Hill Realty (CHR) provided the following information with regard to the easement being
proposed by the Town to allow CHR to move its entrance to their Waterfall Hilis apartments. If the Town provides
the easement to CHR, CHR will provide the following (see meeting documents):
• CHR will gift approximately $200,000 of landscaping at the entrance. Design to be approved by the Town
of Canton.
• CHR will give the Town an easement for walking trails on CHR property. The Town will be responsible for
the building and maintenance of the walking trails. Signage will be allowed on the CHR property for the
trails.
• A memorandum of understanding will be executed with the Board of Selectmen.
• CHR will maintain the landscaping at a cost of $10,000 per year.
I n response to Mr. Mauro's question regarding whether the easement swap might have an impact on the pool
replacement project, Mr. Aspinwall noted that the pool project would take precedence over the easement.
The discussion with Ms. Murphy from CHR ended at approximately 7:50 p.m.
M r. Porter gave afast-paced explanation of all of the Town Meeting articles in which the Board of Selectmen has
an interest in, stopping when Finance Committee members requested answers to specific questions about articles.
The following are brief comments that were made about the articles:
• Article 21— BOS supports the Special Tax Agreement that the Board of Assessors is proposing.
• Article 24 —Speed limits —The purpose of this allows the BOS to have more flexibility setting speed limits.
If approved at Town Meeting, the BOS would hold a public hearing when there are proposed speed limit
changes and it would need to be voted at a BOS meeting.
• Article 26 — BOS deferred to Annual Town Meeting(ATM) regarding the proposed easement swap at the
Canton Aquatic Center and Waterfall Hills at Canton. There is no final document for the BOS to sign.
• Article 27 —Fines for business owners not implementing the plastic bag by-law have yet to be determined.
The Finance Committee has not yet received a final version of the proposed by-law.
• Article 20 —Bolivar Pool —The BOS have voted to defer to Town Meeting. The BOS is expecting to have
final numbers on the project cost of the pool sometime around March 27.
• Article 28 — BOS supports the short-term rentals article. The BOS looked into other Towns(Newton,
Brookline &Somerville) for examples of language for the article.
• Article 27 —Plastic Bag Reduction —The Building Commissioner would give the BOS the authority to
delegate beyond the Board of Health the responsibility for implementing the plastic bag reduction by-law.
Fines for business owners not implementing the plastic bag by-law have yet to be determined. The
Finance Committee has not yet received a final version of the proposed by-law.
• Article 31 —The BOS will most likely vote on these street acceptances prior to Town Meeting. By
accepting streets as town ways, it allows the Town the ability to get additional Ch. 90 funds from the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Mr. Porter stated that accepting additional streets was not in the best
financial interest of the Town, but that "it is the right thing to do for equity".
• Article 43 —Veteran's Tax Program —This is in line with the Senior Tax Rebate Program.
• Article 44 —Pleasant Street Dam Project —The settlement with Canton Holdings on this was $275,000.
• Article 45 — BOS is seeking a $100,000 transfer from free cash to the Solar Stabilization Fund because it is
possible that the revenue from lease payments and energy credits will no longer be enough to cover the
cost of any rate increases/payments that the Town will have to pay for electric power in the future related
to this solar power facility.
• BOS is in support of an approximately 4%budget increase for municipal budgets.
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Municipal Capital Requests — Mr. Porter spent a bit of time discussing the capital request for a traffic light
at the intersection of Randolph Street and Washington Street. Estimated cost would be approximately
$500,000. Traffic studies (Washington Street Corridor) would need to be done but it would be more
beneficial for the Town to wait until a few years after traffic lights have been installed and used and other
currently pending development projects along Washington Street are completed. With regard to the 175
Dedham Street drainage, this $115,000 request is being made through the capital process and is being
requested for safety reasons.
M r. Porter invited members to a Traffic Committee meeting on Tuesday, March 12.
With regard to a resident's(Mr. Shane) attendance at a recent Finance Committee meeting regarding the
testing of Canton water, Mr. Porter stated that the Town is doing everything that is required by the state
and Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and within the schedule set by the
DEP.
Article 11— 2 new Revolving Funds —#152 Paul Revere Heritage Site Museum and #142 Paul Revere
Heritage Site Rolling Mill and Open Space —Town Counsel suggested removing "Fees related to
development, development and mitigation payments" from both of the motions.
The discussion with Mr. Porter and Mr. Aspinwall ended at approximately 8:50 p.m.
The Finance Committee discussed and voted on the following ATM articles:
Vote —Article 5 —Collective Bargaining Agreements under the Board of Selectmen
A motion made by Mr. McKenna to recommend that the sum of One Hundred Eleven Thousand Eighty Five
Dollars ($111,085) be raised and appropriated from the fiscal year 2020 tax levy and other revenues of the Town
in order to fund cost items, not included in departmental budgets appropriated for fiscal year 2020, to
Department #910's budget for collective bargaining agreements entered into by the Board of Selectmen as may
be reached after the conclusion of this town meeting between the Town of Canton and bargaining units, such
sums to be allocated to pay for the relevant departments' payroll expenses from budget classification
Department #910 as determined by the Finance Director was seconded by Ms. Holcombe. Vote: 8-0-0.
Vote —Article 6 —Personal Service Contracts under the Board of Selectmen
A motion made by Mr. McKenna to recommend Article 6 as written was seconded by Ms. Holcombe.
M r. Murgia recommended that the Committee indefinitely postpone Article 6. He stated that there was no impact
on the budget for next year. State law requires towns to approve contracts that are collectively bargained and that
this article is unnecessary. The raises for personal service contract employees have already been built into the
FY20 budget requests.
M r. McKenna withdrew his motion. A motion made by Mr. McKenna that the subject matter of Article 6 be
indefinitely postponed was seconded by Ms. Holcombe. Vote: 8-0-0.
Vote —Article 9—Adiust Fiscal'19 Accounts —The Finance Committee had been presented with a draft motion for
Article 9, Motion 4. The motion contained the following language:
MOVED: That the sum of Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000) be appropriated to the Water Enterprise Fund
(#640) by transfer from water enterprise surplus (retained earnings) thereby increasing the appropriation voted in
Article 64 of the 2018 Annual Town Meeting from Six Million Six Hundred Sixty Six Thousand Six Hundred Seventy
Four Dollars ($6,666,674) to Seven Million One Hundred Sixty Six Thousand Six Hundred Seventy Four Dollars
($7,166,674) with the intent that said funds shall be available in FY19.
The Finance Committee decided to delay action on Article 9 Motion #4 until a future Finance Committee meeting.
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Vote -Article 11 —Authorize Certain Revolving Funds — 2 New Funds —The Finance Committee was presented
with draft motions for Article 11, Motions 1 through 3. These motions had been prepared by the BOS office.
Article li —Motion 1
A motion made by Mr. McKenna that Article 11 Motion 1 be accepted as presented was seconded by Ms.
Holcombe. Town Counsel recommended that some of the language in motions 1 and 2 be removed.
M r. McKenna withdrew his original motion. A motion made by Ms. Holcombe to reopen Article 11 Motion 1 was
seconded by Mr. McKenna. Vote: 8-0-0.
A motion made by Mr. McKenna that Article 11 Motion 1 be accepted as amended was seconded by Ms.
Holcombe. Vote: 8-0-0.
That the Generel By Laws Article VIII Section 16 be amended by adding a new revolving fund far the Paul Revere Heritage Site Museum as follows:
Department Board,
Committee, Agency or Program of Activity
Officer Authorized to Spend Fees, Charges of Other Expenses Payable from
Revolvin Fund from Fund Recei is Credited to Fund Fund Fiscal Years
r~+ErgaE'e~-~aq~eREs'
Providing additional funding
grants, gifts, endowments,
#152 -Paul Revere Paul Revere Heritage for museum expenses, Fiscal Year 2020 and
contributions, donations,
Heritage Site Museum Fund Committee building expenses, event subsequent years
reimbursements, museum
fees.
rentals, other allocations
from reserve fund,
m iti ation fund.
Article 11 -Motion 2
A motion made by Mr. McKenna that Article 11 Motion 2 be accepted as amended was seconded by Ms.
Holcombe. Vote: 8-0-0.
That the General By Laws Article VIII Section 16 be amended by adding a new revolving fund for Paul Revere Heritage Rolling Mill and Open Space as
follows:
Department Board,
Committee, Agency or Program of Activity
Officer Authorized to Spend Fees, Charges of Other Expenses Payable from
Revolvin Fund from Fund Recei is Credited to Fund Fund Fiscal Years
~evele~~erjE,-~eve4e~eRE Providing additional funding
r~fti}aEien-paymerjEs; relative to the Rolling Mill,
grants, gifts, endowments, Grounds and Museum for
#142 -Paul Revere
contributions, donations, maintenance expenses, Fiscal Year 2020 and
Heritage Site Rolling Mill Board of Selectmen
reimbursements, Rolling operating expenses, capital subsequent years
a nd Open Space Fund
M ill rentals, grounds expenses, repair expenses
rentals, grounds use, other building expenses, event
allocations from reserve fees.
fund, miti ation fund.
Article 11-Motion 3 - A motion made by Mr. McKenna that Article 11 Motion 3 be accepted as written was
seconded by Ms. Thomas. Vote: 8-0-0.
That the spending limits for the revolving funds established pursuant to Generel By-Laws Article VIII, Section 16 pursuant to the provisions of MGL
chapter 44, section 53 E Vz for the 2020 fiscal year beginning July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020 and that each Revolving Fund shall be credited with the
balance remaining in such fund at the end of the FY 2019 as set forth below:
Revolvin Fund # Name of Revolvin Fund FY20 S ending Limit
110 Veteran's Services S ecial Revenues $100 000 annuall
119 Libra Revolvin Fund $75,000 annual)
130 Recreation Revolvin Fund 500 000 annual)
132 Student Parkin Fees 100 000 annual)
134 Pe uitside Farm Rentals 50 000 annual)
135 Greenlodge Street Parkin Fees $100 000 annual)
136 Beautification Fund $10,000 annual)
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137 Animal Control S ecial Revenues $50,000 annuall
138 Libra Buildin Rentals $50,000 annual)
140 COA Revolvin Fund $50 000 annual)
141 Board of Health 5 ecial Revenue $50,000 annual)
Paul Revere Heritage Site Rolling Mill
142 and O en S ace fund $120,000 annual)
145 Traffic Miti ation Fund $50,000 annual)
152 Paul Revere Herita e Site Museum Fund $100,000 annual)
Vote -Article 13 —Accept General or Session Laws enacted b~ the General Court —There are no laws to accept.
A motion made by Ms. Holcombe that the subject matter of Article 13 be indefinitely postponed was seconded
by Mr. McKenna. Vote: 8-0-0.
Article 21 —Special Tax Agreement with Spear Street Capital —The Finance Committee decided to wait for
additional information (the final version of the special tax agreement). They will take action on Article 21 at a
future meeting.
Vote -Article 22 —Amend General By-Law Relative to the Composition of the Mapping Commission
M r. Arsondiadis read the text of the article as follows:
That General By-law Article 16 Section 17(b) be amended by changing the wording regarding the composition as
follows:
By striking"
And adding "The Mapping Commission shall consist of Town Engineer within the Department of Public Works,
the Town Planner, the GIS Coordinator, and the Information Systems Manager who shall serve by virtue of their
office as members of the Mapping Commission."
A motion made by Mr. McKenna to recommend Article 22 as written in the warrant was seconded by Ms.
Thomas. Vote: 8-0-0.
Vote -Article 23 — Authorize a Five (5) Year Lease for Fire Department Equipment Storage —The Fire Department
is in need of storage space. This lease would be paid annually from the ambulance fund.
A motion made by Ms. Holcombe that the Board of Selectmen enter into a lease for a term of up to five (5) years
for rental of a storage facility to be used to store Fire Department Equipment and that the Town vote to
a ppropriate Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000)from the Ambulance Fund (Fund #170) in the Treasury of the
Town was seconded by Mr. McKenna. Vote: 8-0-0.
Vote -Article 24 —Adopt Municipal Modernization Act Pertaining to the Establishment of Speed Limits and
Safety Zones
A motion made by Mr. McKenna to recommend Article 24 as written in the warrant was seconded by Ms.
Holcombe. Vote: 8-0-0.
Vote -Article 25 —Amend By-Law Re~ardin~ Fines and Penalties for Violating Dog Licensing
A motion made by Ms. Thomas that the Town amend the Town of Canton By-Law Article 14 Section 39 Sub-
section 9 regarding dog licensing regulations as follows: (a) Failure to License a Dog in a timely manner by
striking ~5 and adding $50 was seconded by Ms. Holcombe. Vote: 8-0-0.
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Vote -Article 26 —Granting and Accepting of Easements at the Canton Aquatic Center and Waterfall Hills at
Canton
A motion made by Mr. McKenna to recommend Article 26 as written in the warrant was seconded by Ms.
Holcombe. Vote: 8-0-0.
Article 27 —Acceptance of Proposed New By-Law Regarding Plastic Shopping Bad Reduction —The Finance
Committee decided to delay action on Article 27 until they have received the final language for the motion.
Vote -Article 28 —Adopt Chapter 337 of the Acts of 2018(The "Act"), The Short-Term Rental Bill
A motion made by Ms. Holcombe to recommend Article 28 as written in the warrant was seconded by Mr.
McKenna. Vote: 8-0-0.
Article 31 —Acceptance of Cedarcrest Road Extension as a Town Wav &
Article 32 —Acceptance of Beatrice Way as a Town Way
The Finance Committee will wait until final approvals have been made for Cedarcrest Road Extension and the BOS
has voted their approval of these street acceptances.
Vote -Article 43 —Amend Veteran's Tax Prosram
A motion made by Mr. McKenna that the town vote to amend the motion voted by the Town pursuant to Article
28 at the 2014 annual town meeting and to amend the references therein to One Thousand Dollars ($1,000) by
deleting the number One Thousand Dollars ($1,000) and replacing same with the new number One Thousand
Five Hundred Dollars ($1,500), pursuant to chapter 281 of the acts of 2018 was seconded by Ms. Holcombe.
Vote: 8-0-0.
Vote -Article 44 —Amend Borrowing for Pleasant Street Dam Protect — Mr. Murgia explained that the $275,000
settlement would be deposited into the general fund and then could be appropriated as free cash towards the
Pleasant Street dam project.
A motion made by Ms. Holcombe that the sum of Two Hundred Seventy Five Thousand Dollars ($275,000) be
transferred for the Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2019 from Free Cash (Undesignated Fund Balance) of the Town to
the Town Pleasant Street Dam project was seconded by Mr. McKenna.
Vote: 8-0-0.
Vote -Article 45 —Vote to Transfer Funds to the Solar Facility Stabilization Fund
A motion made by Ms. Holcombe that the sum of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000) be transferred for
the Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2019 from Free Cash (Undesignated Fund Balance) of the Town to the Town Solar
Facility Stabilization Fund was seconded by Ms. Thomas. Vote: 8-0-0.
D. Other Business/Open Issues
The Finance Committee received information in their meeting documents regarding the School Department FY20
b udget request. The BOS does not take action or a vote on the School Department budget.
E. Approval of Minutes
There were no minutes for the Finance Committee to approve.
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F. Next Meeting Date:
The next Finance Committee meeting will take place on Wednesday, March 13, 2019.
Adjournment: A motion made by Ms. Holcombe to adjourn the meeting at 9:25 p.m. was seconded by
Mr. McKenna. Vote: 8-0-0.
Minutes reviewed by: Emilio Mauro and Cynthia Holcombe
Respec ully submitted,
__~- ~~
Rob Barker
Chairman, Canton Finance Committee
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Canton Finance Committee Meeting
Monday, March 11, 2019
Meeting Documents
Please note: Some meeting documents may be found on the Town's website under the Posted Minutes section
(Laser Fiche).
Some of the Municipal and School Department budgets or Annual Town Meeting documents referred to in
Finance Committee meetings may be found on the Finance Committee page of the Town's website.
Agenda for March 11, 2019. (1 page).
Article 9 Motion 4 draft motion (2 pages).
The Block, information provided by Spear Street Capital
Article Information provided by the BOS office:
Board of Selectmen Positions on 2019 ATM articles (document not dated)(1 page).
Article 5 —Collective Bargaining Agreements under the Board of Selectmen (2 pages).
Article 6 —Personal Service Contracts under the Board of Selectmen (2 pages).
Article 11 —Authorize Certain Revolving Funds — 2 New Funds(3 pages).
Article 21 —Special Tax Agreement with Spear Street Capital (10 pages).
Article 22 —Amend General By-Law Relative to the Composition of the Mapping Commission (3 pages).
Article 23 —Authorize a Five (5) Year Lease for Fire Department Equipment Storage (2 pages).
Article 24 —Adopt Municipal Modernization Act Pertaining to the Establishment of Speed Limits and
Safety Zones (12 pages).
Article 25 —Amend By-Law Regarding Fines and Penalties for Violating Dog Licensing (4 pages).
Article 26 —Granting and Accepting of Easements at the Canton Aquatic Center and Waterfall Hills at Canton (15
pages).
Article 27 —Acceptance of Proposed New By-Law Regarding Plastic Shopping Bag Reduction (14 pages).
Article 28 —Adopt Chapter 337 of the Acts of 2018(The "Act"), The Short-Term Rental Bill (4 pages).
Article 31 —Acceptance of Cedarcrest Road Extension as a Town Way &Article 32 —Acceptance of Beatrice Way as
a Town Way (12 pages).
Article 43 —Amend Veteran's Tax Program (4 pages).
Article 44 —Amend Borrowing for Pleasant Street Dam Project(2 pages).
Article 45 —Vote to Transfer Funds to the Solar Facility Stabilization Fund (5 pages).
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