Canton, Massachusetts · Saved source text
October 27, 2021, Finance Committee Meeting - Virtual Meeting. Minutes
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Canton Finance Committee Open Session Minutes Voted on: 1/26/22
801 Washington Street Vote: 8-0-0
Canton, MA 02021
Meeting Minutes – Open Session
October 27, 2021
Finance Committee Members Present: Dave Clough, Dan Cole, Tom Emery, Karen Foley, Emilio Mauro, Tim
McKenna, Reuki Schutt and Cindy Thomas.
Finance Committee Members Absent: All members were present for the meeting.
Guests Present:
Ellen Jones, Finance Committee Recording Secretary
Randy Scollins, Finance Director
Call Meeting to Order: Chair McKenna called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. and reviewed the agenda and
stated that the Finance Committee would be going into Executive Session later in the evening to discuss Article 2 of
the Special Town Meeting regarding the potential acquisition of the Saint Gerard’s property. The Finance Committee
would first discuss Article 3, an appropriation for the Metropolis Rink Reconstruction Project, in Open Session.
Article 3 – Special Town Meeting (STM) – Appropriation for the Metropolis Rink Reconstruction Project
Mr. Mauro read aloud his draft of the Finance Committee’s Discussion for Article 3.
Mr. Cole questioned if the Zamboni was part of the original budget. Mr. Scollins confirmed that it was and that the
pool project was funded with $5.9 million through a debt exclusion. The voters went to the ballot to fund the project
with a debt exclusion of $5.9 million resulting in increased taxes to local tax payers. This vote would take bond
proceeds from surplus funds in the Bolivar Pool Capital Project Fund and move them to a project not in debt
exclusion. Over the life of the bond there would be an amortization schedule with a $204,000 reduction over the
remaining life of the bond. The Recording Secretary was directed to insert in the STM document the vote for the
Finance Committee’s Discussion. Mr. Clough stated that the Finance Committee has never voted their Discussions
in the past, so there was no need to vote the discussion.
Liaison List
Ms. Schutt informed the Committee that she would have to step down as the Finance Committee’s liaison to the
Board of Health and as alternate liaison to the Capital Planning Committee due to her daughter serving on the Board
of Health and her son-in-law serving on the Capital Planning Committee.
Motion to Move into Executive Session
At 7:21 p.m. a motion made by Ms. Schutt to enter into executive session to discuss strategy with respect to
consider the purchase, exchange, lease or value of real estate, (1860 Washington Street) if the Chair declares
that an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the negotiating position of the public body was
seconded by Ms. Thomas.
Roll Call Vote:
Mr. Emery Aye Ms. Schutt Aye
Ms. Foley Aye Mr. Cole Aye
Mr. Clough Aye Ms. Thomas Aye
Mr. Mauro Aye Mr. McKenna Aye
FINCOM 20211027 Minutes – Open Session with EM Edits.docx Page 1 of 3 1/17/22Source page 2
The motion to move into Executive Session at 7:21 p.m. passed 8-0-0. The recording for the open session of the meeting was stopped. Open Session Minutes reviewed by: Emilio Mauro Respectfully submitted, Timothy McKenna Chair, Canton Finance Committee FINCOM 20211027 Minutes – Open Session with EM Edits.docx Page 2 of 3 1/17/22
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Canton Finance Committee Meeting
Open Session – Meeting Documents
October 27, 2021
Please note: Some meeting documents may be found on the Town’s website under the Posted Minutes
section (Laser Fiche).
Agenda for October 27, 2021 (1 page).
FINCOM 20211027 Minutes – Open Session with EM Edits.docx Page 3 of 3 1/17/22Source page 4
Canton Finance Committee Executive Session Minutes Voted on:1/26/22 801 Washington Street Vote: 8-0-0 Canton, MA 02021 Released on: 5/9/22 , Vote: 6-0-0 Meeting Minutes — Executive Session October 27, 2021 Finance Committee Members Present: Dave Clough, Dan Cole, Tom Emery, Karen Foley, Emilio Mauro, Tim McKenna, Reuki Schutt and Cindy Thomas. Finance Committee Members Absent: All members were present for the meeting. Guests Present: Ellen Jones, Finance Committee Recording Secretary Randy Scollins, Finance Director The Finance Committee voted to enter into Executive Session on October 27" at 7:21 p.m. at the end of their open session meeting. The Committee would not go back into Open Session at the conclusion of this Executive Session. Article - Special Town Meeting (STM) — Real Estate Acquisition - St. Gerard’s The Finance Committee voted 7-1-0 to support Article 2 at a prior meeting. The remaining issue was for the Finance Committee to review and agree on a final Discussion for Article 2. Ms. Thomas asked that the motion for Article 2 be read out loud. Mr. McKenna then read the draft Discussion. Mr. McKenna thanked the members for their contributions to the discussion. Mr. Scollins provided an explanation of his recent meeting and tour of the Galvin Middle School with members of the School Department and representatives of the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA). The Town's share of the GMS renovations could be in the vicinity of $50-75 million. A Committee member suggested that this information should be included in the narrative for Article 2, so that the voters would know of any future financial obligations of the Town. Mr. Scollins understood the Finance Committee’s concerns but was not in agreement with including this information in the discussion for Article 2. The Recording Secretary was asked to correct the vote mentioned in the discussion from 8-0-1 to 7-1-0. A Finance Committee member inquired if the Town had a Letter of Intent with the Archdiocese. Ms. Thomas commented that she had heard from the Select Board that they have been in communication with the Archdiocese and that that was enough for her. Ms. Foley commented that generally a Letter of Intent is when two parties come to an agreement but that it is not usually done this early in the process. In regard to disproportionately including the risks of other possible future town expenses in the proposed Discussion, Mr. Mauro stated that “stacking the deck regarding debt with all cautions without all the benefits” could be discouraging for voters because they would hear negative concerns without also hearing the potential benefits of acquiring the property in a balanced way. Ms. Thomas stated that this purchase is revenue neutral from a tax point of view. This purchase would not have an impact on the Town's tax revenue because of the property's non-profit status. If the purchase is retained for municipal purposes and there is debt, there would be an increase to the Town’s revenue from taxes. There would be no levy loss because the church never paid property taxes and there has been no payment in lieu of taxes. Mr. Scollins reminded the Committee that the focus should be on the fact that the property is currently a tax-exempt property and if acquired by the Town the property would remain classified as tax-exempt. The Director of Assessing, Carolyn Floyd, confirmed that the property is 5.4 acres. The acreage would be confirmed again by the appraiser. If the acreage is adjusted, the assessment would be adjusted accordingly. Mr. Mauro stated that the significant acreage strengthens the real opportunity for the Town to purchase this site for use. Ms. Thomas stated that a vulnerability to this purchase is that the Select Board will make the right decision but that it is important to keep the focus on the fact that the voters will have a clear voice and the final say on this purchase. FINCOM 20211027 Minutes — Executive Session with EM edits.docx Page 1 of 3 1/17/22
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Ms. Foley inquired if the Town was in need of a new middle school. Mr. Scollins stated that the School Department has submitted an application four times for MSBA reimbursement. It could be 12-18 months to determine the best option that the MSBA might approve and another four years before constructions is completed. Mr. Scollins had a walk through the middle school and stated that the school is “ripe for remediation” and that there are significant problems with the school. Mr. Scollins would be surprised if the MSBA does not select the Galvin Middle School project for reimbursement this time around. The insurance adjusters had recently been out to the GMS to assess the water damage from broken pipes. Ms. Thomas agreed with Mr. Clough’s reasons for not being in support of Article 2 but that the dissenting discussion should be more in support of the motion. Mr. Clough questioned the point of having the meeting in Executive Session when the amount of funding was not being discussed. Ms. Thomas was concerned that Town Counsel will determine that the discussion does not relate to the motion of Article 2. Mr. Scollins clarified for the Committee that there would absolutely be additional meetings between the meeting that night and STM to review the appraisal and funding options for the purchase of 1860 Washington Street. The Capital Planning Committee has to make a recommendation to the Finance Committee as well. The article was crafted to give maximum flexibility. Chair McKenna asked Mr. Clough if he wanted to change his vote regarding his suggestion to take out the eminent domain language in the motion. Chair McKenna will forward the final version of the Discussion to Mr. Scollins and the Recording Secretary to incorporate into the final STM document and who will then forward the STM document on to Town Counsel for his review. Next Finance Committee Meeting Date The Capital Planning Committee would be meeting on November 4, 2021 to discuss Article 2. The Select Board would be holding ‘listening sessions” on November 8 and November 10 regarding the purchase of the property. Mr. Scollins’ expectation is that the schedule could vary after receiving the appraisal and once funding options have been determined and that a Finance Committee meeting may be held after November 10 or the November 11 holiday. Adjournment - A motion made by Ms. Schutt to adjourn the executive session meeting at 9:01 p.m. was seconded by Ms. Thomas. Roll Call Vote: Ms. Schutt Aye Mr. Cole Aye Mr. Emery Aye Ms. Thomas Aye Ms. Foley Aye Mr. Mauro Aye Mr. Clough Aye Mr.McKenna Aye The motion passed 8-0-0. Executive Session Minutes reviewed by: Emilio Mauro Respectfully submitted, A~ ALA Timothy McKenna Chair, Canton Finance Committee FINCOM 20211027 Minutes — Executive Session with EM edits.docx Page 2 of 3 1/17/22
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Canton Finance Committee Meeting Executive Session — Meeting Documents October 27, 2021 Please note: Some meeting documents may be found on the Town’s website under the Posted Minutes section (Laser Fiche). Agenda for October 27, 2021 (1 page). FINCOM 20211027 Minutes — Executive Session with EM edits.docx Page 3 of 3 1/17/22