Canton, Massachusetts · Saved source text
March 27, 2017, Finance Committee Meeting. Minutes
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Canton Finance Committee Minutes Voted on: x/8/17
Meeting Minutes Vote: 9-0-0
Monday, March 27, 2017
Members Present:
Rob Barker, Jerry Dorfman, Nichols Gallagher, Dianne Gustafson, Cynthia Holcombe, Stephanie Leach,
Tim McKenna, Barbara Saint Andre and Cindy Thomas.
Members Absent:
All members were present for the meeting.
Guests Present:
Josh Cohen, Chair, Canton Conservation Commission and Member, Canton Little League Board
George Comeau, Chair, Canton Community Preservation Committee(CCPC)
Jim Murgia, Finance Director
Ellen Jones, Finance Committee Secretary
Opening: A meeting of the Canton Finance Committee was called to order by Chair Saint Andre at
7:04 p.m. on Monday, March 27, 2017 in the Salah Meeting Room of Town Hall.
A. Approval of Agenda
Chair Saint Andre reviewed the items on the agenda and welcomed Mr. Comeau and Mr. Cohen to the
meeting to discuss the proposed Canton Little League bathroom and storage facility at the Kennedy
Elementary School.
B. Announcements
There were no announcements.
C. New Business
Article 27 Motion 8 —Canton Little League —Bathroom and Storage Facility at the Kennedy
Elementary School Field
Mr. Comeau of the Community Preservation Committee and Mr. Cohen of the Canton Little League (CLL)
explained the details of the $173,500 request for a bathroom and storage facility at the Kennedy
Elementary School Field as follows:
• The building will be located between Crawford Field and Sullivan Field.
• The structure will not impact any other school buildings located at the Kennedy.
• According to Mr. Comeau and Mr. Cohen the CLL has already obtained permits from the Planning
Board, Zoning Board of Appeals, Board of Health and Conservation Commission. (Mr. Cohen stated
that he recused himself when discussion and voting took place at the Conservation Commission
meetings because he is the Chair of the Conservation Commission and a Board member of the
Canton Little League.)
• There is also School Committee support for this project.
Chair Saint Andre inquired about the future care and maintenance of the facility. Mr. Cohen offered the
following additional information about the facility:
• CLL currently maintains the portable bathrooms located at the field. The CLL recently had a
complaint from a parent about a needle located in one of the bathrooms, further emphasizing the
need for a facility with clean, safe bathrooms.
• These restrooms will help to serve 3,000 to 5,000 children and adults per year that use the fields.
• CLL's goal is to also have a facility that will offer food at the site, since they are one of the only sites
in the area that does not offer food and refreshments.
• All sports leagues (baseball, soccer, lacrosse etc.) will have access to the use of the building.
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The CCL will be the administrators and caretakers of the building, will pay forjanitorial services, will
have the facility open during certain times while games are going on and will ensure garbage is
cleaned up and the building is secured.
Mr. Cohen stated that the food vendor has not been decided to date but that a decision has been
made not to have a fryolater in the building. They are considering a third party such as D&E that
would pay a fee to CLL for operating the concession stand.
I n response to Chair Saint Andre's inquiry as to individuals within the CLL that have the experience in
running a facility such as the one being proposed, Mr. Cohen stated that the Board of Directors currently
act in coordination with the Parks &Recreation Department along with the 28 volunteers associated with
the CLL for keeping the fields and restrooms clean and in excellent shape.
Mr. Comeau offered the following additional information:
• He explained that Community Preservation Act(CPA)funding is not allowed to be used for
concession purposes. The Community Preservation Committee(CCPC) received an application from
the CLL for nearly double the $173,500 that is being proposed for the article but purposely
underfunded the project (not funding the total cost of the bathrooms) because the CCPC is confident
that the CLL will be able to raise the rest of the funds for the facility. CPA funding would be
contingent upon the fundraising.
• There will also be a Memorandum of Understanding with the School Committee, CCPC and Building
Renovations Committee. Ms. Thomas suggested that the Finance Committee's discussion in the
Town Meeting Recommendations should include details of the project and the arrangement among
the various parties involved. She also recommended that if the CCPC speaks about this project on
town meeting floor, they should be clear that the project will include a concession stand, however,
that portion of the project is not being funded with CPA funds.
Chair Saint Andre raised concerns about liability issues with the facility. Ms. Gustafson inquired about
abutters to this project. Mr. Cohen stated that the abutters have been notified, the building will not be
located near houses and the facility is at least 200 feet from wetlands.
Mr. Comeau stated that the School Committee had voted again in support for this project. He suggested
that the School Committee could be added to the motion and the Board of Selectmen could be removed
from the motion. The Building Renovations Committee would be very involved with the project.
Article 27 Motion 9 - $150,000 CPA for Open Space &Recreation Plan, Trails Plan 8~ Newhouse
Waterfront Landscape Plan
Chair Saint Andre inquired of Mr. Comeau if the $150,000 being requested under Motion 9 was
interrelated with the $150,000 being requested under Article 47 for a consultant for the Master Plan. Mr.
Comeau was a bit uncertain on how to respond to this inquiry but he did state that the Town Planner had
not applied for CPA funding, but that open space was an important part of the Master Plan. He further
stated that the Town Planner, the Board of Selectmen and the Planning Board will need to coordinate all
of these plans.
The Finance Committee discussed the following articles:
Article 17 —Increase Stabilization Fund —The Finance Committee did not reopen Article 17 and were
comfortable with the vote they had taken at a previous meeting to transfer $500,000 from Free Cash into
the Stabilization Fund.
Article 36 —Retired Police Officers — Ms. Gallagher requested more explanation of this article to assist
her in writing the discussion. Mr. Murgia stated that retired officers are allowed to work up to 960 hours
per year (or 19 hours per week) without affecting their pension. Section 7 of the Article raises the
allowable age for retiree police officers working after retirement from 65 to age 70. Once the individual
reaches age 70 payments would cease.
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Articl__e 59 -Appropriate Funds to Meet Expenses for Next Fiscal Year (FY18 The Finance Committee voted on the FY18 School operating budget as follows Vote - FY18 School Operatina Budaet Chair Saint Andre reviewed for the Committee that the Revenue Committee had recommended a 5.6% budget increase for the School Department and that the $495,000 transfer from Free Cash last year for the cost of full day kindergarten had been reduced from the base budget at the start of the budget year for FY18. Mr. Murgia stated that the cost of implementing the full day kindergarten had actually cost $432,000. The remaining $63,000 in the School Departments FY17 budget is being recommended as a motion under Article 9 to transfer to the Health Insurance budget to cover the cost of health insurance for 14 new school positions filled in fiscal 2017. The FY18 budget recommended by the Revenue Committee is $40,221,559. This budget covers $331,120 for steps and lanes, $1,037,732 for COLA's and an additional $750,000. The School Committee had had asked fora 7.66% budget increase or $40,995,328. Chair Saint Andre stated that the Committee could make the decision to use approximately $500,000 of unused levy capacity by adding it to the School Budget. To fund the entire School Committee budget request would require the use of Free Cash, which she was not in favor of using for the operating budget. The Committee did not choose to use any of the unused levy capacity. Ms. Gustafson stated that she had reviewed the school aid numbers. Chapter 70 had increased by $700,000. Mr. Barker commented that in a given year when budgets increase greater than Prop. 2'h ,such as the 5.6% increase being proposed for the School Department for FY18, it is a positive situation. A motion made by Ms. Gallagher to recommend a School Department budget of $40,221,559 for FY18 was seconded by Mr. Barker. Vote: 9-0-0. Vote — FY18 Municipal Operating Budgets The Finance Committee voted on the Municipal Operating Budgets. Chair Saint Andre recused herself while the Committee discussed and voted the Executive Area budget for FY18. A motion made by Mr. Barker to recommend an FY18 Executive Area budget of $1,098,103 was seconded by Mr. McKenna. Vote: 8-0-0. Chair Saint Andre rejoined the meeting. A motion made by Mr. Barker to recommend an FY18 Assessors budget of $356,791 was seconded by Ms. Gustafson. Vote: 9-0-0. A motion made by Mr. McKenna to recommend an FY18 Building and Zoning budget of $369,245 was seconded by Mr. Barker. Vote: 9-0-0. A motion made by Ms. Gallagher to recommend an FY18 Committees &Commissions budget of $35,268 was seconded by Mrs. Barker. Vote: 9-0-0. A motion made by Mr. Barker to recommend an FY18 Conservation Commission budget of $140,734 was seconded by Mr. McKenna. Vote: 9-0-0. FINCOM 20170327 Minutes Page 3 of 7 3/28/17
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A motion made by Mr. McKenna to recommend an FY18 Council on Aging budget of $395,416 was seconded by Ms. Gallagher. Vote: 9-0-0. A motion made by Mr. Barker to recommend an FY18 Finance Department budget of $1,021,785 was seconded by Ms. Gallagher. Vote: 9-0-0. A motion made by Ms. Holcombe to recommend an FY18 Fire Department budget of $5,701,031 was seconded by Mr. McKenna. Vote: 9-0-0. A motion made by Mr. McKenna to recommend an FY18 Health Department budget of $373,622 was seconded by Ms. Gallagher. Vote: 9-0-0. A motion made by Ms. Gallagher to recommend an FY18 Parks and Recreation budget of $715,125 was seconded by Mr. Barker. Vote: 9-0-0. A motion made by Ms. Leach to recommend an FY18 Planning Board budget of $63,900 was seconded by Mr. Barker. Vote: 9-0-0. A motion made by Ms. Gallagher to recommend an FY18 Police Department budget of $4,975,794 was seconded by Mr. McKenna. Vote: 9-0-0. A motion made by Ms. Gustafson to recommend an FY18 Public Library budget of $1,270,936 was seconded by Mr. Barker. Vote: 9-0-0. A motion made by Ms. Holcombe to recommend an FY18 Public Works budget of $2,870,867 was seconded by Mr. Barker. Vote: 9-0-0. A motion made by Ms. Gallagher to recommend an FY18 Town Clerk and Elections budget of $237,550 was seconded by Mr. Dorfman. Vote: 9-0-0. A motion made by Mr. Barker to recommend an FY18 Veterans Services budget of $292,909 was seconded by Mr. McKenna. Vote: 9-0-0. The grand total of FY18 municipal operating budgets voted is $19,919,076 Vote — FY18 Fixed Costs Budgets The Finance Committee voted the following Fixed Costs budgets: A motion made by Ms. Holcombe to recommend an FY18 Blue Hills Regional fixed costs budget of $1,164,066 was seconded by Mr. Barker. Vote: 9-0-0. A motion made by Mr. Barker to recommend an FY18 Debt Service fixed costs budget of $4,786,603 was seconded by Mr. Dorfman. Vote: 9-0-0. A motion made by Ms. Gallagher to recommend an FY18 Employer Share-Health/Life Insurance fixed costs budget of $12,142,117 was seconded by Ms. Holcombe. Vote: 9-0-0. A motion made by Mr. Barker to recommend an FY18 Norfolk County Agricultural fixed costs budget of $20,000 was seconded by Ms. Gustafson. Vote: 9-0-0. A motion made by Mr. Dorman to recommend an FY18 OPEB fixed costs budget of $1,000,000 was not seconded. The Finance Committee discussed the OPEB budget. The OPEB budget request being proposed for FY18 is a $30,000 increase from $770,000 to $800,000. Mr. Barker spoke in support of designating additional funds towards roads. Ms. Thomas spoke in support of designating an additional $100,000 towards road improvements and $100,000 towards the OPEB budget. FINCOM 20170327 Minutes Page 4 of 7 3/28/17
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Mr. Murgia stated that initially his goal was to set the FY18 budget for OPEB at $1,000,000 and that it was reasonable to increase the OPEB budget by $200,000. Mr. Murgia stated that the roads allocation under Article 26 (Supplement Ch. 90 Roads Program) was sufficient. Ms. Gustafson spoke in support of more funds being allocated to road repairs out of capital or a future override for roads improvement. Ms. Thomas spoke in support of the Town moving beyond repairing just the main roads and pave some of the secondary roads in town that are in need of repaving. She noted that the pace of road repair leaves many roads in poor condition and are not prioritized given the current resources. A motion made by Mr. Barker to recommend an FY18 OPEB fixed costs budget of $800,000 was seconded by Ms. Holcombe. Vote: 4-5-0. Mr. Dorfman, Mr. McKenna, Chair Saint Andre, Ms. Gallagher and Ms. Leach did not support this motion. The motion failed. A motion made by Ms. Leach to recommend an FY18 OPEB fixed costs budget of $1,000,000 with $200,000 being used from Free Cash was seconded by Mr. Dorfman. Vote: 6-3-0. Mr. Barker, Ms. Holcombe and Ms. Gustafson did not support this motion. For the FY18 OPEB budget, the budget would be increased over the FY17 amount of $770,000 by using $30,000 from general revenues and $200,000 from Free Cash for an FY18 proposed amount of $1,000,000. A motion made by Ms. Gallagher to recommend an FY18 Reserve Fund fixed costs budget of $500,000 was seconded by Mr. Barker. Vote: 9-0-0. A motion made by Ms. Gallagher to recommend an FY18 Retirement Benefits fixed costs budget of $4,799,947 was seconded by Mr. Barker. Vote: 9-0-0. A motion made by Ms. Gustafson to recommend an FY18 Snow and Ice fixed costs budget of $600,500 was seconded by Ms. Holcombe. Vote: 9-0-0. A motion made by Ms. Holcombe to recommend an FY18 Street Lighting fixed costs budget of $95,000 was seconded by Ms. Gallagher. Vote: 9-0-0. A motion made by Ms. Gallagher to recommend an FY18 Town Insurance fixed costs budget of $1,205,918 was seconded by Mr. Barker. Vote: 9-0-0. The Town Insurance budget includes liability insurance, property insurance, worker's compensation insurance and automobile insurance. A motion made by Mr. McKenna to recommend an FY18 Trash Collection fixed costs budget of $1,961,119 was seconded by Ms. Holcombe. Vote: 9-0-0. A motion made by Ms. Gallagher to recommend an FY18 Unemployment Compensation fixed costs budget of $100,000 was seconded by Mr. Dorfman. Vote: 9-0-0. Ms. Holcombe inquired as to why the Unemployment Compensation budget has always been set at $100,000. Mr. Murgia explained that $100,000 transfers into the Trust Fund and that it is a reimbursable method that pays dollar for dollar out the Trust Fund. The grand total of FY18 Fixed Costs budgets voted is $28,175,270 Vote — FY18 Enterprise Funds Budgets The Finance Committee discussed and voted the Enterprise Funds budgets. Mr. Murgia stated that the FY18 budget request for the Rink Enterprise fund was being reduced from the department request of $28,210 to an executive request of $19,910. The $8,300 reduction was for a stipend that had been paid to the former Parks and Recreation Director but would not be paid to the new incoming Director while the rink is not operating. The FY18 Rink budget would be $6,360 of debt service and $13,550 of other expenses for the monthly fee for the fence that is surrounding the rink area. A motion made by Mr. Barker to recommend an FY18 Rink Enterprise budget of $19,910 was seconded by Ms. Gallagher. Vote: 9-0-0. FINCOM 20170327 Minutes Page 5 of 7 3/28/17
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A motion made by Mr. Barker to recommend an FY18 Sewer Enterprise budget of $6,536,733 was
seconded by Ms. Holcombe. Vote: 9-0-0.
A motion made by Ms. Gallagher to recommend an FY18 Water Enterprise budget of $7,357,882
was seconded by Mr. Barker. Mr. Murgia stated that the Chair should state at Town Meeting that
$400,000 from water retained earnings will be used for the FY18 budget. The current balance in the
water retained earnings surplus is $2.5 million. Vote: 9-0-0.
D. Other Business/Open Issues
The Finance Committee reviewed the following article discussions: 37, 40, 41, 42, 43, 47, 48, 49, 51, 52,
53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 35, 29 and 28.
Vote —Article 27 Motion 8 —Community Preservation —Canton Little Leaque - $173,500
A motion made by Mr. McKenna that $173,500 be appropriated from CPA to be spent by the
School Committee with the approval of the Canton Little League and the Building Renovations
Committee for the purpose of the construction of bathroom and storage facilities was seconded
by Ms. Gallagher. Vote: 9-0-0.
The Chair asked the Finance Committee secretary to email the Finance Committee report to the
members for their review.
E. Approval of Minutes
A motion made by Mr. McKenna to approve the minutes as written for March 8, 2017 was
seconded by Ms. Holcombe. Vote: 8-0-1. Mr. Barker abstained from the vote.
F. Next Meeting Date: The next meeting is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, March 29.
Adjournment: A motion made by Ms. Gustafson to adjourn the meeting at 10:03 p.m. was
seconded by Mr. McKenna. Vote: 9-0-0.
Minutes reviewed by: Cindy Thomas
Res{~ectfully submitted,
1 ~~~ ,~~-/'/ ~
Barbara~Saint Andre
Chair, Gunton Finance Committee
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Canton Finance Committee Meeting
Monday, March 27, 2017
Meeting Documents
Please note: These meeting documents may also be found on the Town's website under the
Posted Minutes section (Laser Fiche).
Agenda (1 page).
Draft of Finance Committee Report, as of 3/27/17 (12 pages).
Operating Budget by Voting Category(2 pages).
Summary of General Revenues and Expenditures as of 3/22/17 (1 page).
FY18 Municipal Operating Budgets as of 3/22/17(2 pages).
Fixed Costs and State and County Charges as of 3/22/17 (1 page).
Enterprise Funds' Operating Budgets for Fiscal 2018 as of 3/22/17 (1 page).
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