Canton, Massachusetts · Saved source text
March 11, 2020, Finance Committee Meeting. Minutes
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Canton Finance Committee Minutes Voted on: 5/13/20
Meeting Minutes Vote: 7-0-0
March 11, 2020
Finance Committee Members Present: Christos Arsondiadis, David Clough, Dan Cole, Emilio Mauro, Tim McKenna,
Barbara Saint André, Cindy Thomas and Wai Wong.
Finance Committee Members Absent: Rob Barker.
Guests Present:
Charlie Aspinwall, Town Administrator
Chris Connelly, Chair, Board of Selectmen (BOS)
Ellen Jones, Finance Committee Secretary
Randy Scollins, Finance Director
Opening: Chair McKenna called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Salah Meeting Room of Town Hall.
Approval of Agenda - Chair McKenna reviewed the agenda.
New Business
Corona Virus - Mr. McKenna stated the Town has formed a Corona Virus Task Force Committee comprised of
various Town officials and employees. The Task Force Committee will be posting information on the Town’s
website about the virus.
Discussion with Chris Connelly, Chair for the Board of Selectmen and Charlie Aspinwall, Town Administrator
regarding Various Town Meeting Articles (see meeting documents)
The following are highlights of the Finance Committee’s discussion with Mr. Connelly and Mr. Aspinwall.
Article 10 – Transfer Unexpended Prior Year Appropriations – The BOS supports a $29,890 transfer from the
Street Betterments Reserved Receipt Account to FY21 street betterments debt service.
Article 11 – Authorize Certain Revolving Funds – The BOS supports Article 11 authorizing 14 revolving funds.
Article 20 – Community Recognition Supplemental Funding – The BOS supports a $5,000 transfer from Free Cash
to increase the appropriation for the Community Recognition Supplemental Fund voted in 2017. The fund has
been depleted and this article will replenish the fund.
Ch. 90 Funds – For this year’s Annual Town Meeting the BOS is not recommending a transfer from Free Cash to
supplement Ch. 90 funds as has been done in the past. While the BOS feels there is a need for supplementing Ch.
90 funds they support keeping the reserves at 15% making it difficult to prioritize the use of Free Cash. A Finance
Committee member stated that it may not be necessary to keep cash reserves at 15% of budget for maintaining a
AAA bond rating. They also stated that there could be a supplemental bond bill through the State for Ch. 90 funds
being made available for municipalities.
Article 21 – Appropriation to Increase the Solar Facility Stabilization Fund – The BOS is in support of a $100,000
appropriation from the Solar Facility Receipts Fund to the Town Solar Facility Stabilization Fund. The current
balance in the fund is $200,000. The Town will be looking at trend lines over the next five years.
Article 24 – Home Rule Petition Relative to Retired Police Officers – The BOS is in support of this Home Rule
Petition which if passed would allow the Town the option of hiring retired police officers from other towns.
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Article 25 – Approval of Lease of Land Behind Police Station (Cell Tower Site) – The BOS supports Article 25. A wireless communications company contacted the Town just prior to the warrant closing with their interest in putting a cell phone tower on town-owned land behind the Police Station. The lease could generate approximately $45,000 of revenue per year with a lease term of 20-30 years. Abutters would be notified with an opportunity to attend hearings. If the community is not in favor of this the Town would not proceed with the lease. A Finance Committee inquired if this tower would interfere with planes approaching Norwood Airport. Article 26 – Amend Preservation Restriction on the First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church Steeple – The BOS deferred Article 26 to Town Meeting. The BOS had been contacted by the Church’s consultant. If adopted Article 26 would allow the BOS to amend the preservation restriction agreement to allow the church to install telecommunications antenna within the steeple. The Church would receive all revenue from the telecommunications company if this project goes forward. Article 27 – Acquire Permanent Easement over 145 Sherman Street for Drainage & Drainage Purposes – The BOS supports a permanent easement over 145 Sherman Street. Mr. Aspinwall stated it would be for a nominal amount of $1.00. Article 28 – Acquire Permanent Easement over 293 York Street for the Construction of a Drainage System – Article 28 would allow for a permanent easement over property located at 293 York Street. There is a water drainage pipe that drains off of York Street onto a property owner’s land. A developer would relocate the drain. The property owner would grant this easement to the Town at no cost. Article 29 – Acquire Permanent Easement for Drinking Water Well 9A and Drinking Water Well 16 – Mr. Aspinwall stated that this article would obtain an easement to protect two wells. There is 400 feet around wells that are owned by a golf course. The easement would help to protect and prevent uses that could contaminate the wells. The Town is negotiating with the owners of the golf course but it will most likely be for a nominal amount of $1.00. Department of Environmental Protection would have to approve would have to approve this. Article 30 – Appropriation for the Acquisition of a Right of Way Easement and Associated Taking of Land Off Pleasant Street Near Reservoir Pond – The BOS supports this easement. There is currently a sidewalk encroaching on private property. This article would allow the Town to acquire the easement. The owner has been contacted about the acquisition price. The average price of $10,000 has been used as an amount to purchase the right of way. Article 31 – Appropriation for the Installation of a Traffic Signal at Pleasant/Sherman/Angela Intersection with Associated Easement and Eminent Domain Authority – The BOS supports Article 31 for a transfer of $750,000 of Free Cash. Approximately $100,000 is being used as an estimate for contingency costs. Article 32 – Appropriation for Removal of Weeds and Nuisance Vegetation at Old Shepherd’s Pond – The BOS is not in support of Article 32 and is recommending that the subject matter of Article be indefinitely postpone. Article 33 – $239,130 - Appropriation for Earl Newhouse Waterfront Improvements –The BOS supports the use of $239,130 of Free Cash with matching CPA funds of $239,130. The Town Planner has applied for a grant which may eliminate the need for $239,130. Article 34 – Grant of Utility Easement to Verizon at John F. Kennedy Elementary School – The BOS supports Article 34 which if approved at Town Meeting would allow an easement to Verizon to become permanent. The licensing arrangement would be replaced by the permanent easement. The School Committee has given permission for this to take place. FINCOM 201200311 Minutes Page 2 of 8 5/9/2020
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Article 35 – Amend General By-Laws by Adding Sidewalk Betterment Assessment By-Law – This sidewalk
betterment assessment by-law was proposed by Selectmen Porter and is being supported by the BOS. The by-law
includes language that if cash reserves do not exceed 13% of the operating budget, the BOS would not support the
sidewalk project.
Article 36 – Amend General By-Laws by Adding Small Cell Wireless Communication Systems – Currently the BOS
has a policy to govern small cell wireless communications but Town Counsel has recommended that a by-law in
place would be stronger than a policy. At the present time the BOS does not have any application before them.
Article 37 – Amend Soil Erosion and Sediment Control By-Law – Mr. Aspinwall stated Article 37 would change land
disturbance from 5,000 sq. ft. to 20,000 sq. ft. The Conservation Commission is working on combining Article 37
and 38 into one by-law but the language may not be ready for Annual Town Meeting. Under the new by-law there
would be one fee instead of two fees.
Article 40 – Acceptance of Village Gate Road as a Town Way and Article 41 – Acceptance of Historical Way as a
Town Way – Mr. Aspinwall stated that these streets are not ready to be accepted, therefore, the BOS is
recommending that the subject matter of Article 40 and Article 41 be indefinitely postponed.
Article 53 – Amend Additional 43D Priority Development Sites – Mr. Aspinwall stated that a large internet retailer
is interested in 30 Dan Road. The Economic Development Committee is recommending that this property be
designated as a 43D site thereby expediting the permitting process to six months.
Article 54 – Appropriate Funds to Meet Expenses for Next Fiscal Year FY21 - Budget
Mr. Aspinwall stated the BOS approved the following budget amounts:
• Municipal Expense Budget - $22,862,135
• Fixed Expense Budget - $31,392,411
• Cash Capital Budget - $1,600,000
• Special Appropriations Budget - $1,578,429
• Water Enterprise Budget - $7,621,658
• Sewer Enterprise Budget - $6,819,067
• Rink Enterprise Budget - $238,660
The following budget information was also discussed:
• Finance Committee members expressed concern with the Police and Fire Department overtime budgets
especially if the departments have to return at the end of the fiscal year for a Reserve Fund Transfer.
• Possible budget request reductions total $108,813. Part of these reductions include a $36,000 reduction
of Police Department overtime, a $44,734 reduction of Fire Department overtime, a $16,000 reduction to
the DPW Administration budget and a $12,000 reduction to the Assessors budget due to attrition.
• The School Department budget requests for FY21 is $46,419,604.
• The Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB) FY21 budget request is $20,000 more than FY20.
• With regard to the Conservation Commission budget request for an increase in hours to the
Administrative Assistant position and the additional of a part-time clerical position to attend meetings and
take minutes, a Finance Committee member suggested that the budget salary requests for these positions
could be funded through wetland fees collected. Mr. Aspinwall stated that the Conservation Commission
would have to approve this. He further stated that the BOS supports the Conservation Commission
budget increases through the use of the general fund. The Conservation Commission is working on
getting the agency funds caught up. In response to a Finance Committee member suggesting using the
revenue source from the state another member inquired as to the balance of the fund. Mr. Scollins does
not believe it is a sizeable balance and fluctuates. Another Finance Committee member stated that the
Commission receives revolving funds of approximately $60,000 in a formula grant which could be used to
cover expenses.
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• Revolving Funds Authorized by ATM 2020 (see meeting document) – The year to date balance in revolving
funds for FY20 is $936,190. A Finance Committee member suggested that this balance could be used
towards operating budgets instead of taxing to the max this year thereby giving a relief to the taxpayers.
Another member inquired if the BOS had taken a position on the use of the revolving funds. Mr. Connelly
stated that the BOS should discuss this at one of their future meetings. Mr. Scollins stated that revenue
received by departments through revolving funds needs to be reviewed and allocated for use by not only
the BOS but also the Department manager.
• With regard to overtime costs, Mr. Aspinwall stated that both the Fire Chief and Police Chief are
committed to staying within their budgets, especially with regarding to overtime.
The Finance Committee discussed and voted the following Town Meeting articles:
Article 22 – Recommendations of the Community Preservation Committee
Vote - Article 22 Motion 1 – $35,000 for Community Preservation administrative expenses
A motion made by Ms. Saint André that the motion for Article 22 Motion 1 as printed in the warrant be
recommended to Town Meeting was seconded by Mr. Mauro. Vote: 8-0-0.
Vote – Article 22 Motion 2 – Transfers of FY21 receipts of the Community Preservation Fund
A motion made by Ms. Saint André that the motion for Article 22 Motion 2 as printed in the warrant be
recommended to Town Meeting was seconded by Mr. Mauro. Vote: 8-0-0.
Vote – Article 22 Motion 3 - $261,790 – Debt Payment for Paul Revere Heritage Site
A motion made by Ms. Thomas that the motion for Article 22 Motion 3 as printed in the warrant be
recommended to Town Meeting was seconded by Mr. Mauro. Vote: 8-0-0.
Vote – Article 22 Motion 4 - $239,130 – Implementation of the Newhouse Waterfront Master Plan
A motion made by Ms. Thomas that the motion for Article 22 Motion 4 as printed in the warrant be
recommended to Town Meeting was seconded by Mr. Mauro. Vote: 8-0-0. If a grant that the Town Planner
applied for his approved $239,130 may not be needed.
Vote – Article 22 Motion 5 - $116,600 – Construction of Tennis Court and Pickleball Court
A motion made by Ms. Saint André that the motion for Article 22 Motion 5 as printed in the warrant be
recommended to Town Meeting was seconded by Mr. Mauro. Vote: 8-0-0.
Vote – Article 22 Motion 6 - $35,097 – Rehabilitation of Galvin Middle School Outdoor Basketball Court
A motion made by Ms. Thomas that the motion for Article 22 Motion 6 as printed in the warrant be
recommended to Town Meeting was seconded by Mr. Clough. Vote: 8-0-0.
Vote – Article 22 Motion 7 - $450,000 – Phase Two Restoration of the Tilden House
A motion made by Ms. Thomas that the motion for Article 22 Motion 7 as printed in the warrant be
recommended to Town Meeting was seconded by Mr. Mauro. Vote: 8-0-0.
Vote – Article 22 Motion 8 - $15,000 – Exterior Building Rehabilitation Study of Memorial Hall
A motion made by Ms. Thomas that the motion for Article 22 Motion 8 as printed in the warrant be
recommended to Town Meeting was seconded by Mr. Mauro. Vote: 8-0-0.
Vote – Article 22 Motion 9 - $80,000 – Fire Alarm Upgrades at the Hemenway School Senior House Complex
A motion made by Ms. Thomas that the motion for Article 22 Motion 9 as printed in the warrant be
recommended to Town Meeting was seconded by Mr. Mauro. Vote: 8-0-0.
Vote – Article 22 Motion 10 – Authorize BOS to Acquire Interests in Real Estate etc.
A motion made by Ms. Thomas that the motion for Article 22 Motion 10 as printed in the warrant be
recommended to Town Meeting was seconded by Mr. Mauro. Vote: 8-0-0.
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Article 12 – “Omnibus” Capital Outlay Program Vote – Article 12 Motion 4 - $100,000 – Purchase of School Bus & Upgrading School Safety & Security Equip. A motion made by Mr. Mauro that the motion for Article 12 Motion 4 as printed in the warrant be recommended to Town Meeting was seconded by Mr. Wong. Vote: 8-0-0. Vote – Article 12 Motion 13 - $17,000 – Purchase of Skate Sharpening Equipment A motion made by Mr. Mauro that the motion for Article 12 Motion 13 as printed in the warrant be recommended to Town Meeting was seconded by Ms. Saint André. Vote: 8-0-0. Vote – Article 2 Motion 1 – Adopt Rules to Govern Town Meeting A motion made by Ms. Saint André that the motion for Article 2 Motion 1 as printed in the warrant be recommended to Town Meeting was seconded by Ms. Thomas. Vote: 8-0-0. Vote – Article 2 Motion 3 – Formalizes Procedures by Town Meeting A motion made by Ms. Saint André that the motion for Article 2 Motion 1 as printed in the warrant be recommended to Town Meeting was seconded by Ms. Thomas. Vote: 8-0-0. Article 2 Motion 2 – Non-Resident Listing – To be voted at a future Finance Committee meeting. Vote - Article 5 – Collective Bargaining Agreements Under the Board of Selectmen A motion made by Ms. Saint André that the subject matter of Article 5 be indefinitely postponed was seconded by Ms. Thomas. Vote: 8-0-0. Vote - Article 6 – Personal Service Contracts Under the Board of Selectmen A motion made by Ms. Saint André that the subject matter of Article 6 be indefinitely postponed was seconded by Mr. Wong. Vote: 8-0-0. Vote - Article 13 – Accept General or Session Laws Enacted by the General Court A motion made by Ms. Saint André that the subject matter of Article 13 be indefinitely postponed was seconded by Ms. Thomas. Vote: 8-0-0. Vote - Article 17 – Appropriation to Increase Stabilization Fund A motion made by Mr. Arsondiadis that the subject matter of Article 17 be indefinitely postponed was seconded by Ms. Thomas. Vote: 8-0-0. Vote - Article 32 – Appropriation for Removal of Weeds & Nuisance Vegetation at Old Shepherd’s Pond A motion made by Ms. Saint André that the subject matter of Article 32 be indefinitely postponed was seconded by Ms. Thomas. A Finance Committee member stated that it was unfortunate that the Town did not have the funds for this appropriation and that the weeds and nuisance vegetation could be worse next year. A comment was also made that the BOS mitigation funds have a balance of approximately $3.4 million. A motion made by Ms. Saint André that an appropriation of $15,000 from Free Cash for the removal of weeds and nuisance vegetation at Old Shepard be recommended to Town Meeting for Article 32 was seconded by Ms. Thomas. Vote: 7-1-0. Vote - Article 10 – Transfer Unexpended Prior Year Appropriations A motion made by Ms. Saint André that $29,890 be transferred from the Street Betterments Reserved Receipt Account as printed in the warranted was seconded by Ms. Thomas. Vote: 8-0-0. Vote - Article 11 – Authorize Certain Revolving Funds A motion made by Ms. Saint André that the motion for Article 11 as printed in the warrant be recommended to Town Meeting was seconded by Ms. Thomas. Vote: 8-0-0. FINCOM 201200311 Minutes Page 5 of 8 5/9/2020
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Vote - Article 20 – $5,000 - Community Recognition Supplemental Funding A motion made by Ms. Saint André that the motion for Article 20 as printed in the warrant be recommended to Town Meeting was seconded by Ms. Thomas. Vote: 8-0-0. Article 21 – Appropriation to Increase the Solar Facility Stabilization Fund The Finance Committee did not take action on Article 21. Vote - Article 24 – Home Rule Petition Relative to Retired Police Officers A motion made by Ms. Saint André that the motion for Article 24 as printed in the warrant be recommended to Town Meeting was seconded by Ms. Thomas. Vote: 8-0-0. Vote - Article 27 – Easement Over 145 Sherman Street for Drainage and Drainage Maintenance Purposes A motion made by Ms. Saint André that the motion for Article 27 as printed in the warrant be recommended to Town Meeting was seconded by Mr. Wong. Vote: 8-0-0. Vote - Article 28 – Easement Over 293 York Street for Construction of Drainage System A motion made by Ms. Saint André that the motion for Article 28 as printed in the warrant be recommended to Town Meeting was seconded by Ms. Thomas. Vote: 8-0-0. Vote - Article 29 – Easement For Drinking Water Well 9A and Drinking Water Well 16 A motion made by Ms. Saint André that the motion for Article 20 as printed in the warrant be recommended to Town Meeting was seconded by Ms. Thomas. Vote: 8-0-0. Vote - Article 30 – $10,000 - Easement off Pleasant Street near Reservoir Bond A motion made by Ms. Saint André that an appropriation of $10,000 from Free Cash for acquiring an easement for a right of way at 110 Pleasant Street be recommended to Town Meeting for Article 30 was seconded by Mr. Wong. Vote: 8-0-0. Vote - Article 31 – Appropriation for the Installation of a Traffic Signal at Pleasant/Sherman/Angela Intersection with Associated Easement and Eminent Domain Authority A motion made by Ms. Thomas that an appropriation of $750,000 from Free Cash for the installation of a traffic signal at Pleasant/Sherman/Angela Intersection as printed in the warrant be recommended to Town Meeting was seconded by Mr. Clough. Vote: 8-0-0. Vote - Article 33 – $239,130 - Appropriation for Earl Newhouse Waterfront Improvements A motion made by Ms. Saint André that an appropriation of $239,130 from Free Cash for the Earl Newhouse Waterfront Improvements as printed in the warrant be recommended to Town Meeting was seconded by Mr. Mauro. Vote: 8-0-0. Vote - Article 34 – Grant of Utility Easement to Verizon at John F. Kennedy Elementary School A motion made by Ms. Thomas that the motion for Article 34 as printed in the warrant be recommended to Town Meeting was seconded by Mr. Wong. Vote: 8-0-0. Article 35 – Amend General By-Laws by Adding Sidewalk Betterment Assessment By-Law The Finance Committee did not take action on Article 35. Article 36 – Amend General By-Laws by Adding Small Cell Wireless Communication Systems A motion made by Ms. Saint André that the motion for Article 36 as printed in the warrant be recommended to Town Meeting was seconded by Ms. Thomas. Vote: 8-0-0. Article 37 – Amend Soil Erosion and Sediment Control By-Law FINCOM 201200311 Minutes Page 6 of 8 5/9/2020
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A motion made by Ms. Thomas that the motion for Article 37 as printed in the warrant be recommended to Town Meeting was seconded by Mr. Mauro. Vote: 8-0-0. Article 38 – Amend Stormwater Management By-Law A motion made by Ms. Thomas that the motion for Article 38 as printed in the warrant be recommended to Town Meeting was seconded by Mr. Mauro. Vote: 8-0-0. Article 40 – Acceptance of Village Gate Road as a Town Way A motion made by Ms. Saint André that the subject matter of Article 40 be indefinitely postponed was seconded by Ms. Thomas. Vote: 8-0-0. Article 41 – Acceptance of Historical Way as a Town Way A motion made by Ms. Saint André that the subject matter of Article 41 be indefinitely postponed was seconded by Mr. Wong. Vote: 8-0-0. Article 53 – Amend Additional 43D Priority Development Sites The Finance Committee did not take action on Article 53. Public Comments - There were no public comments. Announcements – The March 16, 2020 Finance Committee meeting was cancelled. Approval of Minutes - There were no minutes approved. Next Meeting Date: The March 23, 2020 meeting would be with Laura Smead, the Town Planner. The March 25, 2020 meeting would be with the Superintendent and Business Manager from Blue Hills Regional High School. The April 2, 2020 meeting would be the final meeting for the Finance Committee before sending the recommendations to the printer. Ms. Thomas suggested to the Finance Committee that after Town Meeting has concluded and sometime during the off season the Committee should bring in a member from the Board of Selectmen to discuss the BOS Mitigation Fund balances and the Revolving Fund balances. Adjournment: A motion made by Mr. Wong to adjourn the meeting at 9:43 p.m. was seconded by Mr. Clough. Vote: 8-0-0. Minutes reviewed by: Christos Arsondiadis Respectfully submitted, Timothy McKenna Chair, Canton Finance Committee FINCOM 201200311 Minutes Page 7 of 8 5/9/2020
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Canton Finance Committee Meeting
March 11, 2020
Please note: Some meeting documents may be found on the Town’s website under the Posted Minutes section
(Laser Fiche).
For information regarding department budget requests please follow the below link:
https://www.town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/5658/FY21-Municipal-Budget---Dept-Requests---Jan-2020
Agenda for March 11, 2020. (1 page).
Board of Selectmen Positions on 2020 ATM Articles (1 page).
Memorandum from Charles Aspinwall to Finance Committee dated March 5, 2020 regarding Selectmen Budget
and Article Positions (9 pages).
Article 11 - Revolving Funds Authorized by ATM 2020 with balances as of February 2020 (1 page).
Article 12 Motion 4 – Proposed motion (4 pages).
Article 16 - ATM 2020 – Authorized Debt to Rescinded (1 page).
Article 17 – Cash Reserve Balances (1 page).
Article 21 – Solar Facility Net Revenues to Date (2 pages).
Article 22 - Recommendations of the Community Preservation Committee) (4 pages).
Article 25 – Cell Phone Tower on Land behind the Police Station (1 page).
Article 26 – Amend Preservation Restriction – First Parish Steeple (15 pages).
Article 27 – Acquire Permanent Easement – 145 Sherman Street (6 pages).
Article 28 – Acquire Permanent Easement – 293 York Street (7 pages).
Article 29 – Acquire Permanent Easement – Well 9A and Well 16 (2 pages).
Article 30 – Acquisition of Right of Way Easement – Land off Pleasant Street (3 pages).
Article 31 – Installation of Traffic Signal at Pleasant/Sherman/Angela Intersection (4 pages).
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