Canton, Massachusetts · Saved source text
May 01, 2024, Finance Committee Meeting - Virtual Meeting. Minutes
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Canton Finance Committee Minutes Voted on: 5/13/24 801 Washington Street Vote: 8-0-0 Canton, MA 02021 Meeting Minutes May 1, 2024 Finance Committee Members Present: Dan Cole, Karen Foley, Emilio Mauro, Maureen Menconi, Kristin Mirliani, Reuki Schutt, and Cindy Thomas. Finance Committee Members absent: Dave Clough and Tim McKenna. Guests Present: Ellen Jones, Recording Secretary Randy Scollins, Finance Director Paul Schneiders, Attorney for Canton Hills Homeowners Association — Article 31 (Street Acceptances) Call Meeting to Order: Ms. Thomas called the Finance Committee virtual Zoom meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Review of the Agenda — Ms. Thomas reviewed the agenda, which included a discussion of one Annual Town Meeting (ATM) article (Article 31), the approval of meeting minutes, and the discussion of preparations for ATM. Article 31 — Discuss and Vote — Accept Saddleback Lane & Horseshoe Lane as Town Ways Ms. Thomas explained that there have been discussions and extensive work done by the petitioners’ legal counsel, Attorney Schneiders, the homeowners association / residents of those roads, the Department of Public Works Superintendent Mike Trotta, and the Town Engineer Alfons Koka, with the goal of reaching an agreement on the acceptances of these two streets with the requirement that special conditions be met. Mr. Scollins stated that the new proposed Motion to Modify has been approved by Mr. Trotta and the Town Engineer and that Town Counsel, Paul DeRensis, and Attorney Tim Curley provided suggestions to Attorney Schneiders on what needed to be modified from the original proposed motion. The Town Administrator, Mr. Doody, is also supportive of this Motion to Modify in its current form. Mr. Scollins stated that the Select Board met the prior night (April 30) but that there were only three Select Board Members present and the Chair (John Connolly) did not think it appropriate to vote on the motion at that meeting, but they intend to act on the motion prior to ATM at their meeting on May 13 at 6:00 p.m. at Canton High School. Mr. Scollins further explained that The Select Board Chair, Mr. Connolly, stated the modified motion addressed the concerns that they had with the street acceptances and that they could reverse their original decision on it, given that there is now a motion that is acceptable to most. Mr. Scollins shared the Motion to Modify Article 31 as presented by Attorney Schneiders for the residents of Saddleback Lane and Horseshoe Lane on the Zoom screen and it read as follows: MOTION TO MODIFY ARTICLE 37 MOVED: that Article 31 be modified by adding the following language: That the entities to be conveyed pursuant to this Article do not include the sewer pump station or the stormwater detention/infiltration basins. These entities are shown on the Town of Canton Assessors maps as follows: Storm Parcel A—Located at 1125 Randolph St.-Parcel 106-36, Storm Parcel B-Located at 0 Randolph St. —Parcel 105-54 and Sewer Pump Parcel A-Located at 85 Saddleback Lane-Parcel 105-61. These entities are also shown on an as-built plan of land entitled "Saddleback Lane and Horseshoe Lane," drafted by Hancock Associates and dated 5/21/20. These entities shall continue to be owned and maintained solely by the Canton Hills Homeowners Association pursuant to a written Agreement to be executed between the Homeowners Association and the Town of Canton within ninety (90) days of the close of the 2024 Annual Town Meeting. Also excluded from the conveyance are any landscaped areas which shall remain the sole responsibility of the Homeowners Association. (Submitted by Atty. Paul A. Schneiders On behalf of the Canton Hills Homeowners Association.) FINCOM 20240501 Minutes RS EM FINAL.docx Page 1 of 4 5/1/24
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Mr. Scollins screen shared the engineer plans for the site and they have been reviewed and approved by the Town Engineer. He also stated that meetings took place with the Town representatives, Attorney Schneiders and representatives from the Homeowners Association (HOA). At the meeting, the Treasurer of the HOA reviewed in detail the maintenance that he ensures is accomplished on the two pumping stations with details on what they do throughout the course of each year. The Treasurer of the HOA is very confident that they have maintained the pumping stations and that the pumps are nowhere near the end of life for the pumps and further that the dues they collect from the homeowners would be sufficient to cover the cost of replacement. Ms. Thomas stated that concerns of the Finance Committee included the fact that there are so many unaccepted streets in Canton but she noted that these streets are a unique situation because the development was built under M.G.L. Chapter 40B and this fact created limitations to what the Planning Board and Zoning Board could control. This led to there being line of site issues with the street that enters into the neighborhood, and compliance issues with some of the Town’s typical zoning requiremenis. Mr. Scollins reported that these roads are in great shape and that they are less than five years past having the final coats on them. In response to Mr. Mauro’s inquiry regarding whether the Modified Motion language would be added to the end of Article 31 or if it would delete some of the language in the original article that it clarifies, Mr. Scollins stated that his understanding is because there is no motion in the ATM Recommendations that Attorney Schneiders modified motion would be the motion. The Planning Board may revise their decision based on what is being agreed to by the HOA. Mr. Scollins believes that the Modified Motion would be its own motion and not modify anything. Mr. Scollins confirmed that this would not affect the operating budget for FY 25. The roads currently receive all of the services that other roads receive such as snow plowing and trash pickup. If additional signage were to be required, it would be at a low cost that the Department of Public Works budget would be able to cover. There was some discussion on how this article and amendment would proceed for ATM and how a motion might be developed. The Planning Board would need to make a motion, such as the Modified Motion presented by Mr. Schneiders or the Planning Board could make a new motion and then the Finance Committee could make their motion or a new motion. This will be formalized as the ATM approaches. There will be a meeting on May 7" with Commissioner Staiti to review all of the ATM articles, including Article 31. A motion made by Mr. Mauro that the Finance Committee reconsider Article 31 was seconded by Ms. Foley. Roll Call Vote: Ms. Foley Aye Ms. Menconi Aye Mr. Mauro Aye Ms. Mirliani Aye Mr. Cole Aye Ms. Thomas Aye Vote: 6-0-0. Ms. Schutt joined the Finance Committee meeting after the vote to reconsider Article 31. A motion made by Mr. Mauro that the Finance Committee recommend to Town Meeting Article 31 with the modifications by Attorney Paul Schneiders presented at the Finance Committee meeting on May 1, 2024 was seconded by Ms. Foley. Roll Cail Vote: Ms. Foley Aye Ms. Mirliani Aye Mr. Mauro Aye Ms. Thomas Aye Mr. Cole Aye Ms. Schutt Aye Ms. Menconi Aye Vote: 7-0-0. FINCOM 20240501 Minutes RS EM FINAL.docx Page 2 of 4 5/1/24
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Meeting Minutes: A motion made by Mr. Mauro that the Finance Committee approve the April 10, 2024, minutes as written was seconded by Ms. Schutt. Roll Cali Vote: Mr. Mauro Aye Ms. Foley Aye Ms. Schutt Aye Ms. Mirliani Aye Mr. Cole Aye Ms. Thomas Abstained Ms. Menconi Aye Vote: 6-0-1. Preparations for Annual Town Meeting A Pre-ATM Informational Meeting via Zoom will be held on Tuesday, May 7" from 7-8 p.m. It will be led by Commissioner Dick Staiti, serving in his role of Town Moderator. A motion for Article 31 will be provided to the Town Clerk, so it can be placed on the back of the Voting Cards. The deadline for the public to submit questions for the Pre-ATM Meeting is no later than noon on Friday, May 3, 2024. Next Meeting Date: The next Finance Committee meeting will take place on May 13, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. at the High School with the location in the building to be determined. The Finance Committee will reconsider Article 31 at the meeting and any other required business items. Ms. Schutt will reach out to Ms. Thomas about a light dinner for the Committee members prior to ATM. Meeting Adjournment: A motion made by Mr. Mauro to adjourn the meeting at approximately 7:27 p.m. was seconded by Ms. Schutt. Roll Call Vote: Mr. Cole Aye Ms. Mirliani Aye Ms. Foley Aye Ms. Thomas Aye Mr. Mauro Aye Ms. Schutt Aye Ms. Menconi Aye Vote: 7-0-0. Minutes reviewed by: Mr. Mauro Respectfully sygmitted Cindy Thomas A) Chair, Canton Finance Committee and Sub-Committee to Review Compensation of Elected Officials FINCOM 20240501 Minutes RS EM FINAL.docx Page 3 of 4 5/1/24
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Finance Committee Meeting Documents May 1, 2024 Please note: Some meeting documents may be found on the Town’s website under the Posted Minutes section (Laser Fiche). Agenda — May 1, 2024. Budget documents discussed at the meeting may be found on the Town's Website under the Finance Committee section. The budget documents are subject to change as the budget process progresses. These documents may also be found at the below links: https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/10987/FY25-Municipal-Budget---Dept-Requests---Jan-2024---Part- 1-of-2 https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/10988/F Y25-Municipal-Budget---Dept-Requests---Jan-2024---Part- 2-of-2 Article 31 - Accept Saddleback Lane & Horseshoe Lane as Town Ways Letter from Paul Schneiders to Charlie Doody, Town Administrator, dated April 23, 2024 regarding Article 31, Motion to Modify Article 31, As-Built Plan of Land in Canton, MA AB-1, AB-2 and AB-3 (5 pages). FINCOM 20240501 Minutes RS EM FINAL.docx Page 4 of 4 5/1/24