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April 08, 2015, Finance Committee Meeting. Minutes
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Town of Canton Finance Committee Minutes Voted on: 5/13/15
Meeting Minutes Vote: 10-0-0
Wednesday, April 8, 20015
Members Present:
Rob Barker, Sepp Bergschneider, Jim Casamento, Jerry Dorfman, Nichola Gallagher, Dianne Gustafson,
Stephanie Leach, Tim McKenna, Mark Porter and Jim Sims.
Members Absent:
Barbara Saint Andre and Diane Wolff.
Guests Present:
Tony Braconi, Article Sponsor, Article 34
Bob Golledge, Chairman School Committee
Jeff Granatino, School Superintendent
Mike Loughran, School Committee Member
Barry Nectow, School Business Administrator
Jim Murgia, Finance Director
Ellen Jones, Finance Committee Secretary
Opening: A meeting of the Canton Finance Committee was called to order at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday,
April 8, 2015 in the Salah Meeting Room of Town Hall.
A. Approval of Agenda
Chairman Porter reviewed the items on the agenda which included a discussion about an increase to the
FY16 School Department budget, Article 12, Article 37, review of discussions for the Finance Committee
Report and discussing budgets.
B. Announcements
Chairman Porter reaffirmed his commitment at following through to the budget process and the warrant
and announced that he would continue as the Finance Committee Chairman for the meeting that night
and the meeting the following night on April 9, 2015. He would then be sworn in on Friday as a member
of the Board of Selectmen (BOS).
C. New Business
FY16 School Committee Budget — Discussion for Additional Funding — The purpose of the School
Committee attending the Finance Committee meeting was to discuss their request for additional funding
for their FY16 operating budget and the possible purchase of six school busses.
The following are some of the highlights from the discussion:
• The School Committee voted at their last meeting to bring the delta down from $990,000
($37,159,637) to $550,000 ($36,719,000).
• The School Committee will attempt at their next meeting to arrive at the Revenue Committee's
target budget number of $36,168,994.
• The School Committee is again considering implementing a start time change for the High School
and addressing class size.
• The vote at their recent School Committee meeting was 3-2 in favor of a higher budget number.
• If $990,000 were added to the already additional $1.6 million increase from FY15 to FY16 to the
School Department budget, an additional 18 FTEs would be added to staffing.
• If $550,000 were added to, the School Department would add an additional 9 FTEs to staffing.
• Mr. Murgia stated that per the Human Resources Department 11 FTEs were added for FY15.
• Mr. Murgia also stated that the School Department would be already receiving a $1.6 million
increase or 4.7% for FY16.
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• Mr. Murgia stated that any additional increase to the School Department budget would be unfair
to the taxpayer, given that the taxpayer would be asked to approve $4.1 million under Article 35
for the Hansen Elementary 8-classroom addition.
• The School Department would not be eligible for MSBA (Massachusetts School Building
Authority) reimbursement for the Hansen addition because the Town did not meet the MSBA
standards with regard to class size (overcrowding).
• Mr. Granatino spoke in support of keeping SPED students in district.
• Mr. Sims questioned as to why the Out of District costs have decreased and if this impacted the
number of FTEs, aides or SPED tutors. Mr. Nectow provided a memo with an FTE analysis
(meeting handout).
The School Department discussed the possible purchase of six school buses.
• Chairman Porter asked for a breakdown of the $177,000 increase being requested by the School
Department for the operation of six new school buses.
• Mr. Nectow gave a verbal breakdown of the $177,000: Six drivers -$158,000; Fuel costs -
$30,000; Maintenance costs - $12,000; Insurance - $6,000; Administration - $30,000 and
Supplies - $2,500 for a total of $238,500.
• The School Committee would be considering an increase to the rider fee by $50.00.
• This rider fee increase would help offset the $61,000 delta between $177,000 and $238,000.
The School Department discussed the issue of increasing the FTEs:
• Mr. Casamento questioned Mr. Granatino if the addition of 9 FTEs would address the 27-29
classroom size issue.
• Mr. Granatino stated that the class schedules had not been set and that enrollment could
fluctuate during the summer.
• If additional FTEs were added to the total head count, the fixed costs budget for health insurance
costs would be greatly affected. During the 2008 override $200,000 was added to the insurance
fixed costs budget to allow for the increased staffing at that time.
Let the record reflect that Ms. Saint Andre arrived at 7:43 p.m.
• Ms. Gustafson stated that the additional funding the School Department was requesting was not
for "restoration" purposes and that the Town had already hired back any decreases in staffing that
had occurred in 2008.
• There was also some discussion that class sizes of 11-12 versus class sizes of 27-28 were
sometimes driven by student preference, i.e. allowing students of different levels in major
curriculum and allowing choices in languages. How is any balance found for the desire of choice
versus the desire of class size? Wouldn't the larger class sizes at the high school level better
prepare students for the larger class sizes in college?
• The School Committee would be giving a notice in the course selection books that combining
classes could be a possibility for the fall.
• The School Committee increased the substitutes' rate of pay from $77.00 to $81.00 and this
increase was reflected in the FY16 budget increase.
• Mr. Murgia questioned if there would be savings and efficiencies as a result of purchasing six
buses and having the bus company transport fewer students.
• Mr. Casamento questioned the School Department on the start time change because a recent
report in a local paper indicated the School Committee had voted not to change the start times.
The School Department indicated this had been reported incorrectly in the newspaper.
• Chairman Porter spoke against the use of free cash for any additional School Department budget
increase. Chairman Porter expressed concern for sustainability of the budget for FYI 7 and
FYI 8.
• Mr. Murgia spoke against the use of free cash for operating expenses. The rating agencies are
against the use of one-time sources of funds for ongoing expenses.
• Mr. Murgia spoke in opposition to using $550,000 of unused level capacity because this was
unfair to taxpayers and businesses. There could potentially be a 5% tax increase.
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With regard to the kindergarten program:
• The School Department did not turn anyone away from the program. By redistricting, they were
able to accommodate everyone.
• The School Department does not currently advertise/broadcast a waiver of the $350.00
kindergarten fee but would offer something in writing next year.
• Eight families that had been denied full day kindergarten through the lottery system had now
been notified of acceptance into the program.
Chairman Porter offered the following comments:
• In June, when Chairman Porter had met with the Finance Director and the School Committee, it
had been discussed that an operating override would not be needed for FY16.
• Chairman Porter suggested that an override discussion should take place for the future and that
the whole Town should weigh in on any changes through the ballot process.
The discussion with the School Department/Committee ended at approximately 8:25 p.m. There was still
indecision by the School Committee as to the implementation of six new buses. The Finance Committee
did not take any additional votes regarding the School Department budget.
Article 37 — Home Rule Petition — Number of Alcohol Licenses & Package Store Licenses —
A motion was provided to the Finance Committee that would allow a Home Rule Petition to the State
Legislature for five additional liquor licenses for alcohol drunk on the premises and two additional liquor
licenses for alcohol not drunk on the premises (take away/package stores). The Board of Selectmen
(BOS) were scheduled to vote on Article 37 at their April 14th BOS meeting. The Finance Committee had
not been provided any detailed information from the article sponsor regarding Article 37.
A motion made by Barbara Saint Andre to reopen Article 37 was seconded by Rob Barker.
Vote: 10-0-0.
A motion made by Rob Barker to approve the motion for Article 37 as written (5 licenses, 2
package store licenses) was seconded by Nichola Gallagher.
Ms. Gustafson spoke in support of deferring to the BOS to hear their rationale for this decision.
Mr. Barker withdrew his motion.
Mr. Casamento spoke in support of the additional licenses for restaurants but spoke in opposition to
additional package store licenses.
Town Counsel had been asked by the BOS to change the original ATM motion from five licenses to five
licenses plus two package store licenses.
Mr. Casamento expressed concern that the two components being bundled together could potentially
"derail" the five on-premises licenses from being approved.
A motion made by Nichola Gallagher to approve the motion as written (five licenses for
restaurants and two package store licenses) was seconded by Rob Barker.
Mr. Casamento inquired about splitting up the motion into two separate motions. Town Counsel would
have to be contacted for the legality of two separate motions.
Ms. Gallagher withdrew her motion.
A motion made by Barbara Saint Andre to approve the original motion for Article 37 of the Home
Rule Petition for the addition of five additional liquor licenses for restaurants was seconded by
Rob Barker. Vote: 10-0-0.
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A motion made by Barbara Saint Andre to approve a new motion #2 for Article 37 for a Home Rule
Petition for the addition of two additional licenses for package stores was seconded by Rob
Barker. Vote: 9-1-0. Mr. Casamento voted in opposition to this motion.
Six School Buses - Further Discussion
• Mr. Murgia spoke in support of having a new motion for Article 12 ("Omnibus: Capital Outlay
Program) Motion #10 for the purchase of six school buses. The School Committee could
withdraw this motion at Town Meeting if they decided not to go forward with the start time change.
• Ms. Gustafson spoke in support of leaving the motion up to the Capital Planning Committee
(CPC). The CPC would support this purchase contingent upon the operating budget.
• If funding could not be identified at Town Meeting, then this capital request would not move
forward.
A motion made by Rob Barker to reopen Article 12 was seconded by Dianne Gustafson.
Vote: 7-3-0. Ms. Saint Andre, Mr. Sims and Mr. Casamento voted in opposition to reopening Article 12.
A motion made by Nichola Gallagher to support the School Department capital request for
$540,000 for the purchase of six school buses was not seconded. The motion failed. Ms. Gustafson
stated that the motion should be made by the Capital Planning Committee.
At 8:55 p.m. Mr. Porter invited Mr. Braconi the opportunity to comment or make any public comments.
Mr. Braconi made the following comments:
• With regard to the full day kindergarten program, public information would be critical. He is
seeking additional information from the School Department/School Committee.
• For the next Annual Town meeting Mr. Braconi is seeking a larger level of transparency, list of
every fund in the Town and their sources.
• Mr. Braconi was surprised to learn that a capital item had been purchased with mitigation funds
while he had served on the Capital Planning Committee.
• Mr. Braconi spoke in support of a software product called "open checkbook". Mr. Murgia directed
Mr. Braconi to the audited financial statements on the Town's website. Mr. Murgia stated that it
was unfortunate that the Town's Schedule A (which has an accounting of every revenue and
expense) was not available to the public. Mr. Murgia was adamant that unaudited records (e.g.
the quarterly budget reports available to the Finance Committee) would not be posted to the
Town's website.
Review of the Finance Committee Discussions
Chairman Porter asked the members to submit to him via email any budget comments and suggestions
because the Committee was scheduled to vote on the budget at the meeting on Thursday, April 9th.
The Committee reviewed all of their discussions that would be included in the Finance Committee
Recommendations to the Voters.
Mr. Sims stated that the Capital Planning Committee's discussions and Planning Board discussions
should be included as an appendix to the report to the Voters.
D. Other Business/Open Issues
Liaison Reports — There were no liaison reports at the meeting.
E. Approval of Minutes
The minutes for the March 30 and April 2, 2015 meetings would be voted on at future meeting.
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F. Next Meeting Date: The next meeting was scheduled for the following night on Thursday, April
9th at 7:00 p.m. at the William J. Armando Recreation Center.
Adjournment: A motion made by Barbara Saint Andre to adjourn the meeting at 10:55 p.m. was
seconded by Stephanie Leach. Vote: 10-0-0.
Minutes reviewed by: Tim McKenna
Respectfully submitted,
a aint Andre
Acting Chair, Canton Finance Committee
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Town of Canton
Finance Committee Meeting — Wednesday, April 8, 2015
List of Meeting Handouts
Please note: These meeting handouts may also be found on the Town's website under the Posted
Minutes section (Laser Fiche).
Amended Agenda (1 page).
Municipal Departments' Operating Budgets, provided by Jim Murgia, dated April 3, 2015 (2 pages).
Enterprise Funds' Operating Budgets Comparison, provided by Jim Murgia, dated April 2, 2015 (1 page).
Operating Budget by Voting Category, provided by Jim Murgia (2 pages).
Budget Report for FY2016 Dept./Finance Committee Request, provided by Jim Murgia (8 pages).
Memorandum from Barry Nectow, School Business Administrator, to Canton School Committee, dated
April 7, 2015, regarding FTE Analysis for FINCOM (1 page).
Full Time Equivalents (FTE) Analysis for FY06 — FY15, provided by Barry Nectow, School Business
Administrator (1 page).
Copy of Email from Barry Nectow to Mark Porter and Dianne Gustafson, dated April 7, 2015 (3 pages),
Copy of Article 37 — Home Rule Petition for an Increase in the Number of Alcohol Licenses (2 pages).
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