Canton, Massachusetts · Saved source text
December 01, 2021, Finance Committee Meeting with Capital Planning Committee. Minutes
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801 Washington Street Vote: 6-0-2 Canton, MA 02021 Released on: 5/9/22 , Vote: 6-0-0 Meeting Minutes — Executive Session December 1, 2021 Finance Committee Members Present: Dave Clough, Dan Cole, Karen Foley, Emilio Mauro, Tim McKenna and Cindy Thomas. Finance Committee Members Absent: Tom Emery and Reuki Schutt. Guests Present: Paul DeRensis, Town Counsel Ellen Jones, Finance Committee Recording Secretary Randy Scollins, Finance Director The meeting held in the Library of the Canton High School was called to order at 5:39 p.m. The purpose for going into Executive Session was for the Finance Committee members to discuss the strategy with respect to considering 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. Motion to Move into Executive Session At 5:40 p.m. a motion made by Ms. Thomas 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 Mr. Clough. Roll Call Vote: Mr. Cole Aye Mr. Cole Aye Ms. Foley Aye Mr. McKenna Aye Ms. Thomas Aye Mr. Mauro Aye The motion to enter into executive session at 5:40 p.m. passed 6-0-0. Special Town Meeting (STM) — Article 2 — Real Estate Acquisition — St. Gerard’s The Finance Committee received a motion for Article 2 which included a borrowing amount of $3,305,000 through a debt exclusion override. This was consistent with the $3.,305 million that was voted by the Finance Committee at their meeting on Monday, November 29, 2021. A motion made by Ms. Thomas to approve a motion for Article 2 as presented in a, b, c, d and e as follows: a. That the Canton Select Board is hereby authorized to acquire by purchase, gift or eminent domain, for general municipal purposes, the real estate consisting of land and buildings known as St. Gerard Majella Catholic Church, located at 1860 Washington Street, Assessor’s Map 64, parcel 37, in the Town of Canton; b. that the Canton Select Board is hereby authorized to enter into such contracts and to engage such consultants (such as but not limited to engineers, surveyors, appraisers, financial advisors and the like) as in the Board’s judgment are advantageous to assist the Town in carrying out the foregoing; c. that the sum of Three Million Three Hundred Five Thousand ($3,305,000) is hereby appropriated for the Canton Select Board to use for the foregoing purposes; d. that to meet this appropriation, the Treasurer of the town, with the approval of the Select Board, is hereby authorized to borrow Three Million Three Hundred Five Thousand ($3,305,000) and to issue notes and bonds of the town therefore, provided however, this appropriation shall not take effect unless or until the passage of a ballot question debt exclusion override to exempt the amounts required to pay for the bond issued pursuant to this vote from the limits of Proposition Two & One Half so called (chapter 59 section 21C(k) of the general laws); and e. that any premium received upon the sale of any bonds or notes approved by this vote, less any such premium applied to the payment of the costs of issuance of such bonds or notes, may be applied to the payment of costs approved by this vote in accordance with M.G.L. c. 44, §20, thereby reducing the amount authorized to be borrowed to pay such costs by a like amount. was seconded by Mr. Cole. FINCOM 20211201 Minutes - Executive Session.docx Page 1 of 3 01/15/22 Canton Finance Committee Executive Minutes Voted on: 1/26/22
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Mr. Clough questioned that if the vote were to fail at the Special Town Meeting was there an alternative for funding, such as reserves. Mr. Scollins stated that he proposed a borrowing via a debt exclusion override instead of reserves because there will be competing needs for the $5 million of reserves at the May 2022 Annual Town Meeting if the 15% target for General Fund Reserves is to be maintained. The School Department would be requesting $1-2 million for a feasibility study for the Galvin Middle School as well as funds for the Special Education Reserve Trust Fund. At the time of the Finance Committee meeting the FY23 municipal capital requests being requested by departments are $2 million over available funds. Reserves may be allocated for these capital needs. Mr. Scollins would not recommend putting some of these requests into debt because the debt capacity has already been advanced. The Town will not have its full debt capacity for the next three years. A two-thirds vote would be required for Article 2 at STM. He stated that it is the will of the Select Board to have the vote go to the people and that the ballot question be decided by the voters. Roll Call Vote: Ms. Foley Aye Ms. Thomas Aye Mr. Cole Aye Mr. Cole Aye Mr. Mauro Aye Mr.McKenna Aye The motion to recommend Article 2 as proposed passed 6-0-0. Mr. Clough inquired about the Metropolis Rink roof repair and the associated defects in the construction and if it would be covered under warranty as part of the construction. Mr. Scollins stated that Bob McCarthy, the Buildings Renovation Committee Chair, may know the answer regarding the warranty. Adjournment - A motion made by Ms. Thomas to adjourn the executive session meeting at 5:55 p.m. was seconded by Mr. Mauro. Roll Call Vote: Mr. Mauro Aye Ms. Thomas Aye Mr. Clough Aye Mr. Cole Aye Ms. Foley Aye Mr.McKenna Aye The motion passed 6-0-0. Mr. DeRensis provided the 1860 Washington Street appraisal to the Finance Committee members at which time the members examined the appraisal. Ms. Thomas questioned why there was an acreage variance in the appraisal (5 acres) versus the acreage that the assessors had on file (9 acres). This appraisal had not been made public to preserve the negotiating process of the Select Board with the Archdiocese of Boston. Minutes reviewed by: Dan Cole Respectfully submitted, Timothy McKenna Chair, Canton Finance Committee FINCOM 20211201 Minutes - Executive Session.docx Page 2 of 3 01/15/22
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Canton Finance Committee Meeting Executive Session — Meeting Documents December 1, 2021 Please note: Some meeting documents may be found on the Town’s website under the Posted Minutes section (Laser Fiche). Agenda for December 1, 2021 (1 page). Article 2 —- Real Estate Acquisition — St. Gerard's — Motion for Special Town Meeting (1 page). FINCOM 20211201 Minutes - Executive Session.docx Page 3 of 3 01/16/22