March 05, 2025, Finance Committee Meeting - Virtual Meeting… — 9e05404956b4ed9765

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Canton Finance Committee Minutes Voted on: 3/26/25
801 Washington Street Vote: 5-0-0
Canton, MA 02021

Finance Committee Meeting Minutes
March 5, 2025
Virtual Meeting

Finance Committee Members Present: Dave Clough, Dan Cole, John Leonetti, Emilio Mauro, Maureen Menconi,
Kristin Mirliani, Reuki Schutt and Cindy Thomas.

Finance Committee Members absent: All Finance Committee members were present at the meeting.

Guests Present:
Charlie Doody, Town Administrator
Ellen Jones, Recording Secretary
Alfons Koka, Town Engineer (Article 19)
Mike Loughran, Chair, Select Board (Article 19)
Gene Manning, Chair, Economic Development Committee (EDC) (Article 21)
Izzy Nolan, Program Manager, Canton Alliance Against Substance Abuse (CAASA) (Article 3)
Nick Trocki, Jumbo Capital Group (Article 21)
Randy Scollins, Finance Director

Call Meeting to Order: Mr. Mauro called the virtual meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Mr. Mauro introduced the Finance
Committee members and the guests that were present at the virtual meeting.

New Business:

Approval of Minutes

Because the minutes were not approved at the end of the three-hour Finance Committee meeting on January 29, 2025,
Mr. Mauro approved that the review of minutes be the first agenda item for the February 5, 2025, meeting.

A motion made by Ms. Schutt to approve the February 5, 2025, minutes as written was seconded by Ms. Thomas.

Roll Call Vote:
Cindy Thomas Aye Dan Cole Aye
Reuki Schutt Aye Kristin Mirliani Aye
Maureen Menconi Aye Emilio Mauro Aye
John Leonetti Aye
Vote: 7-0-0. The February 5, 2025 minutes were approved as written.

A motion made by Ms. Schutt to approve the February 12, 2025, minutes as written was seconded by Ms. Thomas.

Roll Call Vote:
Cindy Thomas Aye Dan Cole Aye
Reuki Schutt Aye Kristin Mirliani Aye
Maureen Menconi Aye Emilio Mauro Aye
John Leonetti Aye
Vote: 7-0-0. The February 12, 2025 minutes were approved as written.

Mr. Clough joined the Finance Committee meeting.

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A motion made by Ms. Schutt to approve the February 26, 2025, minutes as written was seconded by Ms. Menconi.

Roll Call Vote:
Cindy Thomas Aye Dan Cole Aye
Reuki Schutt Aye Dave Clough Aye
Maureen Menconi Aye Kristin Mirliani Aye
John Leonetti Aye Emilio Mauro Aye

Vote: 8-0-0. The February 26, 2025 minutes were approved as written.

Discussion – Article 3 – Hear Reports of Committees Appointed at Prior Town Meetings - CAASA

Ms. Nolan, the Program Manager for the Canton Alliance Against Substance Abuse (CAASA) presented a 9-page
PowerPoint presentation to the Committee. Ms. Nolan became a certified D.A.R.E. Officer. Ms. Nolan’s focus is on
the youth prevention side of substance abuse through the Drug-Free Community Grant that the Town has been
receiving for the past five years. Some of the programs that CAASA has been providing, or participating in, include the
following: Celebration of Life, Leaders in Training, Summer Blast Off camp, Freshman Class Guest Speakers, Lunch
Leaders, Peer Leadership Group (High School) and several community events.

Mr. Mauro thanked Ms. Nolan for her presentation and for everything that CAASA does. Mr. Mauro inquired about the
Opioid Settlement that the state had recently won and if Canton benefits from this settlement in terms of its funding
CAASA efforts. Ms. Nolan stated that approximately a year or two ago the Select Board voted to place those funds
into a separate account in the Town that people/organizations are able to apply for funds. CAASA will benefit from this
settlement fund but has not applied for any of those funds because the grant is covering the majority of CAASA’s costs.
Other departments such as the Board of Health, Elder and Human Services and the Police Department and residents
are able to apply for the settlement funds if they have a program.

Mr. Mauro also inquired how CAASA is handling social media for the youth of the Town. Ms. Nolan is working with the
Administrative Assistant at the Galvin Middle School to have someone come in and address the students with regard
to social media and internet safety. The School Resource Officers (SROs) also discuss safety measures with the
students.

As far as public resources, Ms. Nolan stated that CAASA has a web page on the Town’s website that provides contact
information. Mr. Doody complimented the work that Ms. Nolan and CAASA have been doing with regard to the Drug-
Free Community Grant. Ms. Thomas complimented Ms. Nolan regarding the partnership they have provided to the
Library for the youth promoting leadership.

The Finance Committee will vote on Article 3 once all of the committees listed under Article 3 have presented to the
Finance Committee.

Discussion – Article 21 – Ch. 43D Designation for 30 Dan Road

Mr. Gene Manning, Chair of the Economic Development Committee (EDC) and member of the Board of Assessors,
stated that working along with the Town Administrator and the Select Board, the EDC’s goal is to make sure that not
only businesses engage with the Town but also generate revenue to the Town. The property being proposed to be
designated as a Chapter 43D site is the former Boston Financial Data Services (part of State Street) site at 30 Dan
Road. The property was sold in 2017 to Jumbo Capital, who has been working on getting the property sold or leased.

The property at 30 Dan Road consists of an original brick building that was part of Boston Financial Data Services
(75,000 sq. ft.) with a new stainless steel structure manufacturing building (50,000-140,000 sq. ft) to the left of the brick
building. The EDC has proposed 30 Dan Road as a Ch. 43D to provide expedited permitting. Chapter 43D was
adopted in 2007 by Canton and has had 15 properties utilize the expedited process. This will allow the developer to
have the property quickly approved for a potential tenant (within 180 days from when the building plans are filed with
the Building Commissioner). The building is zoned limited industrial.

Mr. Manning introduced Mr. Nick Trocki, Senior Vice President of Jumbo Capital (owner, operator, developer of real
estate) located in Quincy, MA, with a focus on properties in Massachusetts. Jumbo Capital purchased the building with
bio-manufacturing, clean manufacturing and advanced manufacturing-type uses in mind. The property has 34-foot
high ceilings, 4 loading docks, is Current Goods Manufacturing Processes (CGMP) ready and has upgraded utilities to
the building. Because a tenant for this building would have a very specific production line and layout within the building,
the building was built as a “warm shell”. There is no underground flooring in the manufacturing area due to specific
underground utilities that a tenant would want to have installed specific to their use. Mr. Manning stated that it would
be great to see a bio-tech business especially with the presence that is already there in the Dan Road, John Road and
New Boston Road area.

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Article 21 would provide a 120-day decision to Jumbo Capital. The Select Board has voted in favor of Article 21. The
Town has the building assessed at $17,535,000 with annual taxes at the present time of $358,000. The EDC is hopeful
to have a business move in that would increase the valuation and general personal property taxes as well. Mr. Trocki
stated that what is very important to bio-manufacturing users who are going through the FDA approval process, is
having the expediting permitting process along with a ready-shell building attractive to these tenant/users.

Vote – Article 21 – Ch. 43D Designation for 30 Dan Road

A motion made by Ms. Schutt that the Town accept the provisions of chapter 43D of the Massachusetts General
Laws as amended pursuant to Section 11 of chapter 205 of the acts of 2006, and that the Town approve the
filing of an application with the Massachusetts Interagency Permitting Board for the designation of land at 30
Dan Road (Parcel ID 76-15) as a Priority Development Site was seconded by Ms. Menconi.

Roll Call Vote:
Cindy Thomas Aye Dan Cole Aye
Reuki Schutt Aye Dave Clough Aye
Maureen Menconi Aye Kirstin Mirliani Aye
John Leonetti Aye Emilio Mauro Aye

Vote: 8-0. The motion for Article 21 passed unanimously.

Discussion – Article 19 – Appropriation for Pickleball Courts

Mr. Koka, the Town Engineer, stated that he and his team were asked to design six pickleball courts next to the new
playground at the Pequitside Farm and the Community Gardens. They had a survey done of the site location.
Specifications and designs for the six courts were as per the USA Pickleball Association. Pavement has been chosen
for the site as it is easier on the knees, easier to install and is a bit cheaper than pre-stressed concrete.

The design includes six-foot fencing surrounding the six courts and four-foot fencing in between the individual courts.
The courts will be ADA accessible and will have a perimeter trench drain for stormwater drainage. Because the site
slopes downhill there will be a significant amount of fill needed on the southeast portion of the site with an approximated
depth of 15 feet. The fill will add a permanent value to the location. There will be a retaining wall on the northwest
corner of the site to make the grading work. The asphalt would be painted with USA Pickleball Association rubber paint
and have an approximate life span of 20 years with minimal maintenance. The minimum distance allowed for the
installation of pickleball courts is 300 feet away from residential areas to meet the minimum sound barrier required.
The project will go out to bid with an estimated cost of $673,008.85, which includes a 15% contingency cost of
$87,783.75.

Mr. Scollins confirmed with Mr. Koka that there may be a donation of approximately 12,000 cubic yards of fill from Mr.
Bernie Plante of Canton Holdings which will help to bring the cost down. Mr. Plante has volunteered to deliver , install,
compact and grade the fill provided. If the Pickleball courts project is approved at Town Meeting, the use of Free Cash
for the project is $650,000 leaving approximately $168,000 of Free Cash to supplement Ch. 90 funds for road paving.

FY 2025 Possible Free Cash Appropriations at November 2024 STM & May 2025 ATM

Mr. Scollins shared on the Zoom screen two exhibits: Cash Reserve Balances (General Fund Reserves) and Possible
Free Cash Appropriations.

The General Fund Reserves for FY2025 is $26,015,000, which represents 20.14% of FY25 budgeted General Fund
Expenditures. The Town’s target for general reserves is at least 15%. The maximum use of these reserves this fiscal
year is $6,671,634 if the 15% target is to be maintained.

Below is a listing of a Free Cash appropriation at the November 2024 Special Town Meeting and the possible uses of
Free Cash at the May 2025 Annual Town Meeting:
Amount Purpose
$1,600,000.00 SPED Reserve (November 2024 STM)
$1,000,000.00 SPED Reserve (May 2025 ATM)
$1,000,000.00 Capital Stabilization – Galvin Middle School
$168,000.00 Ch. 90 Supplement
$2,268,000.00 Library Interior Renovation
$650,000.00 Pickleball Courts
$50,000.00 4th of July Celebration
$20,000.00 By-Law Modernization Committee
$15,000.00 Master Plan Consultant

$6,671,000.00 Total
$6,671,634.33 Available
$634.33 Variance

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Mr. Scollins also stated that the Governor has proposed through the Municipal Empowerment Act a bonding bill with
an aggregate increase of 50% from the state. If that bill passes, using the Fair Share millionaire’s tax, it will be applied
to transportation/roads. This could mean that the Town of Canton may receive an additional allocation of aid of
approximately $400,000, bringing the typical allocation of approximately $800,000 to nearly $1.2 million. This could
help offset a reduced Ch. 90 supplement from the Town funds if more of the available Free Cash is used towards the
pickleball project.

Continued Discussion – Article 19 – Appropriation for Pickleball Courts

Mr. Cole inquired if there was any possibility of funding from the Community Preservation Committee for the pickleball
courts. Unfortunately, the deadline for CPA funding for this Annual Town Meeting was in the fall of 2024.

Mr. Mauro inquired as to why the pickleball courts were not included in the Capital Budget process. The pickleball
courts project came up during this warrant/budget process. The project was something that was going to be funded
through ARPA as well as contributions from other departments fund (Recreation Revolving and the Elder and Human
Services Gift Account). When the bids came in two or three years ago the bids were too high, therefore, the project
was “shelved” at that time.

Ms. Thomas commented that the Select Board made a decision to use mitigation funds for the Indian Lane flooding
project and asked if there was any opportunity for the use of mitigation funds for the pickleball project. This would help
to bring the use of Free Cash down a bit for use to supplement the Ch. 90 funds. There is an advantage to
supplementing the Ch. 90 funds early in the process to help the Town get out early to work on the roads. This would
be beneficial to the taxpayers.

Mr. Loughran stated that the Select Board is supportive of the use of Free Cash for the pickleball courts and that the
Select Board is committed to the use of mitigation funds if there are roads that need repair. Ms. Thomas spoke in favor
of the funds being allocated and budgeted for road repairs instead of having to come to the Select Board with
emergency road repairs.

Mr. Mauro asked whether using the available mitigation funds to support the reduced supplemental funding for Chapter
90 funds would still satisfy the targeted repairs for roadways in Town for FY26 or if it would result in a reduced plan to
repair roads in the coming year due to limitations on mitigation fund use. Mr. Scollins was confident in the approach of
using mitigation funds (at the Select Board’s discretion) to fulfill requests from Public Works to repair roads while funding
the Pickleball Courts out of Free Cash with the needed reduction in Chapter 90 supplemental Free Cash funding to pay
for that project.

Mr. Clough recalled that approximately in 2020 there was a plan to use CPA funds to build a pickleball court on a flat
piece of land at the tennis court location at Pequitside Farm. He suggested that there are also other locations, such as
the land behind the existing Senior Center or the land behind St. Gerard’s that could be used for this purpose. Mr.
Clough could not be supportive of the project because he is of the opinion that this too costly project would be a
disservice to the taxpayers and supporting it would not be acting in the best interest of the taxpayers for something that
would only be used for three to four months of the year. Mr. Clough suggested the Select Board should “go back to
the drawing board” and come up with another plan for a different piece of land located somewhere else in the Town.

Mr. Leonetti recalled a very detailed plan that had been submitted to the Community Preservation Committee a few
years ago. Unfortunately, the window for the CPA applications is closed for this Town Meeting.

Ms. Mary Graziano, a Canton citizen, stated the project has been in the works for three years and that there are 500
members, ages 20 to 80, using the tennis courts at the Canton High School. Unfortunately, the Tennis Team needs
the tennis courts from March through June, so the courts will be unavailable for pickleball players in the afternoon. She
stated that many of the pickleball members play all winter.

Mr. Loughran stated that the Select Board is committed to the project and that the design of the courts is great and that
an agreement has been made with Mr. Plante for the fill. This project will benefit a lot of people in the Town. St.
Gerard’s is not an ideal location because of abutters.

Ms. Diane Tynan, Director of Elder and Human Affairs, spoke in support of the project and that the seniors are an active
group with hundreds participating in the sport. She agreed that the location is appropriate and will be the least disruptive
to the neighbors.

Mr. Mauro inquired if the Department of Public Works was okay with the possibility of less funding if the additional
Ch.90 funds do not come from the state. Mr. Trotta has not expressed an opinion either way to Mr. Scollins. Mr.
Scollins is hopeful that the Governor’s bill will pass with the additional funding of $400,000 adding to the $800,000 that
the Town typically receives from the state for Ch. 90.

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Mr. Mauro asked if the Finance Committee would like to make a motion. Mr. Scollins deferred to the Finance Committee
that they could take a vote or they could wait to take a vote until other Free Cash requests have been reviewed. Ms.
Thomas stated that typically the Finance Committee reviews the other requests for Free Cash before a vote is taken.

Vote – Article 19 – Appropriation for Pickleball Courts

A motion made by Mr. Leonetti that the sum of $650,000 be appropriated to be spent by the Select Board for
the purpose of constructing Pickleball Courts at Pequitside Farm and to meet this appropriation $650,000 be
transferred from Free Cash (Undesignated Fund Balance) in the Treasury of the Town was seconded by Ms.
Schutt.

Roll Call Vote:
Cindy Thomas Aye Dan Cole Aye
Reuki Schutt Aye Dave Clough Nay
Maureen Menconi Aye Kirstin Mirliani Aye
John Leonetti Aye Emilio Mauro Aye

Vote: 7-1. Mr. Cole volunteered to write the majority discussion and Mr. Clough volunteered to write the minority
discussion for Article 19.

Mr. Mauro thanked everyone for their contribution to the discussion for the pickleball courts.

Discussion – Article 27 – Citizen Petition Article for Moving the Local Election Date

It had been suggested to Mr. Mauro that the Finance Committee move their vote on Article 27 to their meeting on April
9th and he supports this strategy. By moving the date of the Finance Committee vote on Article 27: it 1) would eliminate
any perception that a motion and vote by the Finance Committee might influence voters participating in the Annual
Town Election on April 8th, where a non-binding citizen initiative is on the ballot; and 2) the delay would allow the
Finance Committee to see the results from the aforementioned non-binding ballot vote on April 8th before taking a
position on the article. There were no objections from any of the Finance Committee members for moving their vote
on Article 27 to April 9th.

Discussion and Vote – Article 5 – Collective Bargaining Agreements under the Select Board

Mr. Doody stated that negotiations with the AFSCME union and the Police Officers Union are on-going and that he
does not anticipate the contracts being finalized within 45 days of Annual Town Meeting.

A motion made by Ms. Thomas that the subject matter of Article 5 be indefinitely postponed was seconded
by Mr. Cole.

Roll Call Vote:
Cindy Thomas Aye Dan Cole Aye
Reuki Schutt Aye Dave Clough Aye
Maureen Menconi Aye Kirstin Mirliani Aye
John Leonetti Aye Emilio Mauro Aye

Vote: 8-0. Article 5 was indefinitely postponed.

Discussion and Vote – Article 6 – Personal Service Contracts under the Select Board

Mr. Doody stated that negotiations for his Town Administrator’s contract and the Police Chief’s contract were on going
and that he does not anticipate the contracts being finalized within 45 days of Annual Town Meeting.

A motion made by Ms. Schutt that the subject matter of Article 6 be indefinitely postponed was seconded by
Ms. Thomas.

Mr. Clough inquired as to why contracts always seem to be postponed and unsettled by Annual Town Meeting and why
the Finance Committee isn’t reviewing new terms & conditions of said contracts. Mr. Scollins explained that the Finance
Committee does not vote on the terms or conditions of collective bargaining agreements or personal contracts. The
Finance Committee only votes on the funding for the contracts at Annual Town Meeting. Mr. Clough inquired as to how
the Finance Committee would know the funding amount for the unsettled contracts. Mr. Scollins displayed on the
shared screen the budget for Department #910 which department is budgeted with an estimated amount for the
unsettled contracts. Funding for settled contracts are already reflected in the individual FY26 department budget
requests.

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Line item #1910-51950 (Contract Provision) in Budget #910 is decreasing by $265,430 from $684,675 to $419,245 for
FY26. The decrease is because $265,430 has already been allocated to departments as per contract obligations.

Mr. Clough stated that he thought the Finance Committee should be able to review the contracts in Executive Session
as they did last year. Mr. Doody explained that negotiations with various unions is often times not settled in a timely
fashion to be included in the departmental budgets. Mr. Scollins referred the Finance Committee members to their
budget binders that contained the budget for Department #910. Funds are reserved in #910 for what is estimated to
settle the contract. The funding is approved at Annual Town Meeting for these reasonable, estimated amounts.

Roll Call Vote:
Cindy Thomas Aye Dan Cole Aye
Reuki Schutt Aye Dave Clough Aye
Maureen Menconi Aye Kirstin Mirliani Aye
John Leonetti Aye Emilio Mauro Aye

Vote: 8-0. Article 6 was indefinitely postponed.

Discussion and Vote – Article 11 – Accept Laws Enacted by the General Court

At the time of the Finance Committee meeting there were no laws enacted by the General Court proposed to be
accepted. If the Governor’s Municipal Empowerment Act is adopted at the end of March, then Article 11 will be revisited
as necessary and possibly revoted by the Finance Committee prior to Town Meeting.

A motion made by Ms. Mirliani that the subject matter of Article 11 be indefinitely postponed was seconded
by Ms. Thomas.

Roll Call Vote:
Cindy Thomas Aye Dan Cole Aye
Reuki Schutt Aye Dave Clough Aye
Maureen Menconi Aye Kirstin Mirliani Aye
John Leonetti Aye Emilio Mauro Aye

Vote: 8-0. Article 11 was indefinitely postponed.

Discussion and Vote – Article 7 – Pay Bills of Prior Fiscal Year

Mr. Scollins explained that Massachusetts General Laws prohibit Towns from paying prior year invoices with current
year appropriations and that such invoices must be approved by Town Meeting.

A motion made by Ms. Schutt that $274.00 be appropriated to pay bills from p r i o r fiscal years for the
purposes and vendors set forth below, and to meet this appropriation a total of $ 2 7 4 . 0 0 be charged
to the listed F isca l Yea r 20 25 appropriation accounts voted pursuant to Article 37 of the 2024 Annual
Town Meeting as follows:

Vendor Purpose Amount Source of Funds

Massachusetts Municipal Registration Fee for Meeting $30.00 16102-5710C
Municipal Managers Association

Sentinel Benefits Plan Document Amendment $100.00 19102-5740C

Canton Citizen Legal Advertisement $144.00 11752-5340D

TOTAL $274.00

was seconded by Mr. Clough.

Roll Call Vote:
Cindy Thomas Aye Dan Cole Aye
Reuki Schutt Aye Dave Clough Aye
Maureen Menconi Aye Kirstin Mirliani Aye
John Leonetti Aye Emilio Mauro Aye

Vote: 8-0. Article 7 was approved as written.

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Discussion and Vote – Article 8 – Adjust FY25 Accounts

Mr. Scollins reported that there are no FY25 accounts that need adjusting. The Finance Committee has $600,000 in
the Reserve Fund and that there are a few small items that total less than $100,000 that could be handled within the
Reserve Fund. He reported that at the current time the Snow and Ice budget is running within the budget.

A motion made by Ms. Schutt that the subject matter of Article 8 be indefinitely postponed was seconded by
Ms. Thomas.

Roll Call Vote:
Cindy Thomas Aye Dan Cole Aye
Reuki Schutt Aye Dave Clough Aye
Maureen Menconi Aye Kirstin Mirliani Aye
John Leonetti Aye Emilio Mauro Aye

Vote: 8-0. Article 8 was indefinitely postponed.

Discussion and Vote – Article 9 – Authorize Certain Revolving Funds

Mr. Scollins stated that there have been no requests made by departments to change the spending limits for the existing
revolving funds. Mr. Scollins also stated that under the Governor’s proposed Municipal Empowerment Act, if passed,
the Town would not have to bring reauthorizations of spending limits to Annual Town Meeting if the spending limits do
not change.

A motion made by Ms. Schutt that was seconded by Ms. Thomas that the spending limits for the revolving
funds established pursuant to General By-Laws Article VIII, Section 16 pursuant to the provisions of MGL
chapter 44, section 53 E ½ for the 2026 fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026 as set
forth below, and that each Revolving Fund shall be credited with the balance remaining in such fund at the
end of the FY 2025 as follows:

Revolving
Fund # Name of Revolving Fund FY26 Spending Limit

110 Veteran’s Services Special Revenues $100,000
119 Library Revolving Fund $75,000
130 Recreation Revolving Fund $650,000
134 Pequitside Farm Rentals $50,000

135 Greenlodge Street Parking Fees $100,000
136 Beautification Fund $10,000

137 Animal Control Special Revenues $50,000
138 Library Building Rentals $50,000
140 COA Revolving Fund $150,000

141 Board of Health Special Revenue $50,000
Paul Revere Heritage Site Rolling
142 Mill and Open Space Fund $250,000
145 Traffic Mitigation Fund $50,000
Paul Revere Heritage Site Museum
152 Fund $100,000

Mr. Clough inquired about the Select Board’s mitigation funds and asked if there could be spending limits set on the
other Select Board mitigation funds other than the Traffic Mitigation Fund. Mr. Scollins stated that mitigation funds are
under the purview of the Select Board and there is no authorization of them required by Annual Town Meeting and that
they are authorized by the gifts statute and are not required to be voted on. The “Traffic Mitigation Fund” is the
nomenclature that was used to name the fund and is a revolving fund similar to the others listed in Article 9.

Mr. Mauro inquired if there is a specific methodology on how the spending limits are determined and is there a best
practice. Mr. Scollins stated there are a couple of factors that go into setting the spending limits: 1) trend analysis –
how much is actually utilized each year and 2) balance analysis – how much is accruing into these funds (for example,

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#130 Recreation Fund had been increasing and #142 PRHS Rolling Mill and Open Space Fund increased due to
Northern Spy rental funds increasing).

Roll Call Vote:
Cindy Thomas Aye Dan Cole Aye
Reuki Schutt Aye Dave Clough Aye
Maureen Menconi Aye Kirstin Mirliani Aye
John Leonetti Aye Emilio Mauro Aye

Vote: 8-0. Article 9 was adopted as printed.

Discussion and Vote – Article 10 – Insurance Proceeds

Mr. Scollins reported that there were no insurance proceeds at the present time that are greater than $150,000 that
need to be accepted at Annual Town Meeting. He was hoping that the insurance claim the Assistant Town Administrator
filed regarding the interior damage to the Library would have come through but to date it has not.

A motion made by Ms. Schutt that the subject matter of Article 10 be indefinitely postponed was seconded by
Ms. Thomas.

Roll Call Vote:
Cindy Thomas Aye Dan Cole Aye
Reuki Schutt Aye Dave Clough Aye
Maureen Menconi Aye Kirstin Mirliani Aye
John Leonetti Aye Emilio Mauro Aye

Vote: 8-0. Article 10 was indefinitely postponed.

Discussion and Vote – Article 17 – Appropriation to Increase Capital Stabilization Account

This is part of the funding plan to support short-term borrowing costs for the Galvin Middle School Project.
This will be the fourth year in the funding plan that $1,000,000 has been annually allocated into this account.
The prime reason for establishing the Capital Stabilization Account as part of the funding plan is to pay the
short-term interest costs so the Town does not have to exact excluded debt tax until the permanent
financing is issued in FY30. This is the fourth annual allotment into the fund. There will be four more
allotments into the fund.

In response to Mr. Mauro’s inquiry if there would be articles presented at future Annual Town Meetings to
withdraw funds for the project, Mr. Scollins stated that if the Town issues a BAN in June for this project, the
interest on the BAN will not be due until June 2028. Not knowing the interest rate that the Town will receive,
Mr. Scollins would present an article for a fall 2025 special town meeting or the Annual Town Meeting in
2026 with an article to appropriate funds for the short-term interest out of these funds. If the interest rates
decrease and the Town’s interest costs are less than expected, then these funds do not technically have
to be dedicated to paying those costs. They are earmarked with the stated intent to pay the interest costs
or carrying costs. If there is a balance left in the Capital Stabilization Account, those funds can be voted
out at a Town Meeting with a 2/3 vote for any legal purpose.

A motion made by Ms. Schutt that $1,000,000 be appropriated to the Capital Stabilization Account (#801) and
to meet this appropriation, $1,000,000 be transferred from Free Cash (Undesignated Fund Balance) in the
Treasury of the Town was seconded by Ms. Thomas.

Roll Call Vote:
Cindy Thomas Aye Dan Cole Aye
Reuki Schutt Aye Dave Clough Aye
Maureen Menconi Aye Kristin Mirliani Aye
John Leonetti Aye Emilio Mauro Aye

Vote: 8-0. The motion for Article 17 passed unanimously.

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Voting Checklist

A voting checklist was displayed to members via the shared screen, which showed the various ATM 2025 Articles, a
committee schedule for discussing them and voting on them, and a partially completed column showing committee
member discussion assignments. Discussions for the following unassigned articles were assigned as follows:

Article 12 — Ms. Thomas volunteered to write the discussion for Article 12.
Article 15 — Ms. Mirliani volunteered to write the discussion for Article 15.
Article 14 — Ms. Thomas volunteered to write the discussion for Article 14.
Article 16 — Ms. Schutt volunteered to write the discussion for Article 16.
Article 23 — Mr. Clough volunteered to write the discussion for Article 23.

Mr. Mauro asked the Finance Committee Secretary to forward the 2024 Annual Town Meeting document to the Finance
Committee members, so that they could review what had been done last year.

Next Meeting Date

The next Finance Committee virtual meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. The Finance
Committee Recording Secretary will confirm the guests for the next meeting on March 12.

Adjournment

A motion made by Ms. Thomas to adjourn the meeting at approximately 9:09 p.m. was seconded by Ms. Schutt.

Roll Call Vote:

Reuki Schutt Aye Kristin Mirliani Aye
Maureen Menconi Aye John Leonetti Aye
Emilio Mauro Aye Dan Cole Aye
Cindy Thomas Aye Dave Clough Aye
Vote: 8-0-0.

Minutes reviewed by: John Leonetti

Respectfully submitted,

bmiba- €. Mae;

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

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Finance Committee
Meeting Documents
March 5, 2025

Please note: Some meeting documents may be found on the Town’s website under the Posted Minutes
section (Laser Fiche).

Budget documents may also be found on the Town’s website under the Finance Committee’s page,
Municipal Budget and Capital Information, Operating Budget Requests, “FY26 Municipal Budget — Dept.
Requests — Jan 2025.

Agenda — March 5, 2025.

FY26 Budget Request information and Annual Town Meeting 2025 Article information for the following:
CAASA Updates Report, by Izzy Nolan (9 pages).

Article 21 — Ch. 43D Designation 30 Dan Road — draft motion (1 page).

Article 21 — Information regarding Chapter 43D: Local Expedited Permitting (6 pages).

Article 21 — Information regarding 30 Dan Road, Jumbo Capital (8 pages).

Article 19 — Pickleball Court — provided by Alfons Koka, Town Engineer (4 pages).

Draft Motions — Articles 27, 5, 6, 2, 7, 8, 9, 10, 17.

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March 05, 2025, Finance Committee Meeting - Virtual Meeting. Minutes

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