(2-25-26 Document #5) FinCom Minutes 1-28-26 (NC)

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Canton Finance Committee Meeting
Wednesday, January 28th, 2026, 7pm
Virtual Meeting


In Attendance: Emilio Mauro, Reuki Schutt, Nicholas Corkery, John Leonetti, Helen Mancuso, Evan Patton, Cindy Thomas, and Ronald Wilson.
William Scollins – Finance Director
Absent: Kristin Mirliani 
CCTV Recording
Recording Secretary: Allison Neff (from recording)

Chairperson Mauro called the meeting to order at 7:00pm.

WELCOME NEW FINANCE COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Chairperson Mauro welcomed the 4 new Committee members (Nicholas Corkery, Helen Mancuso, Evan Patton, and Ronald Wilson) and all members introduced themselves.

MUNICIPAL FINANCE GENERAL EDUCATION OVERVIEW

It was decided to have an educational overview of the Finance Committee responsibilities to help new members learn, remind standing members, and inform the public. Finance Director Scollins created and shared a Jeopardy game covering many of the salient details of Canton Town Government and finances, which the Committee played. Mr. Mauro had the highest score amongst Committee members.

REVIEW FINANCE COMMITTEE LIAISON LIST

The Committee reviewed the current Committee liaison list and filled existing vacancies. Chairperson Mauro explained that the liaisons reach out to their assigned departments to look at their operating budget, discuss their needs, and understand their budget requests. Communication can be in person or via phone/email/virtual meeting.
Ms. Schutt noted that it is helpful for liaisons to know when their assigned committee will be coming before the Finance Committee to present. Mr. Mauro agreed and asked Mr. Scollins to share that information as soon as it is available. Ms. Thomas asked about Dan Cole serving for the Water & Sewer Rate Policy Committee and Mr. Scollins confirmed his appointment and will make the edit to add his name. Mr. Leonetti, who volunteered to be the liaison to the Police Department, asked for former Police Chief Rafferty’s contact information to be replaced with that of interim Police Chief Perkins’ so he could reach out and assist with the transition; Mr. Scollins agreed to provide contact information for the interim Chief and edit the information when the new Police Chief has available contact information. A need to edit the current Town Planner contact information was pointed out and will be made.
Mr. Patton asked if there was a guide on how to perform liaison duties; Mr. Mauro suggested using the budget requests as a starting point. Ms. Mancuso offered to serve as a liaison wherever needed but requested to observe another liaison performing their duties to familiarize herself with the process. 
Mr. Patton volunteered to serve as liaison to the Conservation Commission and the Parks & Recreation Department and as alternate liaison to the Library. Ms. Mancuso volunteered to serve as liaison to the Historical Commission and the Board of Assessors. Mr. Corkery volunteered to serve as the liaison to the Department of Public Works. Mr. Leonetti volunteered to serve as liaison to the Human Resources Department and the Building Renovation Committee. Mr. Wilson volunteered to serve as the alternate liaison to the School Department and the liaison for the Department of Veteran’s Services. Ms. Thomas volunteered to serve as the liaison for the Board of Health.

VOTE MINUTES

Chairperson Mauro informed the Committee about the assignment of Minutes Primary/Alternate reviewer. When the minutes have been completed they will be sent to the Primary to review before being sent to the entire Committee. The minutes are sent to the Alternate if the Primary is absent from the meeting. Mr. Leonetti pointed out that the Primary should review the minutes and send suggested edits/corrections back to the minute-taker.

Voting on the minutes of the July 9, 2025 meeting will be deferred to a future meeting as they are not written and distributed yet.

NEXT MEETING DATES

Chairperson Mauro shared the list of Finance Committee meeting dates and the suggestion made to have an alternate day of the week on which the Committee could meet if alternate or extra meetings are needed. He noted that the Finance Committee meetings last year tended to run long in an attempt to not have to schedule too many, but that it may be worth having these possible extra dates so meetings can be shorter. He also suggested the Committee may pick a “hard stop” time for meetings. Ms. Thomas agreed that some meetings went too late and additional meetings may be needed; she suggested Mondays as the alternate weekday to prevent having back-to-back meeting nights. Mr. Mauro proposed that “if needed” meetings be added for March 2nd, March 9th, March 16th, March 23rd, and April 6th. Ms. Schutt agreed and noted that comments need to be kept short and meetings need to keep moving to prevent them going overlong. She also suggested removing the February 19th meeting as customarily the Committee has not met during the February school vacation week. It was agreed to add a meeting to Monday, February 23rd to replace the meeting scheduled for February 19th. Chairperson Mauro confirmed all meetings will be via Zoom, and it will be decided on the Wednesday prior whether the following Monday “if needed” meeting will happen.

Mr. Mauro suggested instituting a “hard stop” time of 9:00pm or 9:30pm, after which time new agenda items would not be started. Mr. Leonetti suggested that at 9:00pm a ½ hour warning is given, and agreed that having a hard stop time and adding extra meeting dates is the best way to go. Ms. Thomas noted that whether a new agenda item should be started at 9:00pm depends on the complexity and controversy of a specific item. Mr. Mauro agreed and noted for Mr. Scollins/the minute-taker that agenda items that are likely to take more time should be scheduled for the beginning of the meeting to decrease the risk of guests coming to speak and waiting all night and then being asked to come back to another meeting if the Committee is unable to get to their respective agenda item. Mr. Leonetti proposed that meeting participants should each be allowed, once per meeting, to suggest that the meeting move on from a topic that is being discussed at excess length. Mr. Mauro encouraged members to speak up on moving forward if they feel the Committee is re-hashing points and circling a topic too long, but he also acknowledged that, with such a large Committee, there are many perspectives to be heard. Ms. Thomas requested that space and flexibility is added to the agendas for questions and new Committee member education. Ms. Schutt requested maximum efficiency in meetings and will work with Chairperson Mauro to find a balance between everyone having the opportunity to speak their thoughts and keeping meetings efficient. Mr. Mauro agreed and multiple Committee members shared the suggestion that under Robert’s Rules of Order Committee members can make a motion to close discussion and move a vote on the motion being considered.

ADJOURNMENT

Ms. Schutt moved to adjourn the meeting at 9:25pm. Mr. Corkery seconded the motion and it passed 8-0-0.

Minutes reviewed by: Nicholas Corkery

Respectfully submitted,

Emilio E. Mauro, Jr.
Chair, Canton Finance Committee

REFERENCED DOCUMENTS
1/28/26 Agenda
Jeopardy Game
Committee Liaison List