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Canton Town Meeting — 2006 ATM

Town Meeting · Record year 2006 · Record lf-28462

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Source page 1

Recommendations of the Finance Committee
for the Voters of Canton, Massachusetts

2006

TOWN OF CANTON


ANNUAL TOWN MEETING
MONDAY, APRIL 24, 2006 @ 7:30 p.m.

Morse Auditorium
Canton High School
900 Washington Street, Canton

Study this report and come to Annual Town Meeting.
Bring this report with you.

$70,000,000 plus will be appropriated by
Canton Town Meeting Voters for
Next Year's expenditures.

YOUR VOTE at Town Meeting is important
because it establishes the priorities for our schools,
public works, public safety, town government and
future direction for our environment.

For Emergency Preparedness Information,
log onto www.town.canton.ma.us and
click on "Security Task Force" or
Call 1-800-480-2520 for a free FEMA
Emergency Preparedness Handbook.

The Town, upon request, will endeavor, to the
greatest extent possible, to make available any
and all visual and audio devices and assistance for
the disabled. For more information, please call
781-821-5000.

Source page 2

ANNUAL TOWN MEETING APRIL 24, 2006

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Pace #

Reoorts
Finance Committee Report
Capital Planning Committee Report

4
90

Charts and Exhibits

Figure 1 - Revenues vs. Expenditures - FY99-FY07 5
Figure 2 - Summary of Major Operating Expenses - FY99-FY07 6
Figure 3 - Operating Surplus (Deficit) - FY99-FY07 6
Figure 4 - Budget Growth FY99-FY07 (CPI Adjusted) 8
Figure 5 - Summary of Free Cash Reserve Account (FY99-FY07) 10
Town Finance Terminology 12
A Guide to Participating at Town Meeting 13
Note to All Voters Concerning Town Meeting Procedures 14
Summary of Revenue and Expenditures 15
Votes to Transfer Available Funds 87
Operating Budget by Voting Category FY 2007 88
Summary of Fiscal 2007 Capital Spending 90
5-Year Spending Plan for Municipal Departments 92
5-Year Spending Plan for Self-Supported Funds 92
5-Year Spending Plan for Enterprise Funds 93
5-Year Spending Plan for School Committee 94

Annual Town Meetinc Articles

Art. #
1 Elect a Moderator 16
2 Adopt Rules to Govern Town Meeting 16
3 Hear Reports of Committees Appointed at Prior Town Meetings 18
4 Act on "Consent Agenda" 18
5 Collective Bargaining Agreements under the Board of Selectmen 19
6 Set Salaries of Elected Officers 19
7 Pay Bills of Prior Fiscal Year 20
8 Supplement Fiscal '06 Accounts 20
9 Transfer Unexpended Prior Year Appropriations 23
10 Authorize Contracts of More Than Three Years Duration 24
11 Authorize Certain Revolving Funds 24
12 "Omnibus" Capital Outlay Program 27
13 Street Acceptances 36
14 Donation of Land from John Bulman, Trustee of Eagles 37
Farm II Realty Trust
15 Donation of Land from Patricia Barletta 37
16 Proposed Amendment to General By-Law by Adding to 38
Article XVI, New Section 17 for Title 5 Restrictions
17 Intermunicipal Mutual Aid Agreement to Provide Public 39
Health Services

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ANNUAL TOWN MEETING APRIL 24, 2006

Art. #

Pace #

18 Intermunicipal Mutual Aid Agreements with other 39
 Governmental Units
19 Zoning By-Law Amendment - CCEOD 40
20 Amendment to Zoning By-Laws - Lot Area and Width in 50
 Residential Districts
21 Amendment to Zoning By-Laws to Reinstate CEOD from 51
 Sherman Street to Lewis Street
22 Amendment to Zoning By-Laws - Certain Residential Uses 52
 By Special Permit Only
23 Amendment to Zoning By-Laws - Site Plan Approval and 53
 Requirement for Site Plan
24 Amendment to Zoning Map - 2468 Wash. St. to Greenlodge Street 54
25 Amendment to Zoning By-Laws - Rights Authorized by a Variance 55
26 Amendment to Zoning Map - Blue Hill River Road 56
27 Amendment to Zoning By-Law - Establishment of a CCEOD 56
 Zoning By-Law
28 Massachusetts Community Preservation Act 68
29 Establishment of Community Preservation Act Committee 70
30 Insurance Proceeds 72
31 Proposed Amendment to Town By-Law Article X - Permit 72
 Advisory Committee
32 Donations for Construction of Senior Center 75
33 Acquire Land or Easement - Access to Forge Pond for 75
 Pedestrian Walk
34 Acquire Easements - Dedham Street to Shawmut Road 76
35 Proposed Amendment to Town By-Law - Town Meeting 77
 Procedures
36 Funding Request for Annual July 4th Celebration 82
37 Funding Request for Annual Downtown Community Event 83
38 Municipal Police Officers and Firefighters; Maximum 83
 Age Restriction
39 Acquisition of Portion of Land for Streetscape 84
 Improvements
40 Town Owned Land to the Rear of Walgreen's Property 85
41 Vote to Rescind Unused Borrowing Authorizations 85
42 Appropriate Funds to Meet Expenses for Next Fiscal Year 86

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Source page 4

ANNUAL TOWN MEETING APRIL 24, 2006

Finance Committee Report
to the Town of Canton for ATM 2006

The fiscal challenges facing the Town of Canton have continued through fiscal year (FY) 2006 and are
expected to persist into FY 2007 and beyond. We project that FY 2007 will be the 5th consecutive year
of deficit in the Town's budget and the 4th consecutive year of deficits in excess of $1 million. In an
effort to minimize the impact on services offered, the Town has in the past chosen to finance deficits
principally by drawing-upon what were once considerable cash reserves. However, the Finance
Committee currently projects - based on the best evidence available to us at the time of this report -
that practice will no longer be possible after FY 2007. Voters should be aware of that fact that the
entire Free Cash balance available for appropriation at this Town Meeting has been reserved to cover
the FY 2007 deficit, meaning that a decision to use Free Cash for any other purpose leaves a deficit in
FY 2007 that must be closed with budget cuts, efficiency improvements and/or an override of
Proposition 2V2.

In this Warrant, we hope to provide the voters of the Town with the data and historical perspectives
necessary to make informed decisions at Town Meeting. Presently, we offer a detailed overview of the
financial status of the Town and attempt to explain the rationale supporting our recommendations with
regard to the budget (Article 42). Throughout this Warrant we have further provided our
recommendations to you on a wide range of issues (not simply those dealing with finances) and have
made every effort to impart discussions that explain our positions on the many issues we together
face. While it is certainly our hope that voters will give substantial weight and consideration to our
recommendations it is ultimately up to the voters of the Town to deliberate and vote on these issues
for they, as they should, have the final say.

Historical Data and Projections for FY 2007

The financial results for FY 2005 were detailed in the Finance Committee Report to the Town that
appeared in the Warrant for the 2005 Special Town Meeting and will not be duplicated herein. To
summarize: while the Town's fiscal performance was better than projected, the better-than-expected
revenues were offset somewhat by higher than anticipated expenses in some departments. As a
result, the town realized a total general-fund deficit of $1,011,000 for FY 2005 which, while better
than the originally budgeted deficit of $2,098,000 was also aided substantially by one-time and non-
recurring sources of funds that cannot be relied-upon as available to the Town going-forward.

The process of forecasting the revenues the Town expects to receive in the coming Fiscal Year begins
with the Finance Director, who looks at projections from revenue sources both inside and outside the
Town. He then takes this information and compares it with historical data. Using this information as a
baseline, revenue projections for the coming fiscal year are then made by the Revenue Projection
Committee made up from representatives of Town management, the Finance Committee, the Board of
Selectman, the School Committee, the Capital Planning Committee and other interested parties. After
their meetings and discussion, they vote on a budgeted revenue figure. This decision is presented to
the Finance Committee which takes a vote to accept the projections. Once accepted it is used as the
funding levels available to the Town to run its operations.

The Revenue Projection Committee met last November to project what the Town can expect to receive
in revenues during FY 2007. In so doing, the Committee adopted the following philosophy as a
guideline:

Revenue surpluses are more desirable than revenue deficits.
Therefore, the process of estimating revenues is not designed to reach
a number which has an equal probability of being exceeded or
producing a shortfall. Rather, the objective is to develop an estimate
which has a substantial chance of being met and a small chance of
falling short.

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ANNUAL TOWN MEETING APRIL 24, 2006

Budgeted expenditures are based every year on what the Town expects to receive in revenues.
Because the Town cannot spend money it does not have we would be forced to cut programs in the
middle of the fiscal year if we were to receive less than the projected level of revenues - an extremely
difficult and destabilizing process. This guideline was adopted to minimize the chances that the Town
will be required to so do.

Presently, we project the town will receive $58,936,000 in FY 2007, a 3.6% increase (somewhat less
than the 4.4% inflation rate (CPI) projected for the coming year) over the $56,891,000 we expect to
receive during FY 2006. As always, the overwhelming majority of the Town's revenues come as a
result of property taxes ($45,239,000: +4% from FY 2006) while the remainder is a mixture of excise
taxes ($5,410,000: virtually unchanged), State Aid ($6,445,000: +11.1%) and other sources
($1,842,000: -12%).

The guidance given to Town departments by the Finance Director was to plan their budgets for level-
funding plus contractual obligations - that is, we could probably fund contractual obligations to the
Town's employees but could certainly not support any further growth in their budgets. With that
guidance in mind, the Finance Committee recommends that the projected FY 2007 revenues plus the
remaining reserves be used to finance total expenditures of $60,954,000 as follows (with
corresponding change from projected FY 2006 expenditures):

School Department
Municipal Departments
Fixed Costs
Other Expenses

$25,611,623 (+5.0%)
$14,019,751 (+2.6%)
$20,240,860 (+6.2%)
$1,081,442 (-37.2%)

It should be noted that the large drop in the "Other Expenses" category shown above is derived from
the Operating Departments' decision to largely reduce their Cash Capital expenditures during FY 2007,
a course the Finance Committee accepts with a great deal of reluctance. Cash Capital is used
primarily to replace aging equipment and has recently also been used to perform maintenance and
repairs on capital assets. The decision to pour Cash Capital monies into the operational budget may
bridge the growing operational deficit for a single year, but at the expense of fixing small problems
today that could blossom into large problems tomorrow. We certainly hope this is a "one-time"
solution to our chronic budget problems and that more permanent solutions will be considered going
forward.

Overall revenue and expenditure projections for FY 2007 are plotted along with past final results (and
projections for 2006) in Figure 1 while a historical summary of major operating expenses is presented
in Figure 2.

Revenues vs. Expenditures

~ 50,000
~ 45,000


FIGURE 1

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ANNUAL TOWN MEETING APRIL 24, 2006

Summary of Major Operating Expenses

10,000


30,000

25,000

20,000

o
~ 15,000
;;

5,000

FIGURE 2

In the final analysis, we are projecting a deficit for FY 2007 of $2,018,000, which will be financed
using a combination of free cash and the anticipated surplus in the assessors overlay. Thus, the
Finance Committee is recommending that the Town deficit spend for the 5th consecutive year, as
shown in Figure 3. Beyond FY 2007, the Town's deficits are projected to continue without relief.

Operating Surplus (Deficit)

i 1,000


(1,000)

(2,000)

(3,000)

FIGURE 3

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ANNUAL TOWN MEETING APRIL 24, 2006

Living with Proposition 2112

This year marks the 25th that Canton, like the rest of the Commonwealth, has lived with Proposition
2V2. Under the law, passed by the voters of Massachusetts in 1980, revenues are permitted to grow
year-over-year only by 2V2% plus any new growth in the tax levy realized by the Town over the past
fiscal year. This requirement can only be waived (overridden) through local legislative means -
meaning for Canton that a proposal to increase revenues beyond the limit must first be adopted by a
majority vote Town Meeting and then by a referendum vote of the Town. Distinctions are made in the
law for overrides used to fund capital expenses (debt-exclusions - such as for the Library, Luce
Elementary and Canton High School projects) and those used to fund operational expenses (as these
are considered to increase the tax levy limit in perpetuity).

Therefore, towns whose expenses habitually increase faster than what is allowed under the law are
living on borrowed time with respect to their fiscal health. For Canton, historical data reveals that the
total year-over-year revenue growth (aside from debt exclusions) is approximately 3.5% (2.5%
allowed under the proposition plus another 1% due to new growth). Using the historical data
presented previously, we would hope to see expenses growing at the same rate as revenues over the
considered period. However this has not been the case as shown in Figure 4. It is clear from Figure 4
that Canton's expenses, even when adjusted for inflation, have grown far more rapidly than revenues.
It is equally clear that our current fiscal path is unsustainable.

It should be noted that Canton has, in the recent past, been open to pursuing debt-exclusion overrides
but has only once since the adoption of Proposition 2V2 put an operational override before the voters -
a June 1991 proposal for a $750k operational override that was defeated 2877-1260 (information
courtesy of the State Department of Revenue).

Impact on Departments

Town government is a "people" business - more than 70% of our budget goes toward the salaries and
fringe benefits (health insurance, pensions, etc.) for our employees. As such, the amount of the
override or budget cuts required to close our budget gap will be determined primarily by the salary
and fringe benefit costs of the contracts negotiated with all of the Town's unions and individuals. At
STM 2005, the Town approved negotiated contracts as recommended by the Finance Committee with
the caveat that at the time there did not appear to be funding available within the Town's existing
revenue streams for the increases in contract costs for salaries or fringe benefits anticipated with
these contracts without considering service cuts and/or tax increases. Regardless, the contracts on
balance accomplished some of the reforms required to get our budget to balance and their adoption
paid some immediate financial benefits as evidenced by the slight decrease in the Town's deficit from
FY 2004 to FY 2005.

While overall Town expenditures have increased more than 34% (CPI adjusted) from FY 1999 to FY
2007, Figure 4 shows that the School and Municipal department budgets have not grown as rapidly
(27% for the Schools, 14% for the Municipal Departments), though the School Department budget
has grown faster than revenues (21 %).

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Source page 8

ANNUAL TOWN MEETING APRIL 24, 2006

Budget Growth FY1999-2007 (CPI Adjusted)

90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%


FIGURE 4

In the ATM and STM Warrants for 2005, the Finance Committee provided an outline of the steps taken
to attempt to control the growth of School and Municipal expenditures from FY03 to FY05. It should
be noted that layoffs played a significant part in these efforts as can be shown in the following
summary of position reductions over the period FY04-FY05:

School Department:
Teachers
Guidance
Psychology
Secretary
Instruction Director
Technology
Custodian/Maintenance
TOTAL

12.8 FTEs
3.7 FTEs
2.0 FTEs
1.0 FTE
1.0 FTE
1.5 FTE
4.0 FTEs
26.0 FTEs

Municipal Departments:
Finance Department 1.5 FTEs
Police Lieutenant 1.0 FTE
Police Administration 0.5 FTE
DPW Laborer 1.0 FTE
DPW Administration 0.5 FTE
Town Planner 0.5 FTE
TOTAL 5.0 FTEs
(Note: a FTE represents an equivalent Full Time Employee.)

Fixed Costs - principally the costs of Health Insurance for our School and Municipal employees - have
grown far faster than revenues and indeed far faster than inflation (81%). It is fair to say that these
increased Fixed Costs have driven many of the decisions at the Town level with regard to manpower
reductions, which is strong evidence to the belief that bringing the costs of Health Insurance under
control is critical to solving our town's financial problems.

This is not to say that the Town departments are currently funded at a level recommended by the
administrators and boards that represent them. In fact, there are a number of expense items in the
School and Municipal budgets that the respective department heads indicate are under funded,
notably extraordinary maintenance, educational supplies and equipment in the School Department
budget, overtime in the Fire Department budget, and library utility costs.

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ANNUAL TOWN MEETING APRIL 24, 2006

It should be noted however that the Town took the rather extraordinary measure of choosing to
supplement the School Department budget on the floor of Town Meeting in 2004 and 2005 (roughly
$800k total) by accessing Free Cash reserves. These supplements were used in part to offset some of
the personnel reductions enumerated above and have since been added into the School Department's
budget baseline.

The Finance Committee is extremely sympathetic to the arguments made by the Town's department
chiefs regarding services and staffing. However as will be outlined presently, we simply do not
possess the reserves required to support growth in their budgets. The budget is currently out of
balance, the problem is accelerating rather than abating, and there is simply no end to this
unsustainable path visible on the horizon. As such, and until the budget of the Town is brought into
balance and can be shown to remain in balance for the long-term, it is our recommendation that the
Town's departments continue to look for cost savings and efficiency increases to existing programs
rather than exploring the expansion or enhancement of existing programs or certainly the creation of
new ones.

Further, it is our opinion that there remains sufficient room for efficiency improvements to town
service delivery that can be made to render a Proposition 2V2 override unnecessary at this point. The
Town should consider the merging of departments where duplication exists and continue to explore
outsourcing where it makes sense. Until these cost-cutting measures are implemented, we believe
talk of an override is premature.

However should the policy makers of the Town choose to not pursue this course, the Board of
Selectmen - as administrators of the Municipal budget - and the School Committee - as
administrators of the School budget - must give serious consideration to the enhancement of
revenues through an operational override, a course they have to date been reluctant to embrace.

Status of the Town's Cash Reserves

The importance of maintaining a healthy level of cash reserves was outlined in the Warrant for STM
2005 and will not be repeated in total here. The Town enters this Annual Town Meeting with total
cash reserves of $5.45M, split among the following accounts:

Free Cash Reserves
Stabilization
Assessor's Overlay

$1,500,000
$2,000,000
$1,950,000

It should be noted that, of these, only the Free Cash and Stabilization accounts can be accessed by
Town Meeting to fund operational expenses, with the Stabilization Fund only accessible through a 2/3-
vote of Town Meeting. The Assessor's Overlay Reserve is accessible only by the elected Board of
Assessors.

The Finance Committee's fiduciary responsibility is to serve more-or-Iess as the financial advisors to
the Town. As such, the rapid depletion of the Free Cash Reserve account (Figure 5) is extremely
troubling to us. With the budget presented herein, we are projecting that the Town could completely
deplete its Free Cash Reserves account during FY 2007 (or perhaps earlier, depending on the actions
of Town Meeting as will be explained below). It is extremely difficult for us to recommend this course
of action to the Town. However when faced with the fiscal and political realities we are presently
confronting, we have little option but to so do.

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ANNUAL TOWN MEETING APRIL 24, 2006

Summary of Free Cash Reserve Account

~ 5,000
~ 4,000


FIGURE 5

This analysis however does not take into account several requests to access reserve funds to
supplement current (FY 2006) operating accounts that voters will consider at this Town Meeting. Such
requests are extremely problematic for several reasons. First, they deplete an already rapidly
diminishing account (the Free Cash Reserves). Second, if they are added to the baseline of the
requesting department's budget then the deficit for FY 2007 has in effect been increased by this
amount - meaning that the deficit versus reserves ratio has been reduced by double the requested
amount. As a result, and in spite of the difficulties we realize such actions may cause the requesting
departments, the Finance Committee cannot recommend the approval of any supplemental budget
requests that utilize Free Cash Reserves as the source of funds for the expenditure.

Capital Budget

Given the structural deficit, the Finance Committee and Capital Planning Committee are
recommending that the Town not budget 6% of revenues for the capital budget, and instead
recommend that 5% be spent on capital.

The Report of the Capital Planning Committee (Article 12) appears later in this Warrant. Please review
it carefully - there are a total of 9 motions that will be considered during this Town Meeting and the
Finance Committee recommends adoption of them all.

Summary of the Finance Committee Position Regarding Certain Articles in the Warrant

Presently, we briefly summarize our position on certain articles voters will consider at this Town
Meeting. Detailed discussions for individual articles appear throughout the Warrant.

Contracts of the Town's collective bargaining units (Article 5) were approved at the October 2005
Special Town Meeting. As a result, we are not required to consider contracts at this Town Meeting.

Town Meeting provides voters with the opportunity to fund current-year expense accounts that are
currently running deficits. For the last several years, the Finance Committee has cautioned voters
that our fiscal difficulties would, if not addressed, eventually lead to a circumstance where the funding
of all current-year supplemental requests would become impossible. This year marks the first when
such has happened. The Finance Committee received requests for supplemental FY 2006 funding
(Article 8) totaling approximately $1.3M but was able to identify only $879k to fund them - meaning
that roughly $431k in supplemental requests for this year have no identifiable revenue source. There

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ANNUAL TOWN MEETING APRIL 24, 2006

is insufficient Free Cash available to fund these requests as the entire certified Free Cash balance has
been reserved to balance the FY 2007 budget.

Town Meeting will once again consider the re-zoning of the so-called "Plymouth Rubber Property" -
once under a citizen petition (Article 19) and again under a submission from the Planning Board
(Article 27). The Finance Committee recommends adoption of the Planning Board article (though we
have chosen to defer the matter on the floor of Town Meeting to the Planning Board so as to allow
them maximum flexibility in presenting the article to the Town) and the rejection of the citizen
petition.

Canton will consider whether or not to accept the co-called "Community Preservation Act" (or "CPA")
at this Town Meeting (Articles 28 and 29). The CPA allows for the funding by a property tax surcharge
of certain capital projects dealing with Open Space and Recreation, Historical Preservation, and
Affordable Housing. Should Town Meeting approve the acceptance of the CPA the Town would then be
required to vote at the next available election to accept the CPA before the surcharge could be
imposed and funds could be appropriated for this purpose. As such, this proposal is not unlike a
proposal for a Proposition 2V2 override in that approval by Town Meeting represents only the first step
in the two-step process.

By a relatively close margin (5-3 on Article 28), the Finance Committee recommends adoption of the
CPA and the subsequent approval of Articles 28 and 29. The majority is persuaded to accept the CPA
principally because of the availability of State matching funds, meaning that a $40k project could only
(directly) cost Canton taxpayers $20k. The matching funds come from the taxpayers through the
Registry of Deeds via property transactions such as mortgage refinancing and are currently a dollar-
for-dollar match - though that is almost certain to decrease in the next few years as more towns sign-
on to the CPA. The proponents also argued that the CPA funds will be used on projects that the Town
would or should be doing anyway and that the Town would be in better financial shape had we
adopted the CPA when it became law and that every year we delay adopting the CPA we lose out on
the benefits of the law.

The minority of the Committee was unsuccessful in their arguments that the Town already has a
capital budget (unlike many other towns), that adoption of the CPA would compel the Town to spend
money on Affordable Housing and other projects that we would not otherwise fund, and that proposing
a semi-permanent tax increase to fund capital projects may jeopardize the chances of a successful
operational override - whose funds would not be restricted to CPA-eligible uses - which could be
required as early as next year (FY 2008).

The Town will consider under Article 35 changes to several By-Laws that would codify, clarify and
enhance long-standing procedures governing the conduct of Town Meeting. Adoption of this article is
strongly recommended by the Finance Committee.

Finally, the Finance Committee once again recommends the rejection of supplemental requests from
the Board of Selectmen on behalf of the Recreation Department to appropriate money for the Annual
4th of July Celebration (Article 36) and Downtown Block Party (Article 37). Simply, there is no money
to support these appropriations and unless a revenue source can be identified the appropriation
cannot be permitted.

Respectfully submitted,

Canton Finance Committee

Jonathan Arata, Chairman
Patricia Johnson, Vice Chairman
Sepp Bergschneider
Leo Chausse
Jimmy Pappas

John Demoy
Dave Emhardt
Patrick Geraghty
Bob Lash
Dawn Porter, Secretary

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ANNUAL TOWN MEETING APRIL 24, 2006

TOWN FINANCE TERMINOLOGY

The terms below are frequently used in the annual Town report and at Town Meetings. In order to
provide everyone with a better understanding of their meanings, the following definitions are
provided:

APPROPRIATE: To authorize spending. Once an appropriation for a budget or article has been made
by Town Meeting, the appropriation can only be changed by another Town Meeting. There is one
exception-a transfer from the Reserve Fund.
BONDS: The money Canton borrows to pay for capital building projects such as the High School and
police station.
CAPITAL EXPENSES: Expenses associated with the purchase of long term assets, or projects.
Paying for these expenses can come from either cash (Cash Capital) or from long term bonding.
CHERRY SHEET: A financial statement from the State, printed on cherry-colored paper which
itemizes State disbursements due the Town, and the State and County charge to the Town, usually
resulting in a net receipt of funds. It is the basis for the amounts which appear in the Finance
Committee forecast of Revenue and Expenditure.
DEBT EXCLUSION: Taxes raised through a prop 2.5 override to pay for capital projects such as
building the high school or library
ENTERPRISE SURPLUS: (Retained Earnings) This fund balance represents the amount to be used,
by a vote of Town Meeting, for operating cost offsets, funding capital improvements and reimbursing
the General Fund for prior year funding.
FIXED COSTS: Costs primarily associated with employee benefits, such as health insurance and
retirement costs.
FREE CASH RESERVE: An accumulation of surpluses left at the end of the fiscal year. This funding
is available to be allocated at Town Meeting through a simple majority vote. It is akin to a savings
account.
FY06: July 1, 2005 through June 30, 2006
FY07: July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007
LEVEL FUNDING: The budget amount for this year will be identical to the budget amount last year
(i.e., no additional money will be available to cover increased costs in salaries or supplies.)
LEVY LIMIT: The maximum amount of tax levy in any given year. The levy limit is based on the
previous year's levy limit plus 2 1/2% plus new growth, and not the previous year's actual levy.
LOCAL RECEIPTS: Money the town collects from local sources such as excise tax, licenses and
permits, investment income, and penalties
NEW GROWTH: Additional tax revenue the Town receives from new construction, such as new
homes or additions to existing buildings.
OPERATIONAL OVERRIDE: An increase above the standard 2.5% yearly increase in taxes. This
increase is unlike a debt exclusion override, in that it is permanent.
OVERLAY: The amount raised by the Assessors primarily for the purpose of creating a fund to cover
abatements.
OVERLAY RESERVE: This is the accumulated amount of the Overlay for various years not used or
required to be held in the specific Overlay accounts for a given year. The Assessors control release of
funds in the Overlay reserve that exceed pending tax liability.
RAISE: To tax. The tax rate is set by the Assessors after the Annual Town Meeting and after receipt
of the "Cherry Sheet."
RESERVE FUND: This fund is established by the voters at an Annual Town Meeting, and may be
composed of an appropriation, money transferred from the Overlay Reserve, or both. Transfers from
the Reserve Fund are within the control of the Finance Committee, and are for "extraordinary and
unforeseen expenditures."
REVENUES: Amount of money the town receives to cover expenses. The majority of this money
comes from property taxes. The remainder comes from local receipts, State Aid and transfers from
other funds.
STABILIZATION FUND: The fund is established by the voters for future uses. A Town Meeting vote
is required for its use towards a "borrowing article" and/or for "any lawful purpose."
STATE AID: The amount of money that the state of Massachusetts gives to the town of Canton.

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ANNUAL TOWN MEETING APRIL 24, 2006

STEP AND LANE INCREASES: Automatic increases in salary for town workers, negotiated in the
union contracts..
STRUCTURAL DEFICIT: Town's recurring expenses are greater than its recurring revenues.
TAX LEVY: (LEVY): The revenue a community can raise through real estate and personal property
taxes.

A GUIDE TO PARTICIPATING AT TOWN MEETING

If town meeting is to run smoothly a few simple rules must be followed.......

No person should speak unless standing at a microphone and then only after having been 'recognized'
by the moderator.

It is both impolite and contrary to the rules of procedure to shout out "Question", or "Move the
Question" while seated, while someone else is speaking, or without being 'recognized'.

When recognized, a voter should first state his or her name and address clearly and distinctly before
making any statement.

Voters should be brief. It is a good idea to state at the outset why you have risen to speak: e.g. I rise
to speak in favor (or against) the motion to Voters may wish to summarize at the close of their
remarks: I hope the motion now pending is (not) adopted

Rather than repeat arguments already made, consider saying: I concur with the statements made by
the previous speaker(s) and for the same reasons urge you to vote (in support of) or (against) the
main motion when it is put.

A town by-law restricts anyone speaker to not more than ten minutes at anyone time. The patience
of other voters is often not as long.

A town by-law restricts anyone speaker from speaking more than a twice on the same matter except
to correct an error or a misstatement.

A person who is speaking on behalf of another (such as an attorney) is required to disclose that fact
before making any statement.

A motion to reconsider is quite technical in nature. A person who intends to move reconsideration
should discuss it in advance with the moderator. Generally the motion may be made at any time so
long as a sufficient interval has elapsed since the last vote on the matter was taken, and/or additional
information has become available, so as to give a reasonable basis to believe the meeting might vote
differently. When the motion to reconsider is pending debate is limited to why reconsideration should
prevail and not to the merits of the underlying motion.

When one voter is speaking every other voter in the hall should pay attention to what is being said.
No person should interrupt a speaker unless some 'rule' is being violated. If a voter believes a rule is
being violated they should rise in place, wait to be recognized by the moderator (For what purpose
does the lady rise?) Voter: I rise to a point of order. Moderator: State your point of Order. Voter:
...The speaker is dealing in personalities, (or) the remarks of the speaker are not germane to the
subject at hand, etc.

Rather than read every warrant article the moderator may say "The chair asks unanimous consent
that the reading of the article be waived (Pause) Seeing no objection it is so ordered."

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Source page 14

ANNUAL TOWN MEETING APRIL 24, 2006

Voters should refrain from displaying their approval or disfavor towards a speaker by applauding or by
any other means.

NOTE TO ALL VOTERS CONCERNING
TOWN MEETING PROCEDURES

At the 1990 Annual Town Meeting a by-law was adopted which requires that almost all warrant
articles be acted upon in the order they are drawn by a lottery, not the order they appear in the
warrant. There are certain exceptions, however, to the lottery system. The following should help you
understand how the Town Meeting works:

Town Meeting will be opened by the Town Clerk. A Moderator will be elected (Article 1); procedures
to govern Town Meeting will be adopted (Article 2); and reports of all outstanding committees will be
received (Article 3).

After these three articles have been acted upon, all subsequent articles, except next year's proposed
annual operating budget, will be voted on in the order in which they are drawn by the Town Clerk.
There are instances, however, where the Moderator may declare that for some legal or technical
reason a particular article or articles must be considered in some other sequence.

The proposed annual operating budget cannot be acted upon until all matters which affect it have
been acted upon, specifically, all collective bargaining agreements, and any warrant article that calls
for an expenditure. This may mean that the proposed annual operating budget may, in fact, be the
last article acted upon at the Annual Town Meeting.

It is hoped that this brief explanation will be helpful to you in understanding the lottery system under
which the Town Meeting is currently operated.

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Source page 15

ANNUAL TOWN MEETING APRIL 24, 2006

 SUMMARY OF REVENUE AND EXPENDITURES
 FY 2005 FY 2006 FY 2007
 REVISED
 ~ BUDGET PROPOSED
GENERAL FUND REVENUE:
TOTAL PROPERTY TAX REVENUE 41,848,206 43,129,354 45,239,117
TOTAL LOCAL RECEIPTS 5,548,358 5,274,026 5,410,000
STATE AID (GROSS) 5,403,960 5,798,898 6,445,269
TRANSFERS FROM OTHER FUNDS 2,540,132 1,772,918 1,841,538
TAX TITLE / FORECLOSURE REVENUE ~ 0 ~
 TOTAL REVENUE 55,689,763 55,975,196 58,935,924
GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES:
PUBLIC SCHOOL EXPENSES 22,958,392 24,393,712 25,611,623
MUNICIPAL EXPENSES 13,245,471 13,613,969 14,019,751
FIXED COSTS 18,830,362 18,926,099 20,240,860
 TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES 55,034,225 56,933,780 59,872,234
CASH CAPITAL EXPENDITURES 945,933 1,006,000 326,000
OTHER EXPENDITURES (STABILIZATION FUND) 0 1,100,000 0
STATE & COUNTY CHARGES ~ 745,727 ~
TOTAL EXPENDITURES 56,700,925 59,785,507 60,953,676
OPERATING SURPLUS/(DEFICIT) - GENERAL
FUND ~ (3,810,311) ~
ONE-TIME SOURCES OF FUNDS:
FREE CASH RESERVE 2,059,682 3,310,311 1,517,752
OVERLAY SURPLUS ~ 500,000 ~
 TOTAL NON-RECURRING SOURCES 2,559,682 3,810,311 ~
ADJUSTED SURPLUS/(DEFICIT) - GENERAL
FUND 1,548,520 0
ENTERPRISE FUNDS:
WATER REVENUE 3,752,852 4,333,941 4,162,956
SEWER REVENUE 4,053,398 4,294,224 4,753,337
RINK REVENUE ~ 353,106 ~
TOTAL ENTERPRISE FUNDS' REVENUE 8,138,076 8,981,271 9,285,189
ENTERPRISE FUNDS' SURPLUS USED 96,000 134,000
WATER EXPENSES 3,901,324 4,018,750 4,162,956
SEWER EXPENSES 4,059,091 4,259,415 4,753,337
RINK EXPENSES ~ 353,106 ~
TOTAL ENTERPRISE FUNDS EXPENSES 8,287,718 8,631,271 9,285,189
ENTERPRISE FUNDS' CAPITAL EXPENDITURES ~ 96,000 ~
ENTERPRISE FUNDS' SURPLUS/(DEFICIT) (164,810) 350,000 0
GRAND TOTAL APPROPRIATIONS 65,003,810 68,512,778 70,372,865

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Source page 16

ANNUAL TOWN MEETING APRIL 24, 2006

Town of Canton
Commonwealth of Massachusetts

.

Norfolk, ss

To the Constables of the Town of Canton,

Greetings:
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts you are hereby required to notify and warn the
inhabitants of the Town of Canton to meet at Morse Auditorium, on the grounds of the Canton High
School, 900 Washington Street in said town on;

MONDAY, THE TWENTY-FOURTH DAY
OF APRIL, 2006

At half past seven o'clock (7:30 P.M.) in the evening for the annual town meeting at which time and
place the following articles are to be acted upon:

.,.~u...=-

ELECT A MODERATOR
Article 1 To elect a Moderator to preside at this Town Meeting, and to serve until the
commencement of Annual Town Meeting in 2007, or to take any other action in relation thereto.
Board of Selectmen

VOTE: 6-0-0

.,.~u...~

ADOPT RULES TO GOVERN TOWN MEETING
Article 2 To see if the town will vote to adopt certain procedures to govern the conduct of the
2006 Annual Town Meeting, or to take any other action in relation thereto.
Board of Selectmen

Motion #1
MOVED: That this 2006 Annual Town Meeting meet on consecutive Monday and
Wednesday evenings (but not including Monday, May 29th) in the Morse Auditorium, on the
grounds of the Canton High School until the business of this Annual Town Meeting has been
concluded, each such session to begin at 7:30 o'clock P.M. and to adjourn at 11:00 o'clock
P.M., or as near that hour as may be feasible, according to the nature of the business
pending at the said hour.

VOTE: 6-0-0

DISCUSSION:
in the past.

This motion formalizes procedures that have been followed by Town meeting

APPROVED______DISAPPROVED_______

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ANNUAL TOWN MEETING APRIL 24, 2006

Motion #2
MOVED: That the following individuals be granted all of the rights and privileges of
participation in this Annual Town Meeting, except the right to vote, under any article of this
warrant which affects matters within their jurisdiction:

Tony Andreotti, Veterans' Services Director
John Ciccotelli, Director of Public Health
Paul R. DeRensis, Town Counsel
Daniel Donahue, Town Engineer
Bernard Fallon, Superintendent of Buildings & Grounds
Helena Findlen, Police Department Lieutenant
William T. Friel, Town Administrator
Paul Gargano, Town Accountant
Louis Jutras, Information Systems Manager
Irene Kaplan, Superintendent of Schools
Jeffrey Kaylor, Recreation Director
Mark Lague, Library Director
Kenneth Leon, Business Manager, School Department
Gayle McCracken, Human Resource Administrator
James Murgia, Finance Director
Robert Murphy, Conservation Commission Agent
Kenneth M. Rocke, Supt.-Director, Blue Hills Regional Technical School
Mark Roy, Canton Housing Authority Director
Katherine Scheidler, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction
Michael Trotta, Superintendent of Public Works
Diane Tynan-Corletto, Director of Council on Aging
John Wieliczki, Director of Assessing

VOTE: 6-0-0

DISCUSSION: This motion allows non-resident key town officials to legally participate in town
meeting and formalizes procedures that have been followed by Town meeting in the past.

APPROVED______DISAPPROVED_______

Motion #3
MOVED: That whenever during discussion under any article in this warrant during this
year's annual town meeting, irrespective of which session such discussion is reached during
the progress of the annual town meeting, a motion is made the effect of which is to
increase the total amount to be appropriated beyond that which is recommended by the
Finance Committee or which changes the method of obtaining funds to meet that
appropriation, the moderator shall not accept such motion unless said motion also contains
a corresponding decrease in another appropriation as contained in an appropriation article
on this specific warrant or a corresponding transfer from any other available funding
source, so that the total amount to be appropriated by the town, at this town meeting, and
to be expended thereafter, for all the appropriation articles contained in this warrant, shall
not in any event exceed the total dollar amount recommended by the Finance Committee as
set forth in the published Report of the Finance Committee Recommendations as may be
increased by any transfer from available funds.

VOTE: 6-0-0

DISCUSSION: This motion formalizes procedures that have been followed by Town Meeting in
the past to ensure that Town Meeting ends with the adoption of a budget which is in balance.

APPROVED_______DISAPPROVED_______

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Source page 18

ANNUAL TOWN MEETING APRIL 24, 2006

.,.~u...*

HEAR REPORTS OF COMMITTEES APPOINTED AT PRIOR TOWN MEETINGS
Article 3 To hear the reports of all committees, appointed at previous town meetings, which
have not yet been discharged, or to take any other action in relation thereto.
Board of Selectmen

MOVED: That the Town Meeting hear reports of all committees appointed at previous
Town Meetings which have not been discharged as follows:

ADA Transition Plan Implementation Committee (ATM 1999, Article 10)

Revere Barn Study Committee (ATM 2001, Article 25)

Ponkapoag School Restoration Committee (ATM 2002, Article 40)

Building "A" Use Study Committee (ATM 2003, Article 36)

Feasibility Study Committee for Third Fire Station (ATM 2003, Article 23)

Economic Development Committee (ATM 2004, Article 14)

Study Committee to Develop Procedures to Expedite Local Permitting and
Zoning Decisions (ATM 2005, Article 25)

VOTE: 6-0-0

DISCUSSION: The Finance Committee unanimously supports the adoption of this motion to hear
the reports of all standing committees appointed at prior town meetings.

APPROVED______ DISAPPROVED______

i".II.I".~

ACT ON "CONSENT AGENDA"
Article 4 To see if the town will vote to dispose of certain articles in this warrant by a single
vote, in accordance with a, so-called, consent agenda, or to take any other action in relation thereto.
Board of Selectmen

MOVED:

That the subject matter of this article be postponed indefinitely.

VOTE: 6-0-0

DISCUSSION: The Finance Committee does not feel that any of the articles on this year's
warrant should be combined under this consent agenda.

APPROVED______ DISAPPROVED______

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Source page 19

ANNUAL TOWN MEETING APRIL 24, 2006

.,..,. lel.:a.

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS UNDER THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Article 5 To see if the town will vote, in accordance with the provisions of section seven of
chapter one hundred fifty E (MGL chapter 150E, 97) to raise and appropriate, transfer from available
funds, or borrow pursuant to any applicable statute, a sum of money for the purpose of funding any
cost items contained in any collective bargaining agreements entered into by the Board of Selectmen,
on behalf of the town, with any group of employees, or, groups of employees, serving under its
jurisdiction, and to raise and appropriate, transfer from available funds, or borrow pursuant to any
applicable statute, such sums of money as may be necessary to fund contracts for personal services
with any individual employee, or to take any other action in relation thereto.
Board of Selectmen

MOVED:

That the subject matter of this article be postponed indefinitely.

VOTE: 6-0-0

DISCUSSION: Since there are no collective bargaining agreements to be ratified, the Finance
Committee voted to postpone this article indefinitely.

APPROVED______ DISAPPROVED______

i'-II.I...=-.

SET SALARIES OF ELECTED OFFICERS
Article 6 To see if the town will vote, in accordance with the provisions of section one hundred
and eight of chapter forty-one (MGL chapter 41, 9108) to fix the salary and
compensation of all elected officers of the town, or to take any other action in relation thereto.
Board of Selectmen

MOVED: That the salary and compensation for all elected officials of the town be fixed,
as follows:

(full time position)
Town Clerk

$63,217.00

(part time positions)
Board of Assessors
Board of Health
Board of Selectmen

$2,400.00, for each member
$ 600.00, for each member
$1,400.00, for each member, with an additional
200.00 to chairperson

School Committee
Planning Board

0.00
0.00

VOTE: 6-1-0

DISCUSSION: The Finance Committee supports this article. The only increase in salary
proposed under this article is for that of the Town Clerk. The current salary level for the Town Clerk
position is notably lower than the same position in surrounding towns. The proposed salary increase
for the Town Clerk position would bring the salary for this position in line with the surrounding towns
by setting it near the middle of the salary range.

APPROVED______ DISAPPROVED______

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ANNUAL TOWN MEETING APRIL 24, 2006

.,..,. lei. =-'

PA Y BILLS OF PRIOR FISCAL YEAR
Article 7 To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate, transfer from available funds or
borrow pursuant to any applicable statute a sum or sums of money to pay any unpaid bills of any prior
fiscal year, or to take and other action in relation thereto.
Board of Selectmen

MOVED:

Vendor PurDose Amount

That the following bills from prior fiscal years be paid as follows:

Deutsch Williams Legal Services $2,950.26
Rendered during
Fiscal 2004 & 2005

VOTE: 7-0-0

Source of Funds

Additional State Aid
Account (Fund #176)

DISCUSSION: The Finance Committee unanimously supports adoption of this article. There is only
one outstanding bill From FY 2005 - a $2,950.26 bill from the law firm of Deutsch, Williams, Brooks,
DeRensis and Holland, PC for legal services for a variety of legal services performed during the year.
The Board of Selectmen has stated that they are satisfied that the work was done properly and
supports this expenditure.

., -11.1... a:

APPROVED______ DISAPPROVED______

SUPPLEMENT FISCAL '06 ACCOUNTS
Article 8 To see if the town will vote to appropriate from any available funds, or to transfer from
one line item to another, any sum or sums of money for the purpose of supplementing appropriations
made for the fiscal year beginning on July 1, 2005 and ending on June 30, 2006 under article 61
[actually Article 56] of the warrant for the 2005 annual town meeting, or to take any other action in
relation thereto.
Board of Selectmen

MOVED: That the appropriations voted for the fiscal year beginning on July 1, 2005
and ending on June 30, 2006 pursuant to Article 56 of the warrant for the 2005 annual
town meeting be supplemented, as follows:

1. That One Hundred Fifty Two Thousand Two Hundred Seventy Four Dollars
($152,274) be appropriated to the following municipal departments by transfer from
Employee Contract Benefits Account (#19101-51950).

DEPARTMENT

ACCOUNT # GRAND TOTALS

Executive Office
Finance Committee
Finance Director
Accounting
Assessors
Treasurer /Collector
Information Systems
Town Clerk

11291 51950
11311 51950
11331 51950
11351 51950
11411 51950
11451 51950
11551 51950
11611 51950

- 20-

$3,243
166
1,367
6,288
5,767
1,449
393
2,270

Source page 21

DEPARTMENT

ANNUAL TOWN MEETING APRIL 24, 2006

Conservation Comm.
Planning Board
Zoning Board
Bldg Renovation Comm.
Property Maintenance
Police
Fire Dept.
Building Dept.
Animal Control
DPW Engineering
DPW Highway
Health Dept.
Council on Aging
Veterans Services
Library
Recreation

TOTAL

ACCOUNT # GRAND TOTALS

11711 51950
11751 51950
11761 51950
11841 51950
11921 51950
12101 51950
12201 51950
12411 51950
12921 51950
14101 51950
14201 51950
15101 51950
15411 51950
15431 51950
16101 51950
16301 51950

562
1,847
46
120
10,294
5,150
3,431
8,373
2,369
1,479
46,380
6,395
4,771
1,148
28,126
10 840

~

2. The sum of One Hundred Thirty Nine Thousand One Hundred Sixteen Dollars
($139,116) be appropriated to Debt Service Account (#17522-59259) by transfer
from the Premium on Sale of Bonds/Notes Account (Fund #115).

3. The sum of One Hundred Sixty Seven Thousand Eight Hundred Sixty Two Dollars
($167,862) be appropriated to Blue Hills Regional Account (#18402-56991) by
transferring $124,000 from Additional State Aid Account (Fund #176) and by
transferring $43,862 from the Premium on Sale of Bonds/Notes Account (Fund
#115).

4. The sum of One Hundred Fifteen Thousand Dollars ($115,000) be appropriated to
the Assessing Department Property Revaluation Account (#11414-52141) by
transfer from Overlay Surplus.

5. The sum of Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000) be appropriated to the Replace Water
Mains Account (#56503-58912) by transfer from the water enterprise fund's
surplus, reserved for appropriation account.

6. The sum of Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($200,000) be transferred to the
Workers' Compensation Account (Fund #863) from the Retirement Buyback Account
(Fund #864).

7. The sum of Fifty Five Thousand Dollars ($55,000) be appropriated to the School
Department Special Education Account (#93009062-53201) by transfer from the
Finance Committee's Reserve Fund Account (#11322-59600).

MOTION #1 - VOTE: 7-0-0
DISCUSSION: The Finance Committee unanimously supports this motion. These funds were
approved at the Special Town Meeting last fall and the actual amounts by department were not
available at that time. This motion moves the funds already appropriated to the various municipal
department to cover the contractual obligations agreed to with the various union and personal service
contracts.

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ANNUAL TOWN MEETING APRIL 24, 2006

MOTION #2 - VOTE: 7-0-0
DISCUSSION: The Finance Committee unanimously supports this motion. With the recent rise of
short term interest rates since the budget was prepared, the current debt service budget is inadequate
and needs additional funds. When the recent long term bond offering was concluded, there were
additional funds available from Fidelity which provided the long term financing. The relation between
short term and long term financing was deemed an appropriate transfer between similar needs.

MOTION #3 - VOTE: 8-0-0
DISCUSSION: The Finance Committee unanimously supports this motion. The budget
appropriation for Blue Hills Regional Technical School is based on the best available information
regarding their budget as presented. If the FINCOM does not approve the entire amount that is
requested from Canton and other towns do the same, the school committee of the Blue Hills Regional
Technical School does review their budget and offer an amended budget. If the amended assessment
does not equal our appropriation, the new amount is usually the final amount because we would be
required to have another town meeting to accept or reject the new figure. Since we did not do so,
this amount is now due and payable. Canton did receive additional state aid to help meet this
obligation.

MOTION #4 - VOTE: 8-0-0
DISCUSSION: The Finance Committee unanimously supports this motion. According to state
statute, the town is required to conduct a revaluation of real estate properties every three years. By
funding this expense at this time, the assessors can go out to bid and act on this requirement in a
timelier manner before July 1st, the new fiscal budget year.

MOTION #5 - VOTE: 8-0-0
DISCUSSION: The Finance Committee unanimously supports this motion. The Water
Enterprise Fund surplus is available to fund the needs of the water department. By funding this
expense at this time, the DPW can go out to bid and act on this need in a timelier manner before July
1st, the new fiscal budget year.

MOTION #6 - VOTE: 8-0-0
DISCUSSION: The Finance Committee unanimously supports this motion. Due to recent
work related injuries, the Workers Compensation Fund is inadequate. The town's human resource
manager works diligently to safeguard the health and welfare of our employees and keeps the best
interests of the employees and town in her management of this Fund. It has been determined that
the town should move from self insuring this benefit to a premium based funding mechanism starting
July 1st. The Retirement Buyback Fund has a present balance of $540,000 and a surplus exists in
excess of its needs.

MOTION #7 - VOTE: 7-1-0
DISCUSSION: The Finance Committee supports this motion. The School Committee has
projected a fiscal shortfall of $257,000 based on best available information at the time of meeting with
the Finance Committee. The two main problem areas are utility and SPED costs. The School
Committee is pursuing the legal process for relief on the utility costs. There have been extraordinary
expenses relating to the Special Education requirements this year. It was deemed unexpected and
unforeseen during the usual budgetary process which satisfied the Committee's requirement for
transfers to be of an "emergency" nature. The Committee was unable to identify a source of funds for
the entire request.

The Finance Committee did not act on an additional supplement requested for Legal Services or the
supplement requested for the Fire Department because the Finance Committee could not identify
sources of funds. The Committee has previously transferred to Legal Services the sum of $55,000
from the Reserve Fund to help mitigate the shortfall in this account. The extraordinary expenses for

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Source page 23

ANNUAL TOWN MEETING APRIL 24, 2006

this department are due in part to the long hours of negotiation for the union contracts and many
legal issues surrounding real estate and planning board.

The Finance Committee did not feel that there were sufficient funds available from the Ambulance
Fund to appropriate money for the projected shortfall of $185,533 in the Fire Department current
budget. As of 2/28/06, the available balance in the Ambulance Fund was approximately $530,000.
There are additional funds coming into the fund from their billing every month. The use of $660,000
from the Ambulance Fund is recommended for the FY2007.

APPROVED______ DISAPPROVED______

., -1I.1...:::a:

TRANSFER UNEXPENDED PRIOR YEAR APPROPRIA TIONS
Article 9 To see if the town will vote to transfer the unexpended balance of certain
appropriations made under various articles in the warrants from prior town meetings, or to take any
other action in relation thereto.
Board of Selectmen

MOVED:

1. That Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000) be appropriated to the Finance Director, with
the approval of the Board of Selectmen, to expend for an actuarial study of other
post-employment benefits as required by Governmental Accounting Standards Board
Statement Number 45, and to meet this appropriation, Fifty Thousand Dollars
($50,000) be transferred from the appropriation voted pursuant to Article 38 of the
2000 Annual Town Meeting.

VOTE: 8-0-0

MOTION #1
DISCUSSION: The Finance Committee unanimously supports adoption of this motion. For
financial reporting purposes this study is required to meet Statement No. 45 of the Governmental
Accounting Standards Board (GAS B), Accounting and Financial Reporting for Post-employment
Benefits Other than Pensions. The funds for this Article were appropriated to the GASB Fixed Asset
during the 2000 ATM Article 38 and are available for transfer.

MOVED:

2. That the Police Station project appropriation previously voted pursuant to Article
50, Motion 6 of the 1999 Annual Town Meeting, as amended by Article 15, Motion 3
of the 2000 Annual Town Meeting, Article 16, Motion 17 of the 2002 Annual Town
Meeting Article 6, Motion 3 of the 2005 Special Town Meeting and Article 13, Motion
12 of the 2004 Annual Town Meeting shall include funding for professional services
related to the completion of such project such as legal, architectural and engineering
services as authorized expenditures, and that such appropriation be increased by
the sum of Twenty Seven Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($27,500) thereby
increasing the current Police Station appropriation of $5,937,000 to a new total
appropriation of $5,964,500; and to meet this appropriation the sum of Twenty
Seven Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($27,500) be hereby transferred from the
appropriation for the Draper Property Acquisition Account as voted pursuant to
Article 12, Motion 4c of the 1996 Annual Town Meeting thereby reducing the
Draper Property appropriation from $1,700,000 to a new reduced total appropriation
of $1,672,500.

VOTE: 8-0-0

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Source page 24

ANNUAL TOWN MEETING APRIL 24, 2006

MOTION #2
DISCUSSION: The Finance Committee unanimously supports adoption of this motion. The
Draper Property funds were appropriated at the 1996 ATM Article 12-4C and should be used for the
Police Station Project. There was a flooring issue at the Police Station and these funds will be used to
correct the problem while the matter is in litigation.

APPROVED______ DISAPPROVED______

-,..,.(...=-1.

AUTHORIZE CONTRACTS OF MORE THAN THREE YEARS DURATION
Article 10 To see if the town will vote, in accordance with the provisions of section twelve (b) of
chapter thirty B, of the General Laws of the Commonwealth, to authorize the finance director (in his
capacity as chief procurement officer) to solicit and award contracts for terms of more than three
years, provided in each such instance the longer term is determined to be in the best interest of the
town by a vote of the board of selectmen, or to take any other action in relation thereto.
Board of Selectmen

MOVED: That, in accordance with the provisions of section twelve (b) of chapter thirty
B, [MGL chapter 30B ~12(b)], the Finance Director (in his capacity as chief procurement
officer) be authorized to solicit and award contracts for terms of more than three years,
provided in each such instance the longer term is determined to be in the best interest of
the town by a vote of the Board of Selectmen.

VOTE: 8-0-0

DISCUSSION: The Finance Committee unanimously supports this article. From time to time,
it is in the best interest of the Town to enter into contracts with a duration exceeding three years. The
Finance Director, as Chief Procurement Officer, should have the authority necessary to pursue these
contracts.

APPROVED______ DISAPPROVED______

-,..,. (... =- II

AUTHORIZE CERTAIN REVOL VING FUNDS
Article 11 To see what revolving funds pursuant to c. 44, section 53E V2 of the general laws the
town will authorize or reauthorize, for various boards, commissions or departments of the town, for
the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2006 and ending June 30, 2007, or to take any other action in
relation thereto.
Board of Selectmen

Article 11: The Finance Committee recommendation is as follows:

MOVED: That the following revolving funds are hereby established pursuant to the
provisions of MGL chapter 44, section 53 E 112 for the Fiscal Year July 1, 2006 through June
30, 2007.

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Source page 25

ANNUAL TOWN MEETING APRIL 24, 2006

ARTICLE 11

 FY07
Revolving Name of Spending Spending
Fund # Revolving Fund Authority Revenue Sources Use of Funds Limit
 Pequitside Farm Conservation Rental of Pequitside Farm, Rental of Little Maintaining, improving & renovation of property $20,000
1 Rentals Commission Red House, Rental of Rooms in Main as per master plan on file with Town Clerk. annually
 Building, Rental of Rooms in Tavern, Any
 other ortion of bu ild ina or rounds.
 Conservation Conservation Special Fees Services received from engineers, hydrologists $20,000
2 Commission Commission and other experts. annually
Escrow
3 School Bus Fees School School Bus Transportation Fees Payment of bills and charges in connection with $150,000
 Committee pupil transportation. annually
 Pre-School & School Pre-School Enrollment or After School Payment of bills and charges in connection with $150,000
4 After School Committee Tuition-Based Educational Programs pre-school & after school supplementary annually
Tuition education programs.
 Veteran's Veterans' Contributions, Donations, Gifts, Grants, & Providing services to veterans not funded under $20,000
 Services Special Services other sums of money not otherwise established program, including but not limited to annually
 Revenues Director provided for by law. newsletter publication, monthly breakfasts,
5 funeral services, other commemorative
 programs and other purposes in the opinion of
 the Veterans' Director in the best interests of
 Canton Veterans.
 Fire Alarm Fire Fees received by it from, or on behalf of Payment of bills and charges incurred in $10,000
6 Relocation Department Commonwealth, any public utility, any other connection with relocation of fire alarm signal annually
 business entit ,or an individual wires, devices & other appurtenances.
 COA Council on Fees for providing transportation services to Payment of bills and charges in connection with $10,000
7 Transportation Aging elderly citizens. transportation of elderly. annually
Fund
 Board of Health Board of Contributions, donations, gifts, grants, Providing services to Canton citizens not $15,000
 Special Health reimbursements & other sums of money not otherwise funded under established program, annually
8 Revenues provided for by law and not otherwise including but not limited to flu vaccinations,
 appropriated. child and teenage health education &
 development programs and elderly health
 programs.
 Animal Control Animal Control Contributions, donations, gifts, grants, Providing payment for veterinary services. $30,000
9 Special reimbursements & other sums of money not annually
Revenues provided for by law.
 Library Building Board of Fees for rental and use of Community or Paying bills, connected with the providing of $30,000
 Rentals Library other assembly rooms used for meetings, maintenance and supply of facilities and for the annually
 Trustees programs or other events, including support and safe conduct of said programs and
10 payments for use of facilities and events.
 conveniences in conjunction with use of
 spaces, as may be established by the Board
 of Library Trustees.
11 Student Parking School Fees paid by students to park their vehicles Payment of bills and charges to maintain the $50,000
Fees Committee at Canton High School. high school parking lots and grounds. annually
 Greenlodge Board of Fees paid by residents and non-residents to Payment of bills and charges to maintain the $50,000
12 Street Parking Selectmen park their vehicles along Greenlodge Street. program. annually
Fees
13 Beautification Beautification Fees received from the sale of bricks. Payment of services required to install bricks $10,000
Fund Committee and for other beautification projects. annually
14 Kindergarten School Tuition based programs for all day Payment of bills and charges in connection with $200,000
Tuition Fund Committee kindergarten. anticipated full-day kindergarten program. annually
 Library Dues Board of Fees received for loss, damage or late Payment of bills and charges for purchasing $20,000
15 Fund Library return of borrowed materials, replacement books and other library materials for public annually
 Trustees of borrower cards. loan.
 Soil Erosion and Conservation Fees received for permits and certificates of Payment of bills and charges to process $30,000
16 Sediment Control Commission compliance under Article 20 of the Town permits and certificates of compliance under annually
Fund General By-Laws. Article 20 of the Town General By-Laws.
 Permit Software Finance Dept. Fees added to various licenses issued by Payment of maintenance fees for the permitting $50,000
17 Maintenance multiple town departments. software package. annually
 Fees

VOTE: 8-0-0

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Source page 26

ANNUAL TOWN MEETING APRIL 24, 2006

Revolvino Fund #1
DISCUSSION: This article must be voted by Town Meeting annually to allow the Conservation
Commission to continue its revolving account. They currently have a revolving account to which all
rentals related to the use of the properties located on the premises known as Pequitside Farm are
credited.

Revolvino Fund #2
DISCUSSION: This article must be voted annually by Town Meeting to allow the Conservation
Commission to continue its revolving fund. The Commission has required applicants to deposit with it
a sum of money to enable it to engage "experts" to assist it in evaluating proposals for wetlands work.

Revolvino Fund #3
DISCUSSION: This article must be voted by Town Meeting for the School Committee to
establish a revolving fund to which revenues received from school bus transportation user fees may be
credited. The fund must be used for the payment of bills and charges in connection with pupil
transportation.

Revolvino Fund #4
DISCUSSION: This article must be voted by Town Meeting for the School Committee to
establish a revolving fund to which revenues from students enrolled in pre-school and after school
tuition based educational programs may be credited. The fund is for costs associated with said pre-
school and after school supplementary educational programs.

Revolvino Fund #5
DISCUSSION: This article was requested by the Veterans' Services Director to establish a
revolving fund for special revenues received. The fund will be used to provide services to veterans
who are not otherwise funded under any established program.

Revolvino Fund #6
DISCUSSION: This article must be voted by Town Meeting for the Fire Department to
establish a revolving fund for fees received to compensate the department for relocating fire alarm
services.

Revolvino Fund #7
DISCUSSION: This article must be voted by Town Meeting for the Council on Aging to
establish a revolving fund to which revenues derived from the transportation supplied to the elderly
citizens must be credited. This fund must be used for the payment of bills and charges in connection
with transportation for our elderly citizens.

Revolvino Fund #8
DISCUSSION: This article must be voted by Town Meeting for the Board of Health to
establish a revolving fund for donations and other reimbursement received. The fund will be used to
purchase additional flu vaccinations and offer educational programs on health-related topics not
otherwise funded by their present annual budget.

Revolvino Fund #9
DISCUSSION: This article must be voted by Town Meeting for the Animal Control to establish
a revolving fund for donations received. The fund will be used to purchase veterinary services not
otherwise funded by their present annual budget.

Revolvino Fund #10
DISCUSSION: This article must be voted by Town Meeting for the Board of Library Trustees
to establish a revolving fund for building rental fees and other payments received. The fund will be
used to support the rental programs and other related costs.

Revolvino Fund #11
DISCUSSION: This article must be voted by Town Meeting for the School Committee to
establish a revolving fund for fees paid by students to park their vehicles at Canton High School. The

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Source page 27

ANNUAL TOWN MEETING APRIL 24, 2006

fund will be used for the payments of bills and other charges to maintain the high school parking lots
and grounds.

Revolvino Fund #12
DISCUSSION: This article must be voted by Town Meeting for the Board of Selectmen to
establish a revolving fund for fees paid by residents to park their vehicles on Greenlodge Street. The
fund will be used for the payments of bills and other charges to maintain the parking program. At
year end, any balance in this fund is transferred to the general fund.

Revolvino Fund #13
DISCUSSION: This is a newly established revolving fund. This article must be voted by Town
Meeting for the Beautification Committee to establish a revolving fund for fees paid by residents to
purchase commemorative bricks. The fund will be used for the payments of bills and other charges to
install bricks and for other beautification projects.

Revolvino Fund #14
DISCUSSION: This article must be voted by Town Meeting for the School Committee to
establish a revolving fund for fees paid for an all day kindergarten program. The fund will be used for
the payments of bills and other charges in connection with full-day kindergarten program.

Revolvino Fund #15
DISCUSSION: This revolving fund will allow the Library to keep the fines they charge for
books and other materials that are returned late. This will help the library meet state requirements to
receive annual state aid and certifications.

Revolvino Fund #16
DISCUSSION: This is a newly established revolving fund. This article must be voted by Town
Meeting for the Conservation Commission to establish a revolving fund for fees paid in accordance
with the Town's soil erosion by-law. The fund will be used for the payments of bills and other charges
to process permits and certificates of compliance under Article XX of the Town's General By-Laws.

Revolvino Fund #17
DISCUSSION: This is a newly established revolving fund. This article must be voted by
Town Meeting for the Finance Department to establish a revolving fund for the collection of fees paid
by permit applicants. The fund will be used for the payment of maintenance fees for the permitting
software package.

APPROVED______ DISAPPROVED______

"..,.l...a.

"OMNIBUS" CAPITAL OUTLA Y PROGRAM
Article 12 To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate, or to transfer from available
funds, or to authorize the Town Treasurer with the approval of the Board of Selectmen, to borrow (and
to issue bonds or notes therefore) any sum or sums of money, or by any combination of these
methods of financing as may be necessary or desirable, make available funds for the purpose of
purchasing, leasing, re-conditioning, improving or replacing any motor vehicles or other items of
equipment or machinery or other items of personal property for any town agency, or for the purpose
of contracting for any service, or for the design, repair, acquisition, construction, replacement or
relocation or improvement to any town building or other structure, public works facility (including
highway needs and traffic safety items), any other town owned facility or real property, or for any
other purposes for which borrowing may be authorized, to purchase, or to take by eminent domain,
any land or easements necessary for any such purposes and, where applicable, to authorize the trade-
in of any presently owned motor vehicles, equipment or machinery to reduce the purchase or
acquisition cost of any item to be acquired, or to take any other action in relation thereto.
Board of Selectmen for CaDital Plannina Committee

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Source page 28

ANNUAL TOWN MEETING APRIL 24, 2006

Motion #1
MOVED:
(a) The acquisition of all vehicles and other motorized equipment that is authorized
to be purchased or otherwise acquired by any motion made under this warrant article shall
be under the responsibility of the Finance Director/Chief Procurement Officer. In addition
to the procurement, the "trade-in" or other disposition of all vehicles and other motorized
equipment being replaced shall be under the responsibility of the Finance Director/Chief
Procurement Officer. In all cases where by a motion made under this warrant article, a
vehicle or other piece of motorized equipment is to be acquired by a town agency such
purchase or acquisition shall be subject to and bound by the detailed specifications
regarding such purchase or acquisition on file in the office of the Town Clerk; provided,
however, the Finance Director/Chief Procurement Officer, may, in appropriate
circumstances, waive or modify the said detailed specifications, and/or Vehicle
Identification Number, subject to a vote of the Finance Committee, taken within ten days
following a decision to waive or to modify the foregoing provision requiring full compliance
with the specifications on file.

(b) All building and/or land improvements related projects which are approved and
or funded by any motion made under this article shall be under the responsibility of the
Building Renovations Committee appointed pursuant to Canton By-law, Article X, section 4,
except as may be provided by any specific motion made pursuant to this article.

VOTE: 8-0-0

Motion #1
DISCUSSION: This motion authorizes the Finance Director to supervise vehicle acquisitions
and the Building Renovations Committee to oversee all building/land improvement projects.

Motion #2

MOVED: That One Hundred Seventy Thousand Dollars ($170,000) be appropriated
from Fiscal Year 2007 tax levy and other general revenues of the town for the purpose of
purchasing certain items of property set forth below for various Municipal Departments as
follows:

RECOMMENDATIONS
Police DeDartment
Replace Four Patrol Cars
(with existing vehicles to be sold, traded in or
otherwise disposed of)
Additional Patrol Cycle

CPC & FIN COM

$80,000

20,000

Fire DeDartment
Replace Rescue Boat

7,000

Finance
Computer Hardware/Software

15,000

Recreation
Gridley School Repairs

6,000

Librarv
Collection Development

16,000

DPW
Replace 1996 Ford Crown Victoria Car
(with existing vehicle to be sold, traded in or
Otherwise disposed of)
GRAND TOTAL

26,000

~

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Source page 29

ANNUAL TOWN MEETING APRIL 24, 2006

The amounts listed above for particular acquisitions are not to be construed as individual
appropriations. The sums shown are intended to be estimates of individual items but the
amount appropriated is one line item in the total sum of ($170,000). The Finance Director
is hereby authorized to distribute such funds in such a manner as may be needed to
accomplish the forgoing list of purchases; provided, however, that each item contained in
the list is procured and that the excess funds are available because one or more items cost
less than estimated and not because an item intended to be procured is not so procured.

VOTE: 8-0-0

MOTION #2
DISCUSSION:

POLICE DEPARTMENT:
Replace 4 Patrol Cars ($80,000)
This project will continue with the established vehicle replacement program as this is the most fiscally
responsible way to manage the fleet. Our patrol cars operate 24 X 7 and must be dependable to
insure a prompt response to emergencies.

Additional Patrol Cycle ($20,000)
The number one citizen complaint the department receives is greater traffic enforcement. This vehicle
will allow for greater detection and apprehension of traffic violators, while generating additional
revenue estimated at $10,000 annually.

NOTE: The Board of Selectmen has advised the Capital Planning Committee that the Police
Chief is awaiting approval of a federal grant for $10,000 for bullet-proof vests for the
department. If this grant is not awarded the Patrol Cycle will be canceled, and $10,000 will
be used for bullet proof vests.

FIRE DEPARTMENT
Replace Rescue Boat ($7,000)
This will replace a 15 year old rescue boat at the Ponkapaog Station which is used for water rescues
on Ponkapoag and Reservoir ponds.

FINANCE
Replace Computer Hardware/Software ($15,000)
This will replace seven (7) computer systems and install MS Office Suite of Applications at various
municipal offices.

RECREATION
Gridley School Repair ($6,000)
This is a one-time repair to the Gridley School to cover paint and materials to the exterior of the
building. In the future the revolving fund will be used to self-fund the maintenance program for this
building.

LIBRARY
Collection Development ($16,000)
This will fund the purchase of new items for the library and will be matched with $16,000 in state
grant funds to improve the collections.

DPW
Replace 1996 Ford Crown Victoria Car ($26,000)
Current car 1 mileage is 137,000. Engine has failed. Transmission slips in second gear. Vehicle needs
replacement. This new car needs to be a reliable vehicle able to be used year round in every type of
weather.

APPROVED______ DISAPPROVED______

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Source page 30

ANNUAL TOWN MEETING APRIL 24, 2006

Motion #3
MOVED: That One Hundred Fifty Six Thousand Dollars ($156,000) be appropriated
from Fiscal Year 2007 tax levy and other general revenues of the town, for the Canton
School Committee to expend for the purpose of purchasing certain items of property set
forth below for the School Department as follows:

RECOMMENDATIONS
Buildino ImDrovements
Emergency Generator Repairs - Kennedy
Field House Repairs - High School

CPC & FINCOM

$10,000
25,000

Technoloov - Svstemwide
Computers
Software
Servers
Other Peripheral Equipment

34,000
12,000
21,000
35,000

Extraordinarv Maintenance
Consolidated Requests

19000

GRAND TOTAL

~

The amounts listed above for particular acquisitions are not to be construed as individual
appropriations. The sums shown are intended to be estimates of individual items but the
amount appropriated is one line item in the total sum of ($156,000). The Finance Director
and the Business Manager of the School Department, acting jointly, are herby authorized to
distribute such funds in such a manner as may be needed to accomplish the forgoing list of
purchases; provided, however, that each item contained in the list is procured and that the
excess funds are available because one or more items cost less than estimated and not
because an item intended to be procured is not so procured.

VOTE: 8-0-0

MOTION #3
DISCUSSION:

BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS:
Kennedv School
Emergency Generator Repairs ($10,000)
This project will relocate a generator removed from the High School to the Kennedy School to replace
one that is beyond useful life.
Hioh School
Field House Repairs ($25,000)
These repairs will correct serious structural and safety deficiencies with the field house structure and
bring it into compliance.

TECHNOLOGY
Computers ($34,000)
Software ($12,000)
Servers ($21,000)
Other Peripheral Equipment ($35,000)
The Computer request is part of the ongoing program to keep the computer equipment within the
schools current. This request is far less than that which is actually needed. In an effort to extend the
life of some of the computers memory upgrades will be installed. This should gain an extra year of
use.
The Software is needed to centralize the database. This, in conjunction with a Virtual Private Network
will enable access to make changes to Student data from one central location for all schools.

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Source page 31

ANNUAL TOWN MEETING APRIL 24, 2006

The Servers are for Network management and disaster recovery at the High School.

The Peripherals request is for Internal Tape drives for effective backup of data and for replacement
printers.

EXTRAORDINARY MAINTENANCE - 519000
Memorial Field Bleacher Repairs ($2,500)
Temporary repair of Tennis Courts ($4,000)
Acoustical Wall at the Luce School ($4,000)
Equipment Trailer ($4,800)
Fibar Surface re-construction at the Kennedy School ($3,700)

The Bleacher repair is a temporary fix which will consist of the replacement of some of the wooden
planks so that the structure will pass the building code.

The temporary repairs to the Tennis court will consist of patching cracks in the surface.

The acoustical walls at the Luce school are to accommodate a student with hearing issues so that the
student will be able to hear with acuity.

The Equipment trailer will be used to transport the School's bobcat from one school to another.

The Fibar surface replacement is required to make the surface at the Kennedy playground safe.

APPROVED______ DISAPPROVED______

Motion #4
MOVED: That Nine Hundred Seventy Five Thousand Dollars ($975,000) be
appropriated to be spent on purchasing certain items of property set forth below for various
Municipal Departments and to meet said appropriation the Town Treasurer, with the
approval of the Board of Selectmen, be authorized to borrow, pursuant to any applicable
statute or any other enabling authority as may be, the sum of Nine Hundred and Seventy
Five Thousand Dollars ($975,000).

Replace Fire Engine 2
(with existing vehicle to be sold, traded in or
Otherwise disposed of)
Public Works Department Equipment
Dedham Street Drainage
Pine Street Landfill Gas Venting
Replace SCBA Airpacks
Police Department Portable Radios
Crawford Field Lights

$400,000

130,000
120,000
92,000
88,000
75,000
70 000

TOTAL

~

The sums shown are intended to be estimates of individual items but the amount to be
appropriated is one line item in the total amount of Nine Hundred Seventy Five Thousand
Dollars ($975,000). The Finance Director and the Town Administrator, acting jointly, are
hereby authorized to distribute such funds in such manner as may be needed to accomplish
the foregoing list of projects; provided, however, that each project contained in the list set
forth above is undertaken and that any excess funds are available because one or more of
the listed projects cost less than was estimated and not because a project intended to be
undertaken is not so undertaken.

VOTE: 8-0-0

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Source page 32

ANNUAL TOWN MEETING APRIL 24, 2006

MOTION #4
DISCUSSION:

Replace Engine #2 ($400,000)
This new vehicle will replace a 1985 Mack 1,000 GPM Pumper and Engine 5. Fire apparatus must meet
NFPA Standards for the safety of firefighters and this new vehicle will insure our firefighters are safe
and have the best equipment to respond to town emergencies.

Replace 2 Sanders with Combination Dump/Spreaders ($80,000)
The sanders are truck mounted with the dump bodies removed for the winter. The sanders have been
patched to keep them operating. The steel patches and bodies are again showing corrosion
extensively. The hydraulic power to drive the spreaders is taken off the engine requiring long hoses
that cannot be replaced in house. By replacing with combo bodies and transmission hydraulic take off,
maintenance and parts replacement costs will be reduced. The combo bodies also allow the use of
these trucks for hauling during the winter. The dump bodies are in good condition and will be used to
replace dumps that are showing excessive wear on Trucks 22 and 23.

Replace Catch Basin Attachment for Truck 17 ($50,000)
Truck 17 is scheduled for replacement in 2008. The truck is in fair-good condition. The catch basin
cleaner or orange peel is failing and in need of immediate replacement. The orange peel was mounted
on to the new Truck 17 from the previous CB Truck. The orange peel was down several times this
season for repair. Production decreased from 1300 basins to 900. Replacing the catch basin
equipment would extend the need to replace Truck 17.

Dedham Street Drainage Project ($120,000)
Water collects on Dedham St. in the low area between Elm St. and Shawmut Rd because there is no
drainage outlet. Currently, water is discharging onto the slope of Dedham St. eroding the road and
private property. Installation of the drain will carry the water through the new pipe to the storm drain
in Shawmut Rd. This will protect the side slope and the road on Dedham St. and stop any further
damage to private property.

Pine Street Landfill Gas Venting ($92,000)
In 2005 a DEP reportable condition of methane gas was found at the east property line of the landfill.
This reportable condition was remedied as part of a DEP issued Unilateral Action Order (UAO) currently
under review. Additional venting is proposed as a more permanent solution.

Replace Air packs (SCBA) $88,000
This will be a program to replace ten (10) firefighter's air packs and sixty (60) cylinders which need to
be removed from service over the next two years. Homeland Security has recommend that SCBA's be
capable of entering chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear environments. This upgrade will
insure our firefighters can respond to any situation.

Replacement of Portable Radios ($75,000)
The current Motorola radios are over 10 years old, not compatible with new Digital technology and
have several dead spots in the town including Galvin Middle School, Metropolis Skating Rink and
Sportsplex Rink. The new radios are digital and will insure 100% coverage throughout the town. In
addition Canton is a member of Boston Area Emergency Police Response Network, which uses digital
communication for civil emergencies, natural disasters. Current radios do not work in this network.

Replace Lights at the Crawford Field ($70,000)
The current lights at Crawford Field at the Kennedy School, are hazardous and in danger of falling.
This project will provide new lights to be used by Canton sports teams including, Little League, Girls
Softball and Pop Warner Football. Emergency repair was required in the fall of 2005 to keep lights
operational.

APPROVED______ DISAPPROVED______

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Source page 33

ANNUAL TOWN MEETING APRIL 24, 2006

MOTION #5
MOVED: That One Million Six Hundred Seventy Six Thousand Dollars ($1,676,000) be
appropriated to be spent on purchasing certain items of property set forth below for the
School Department and to meet said appropriation the Town Treasurer, with the approval of
the Board of Selectmen, be authorized to borrow, pursuant to any applicable statute or any
enabling authority as may be, the sum of One Million Six Hundred Seventy Six Thousand
Dollars ($1,676,000).

School Maintenance /Storage Facility
Space Needs - High School "A" Building Upgrades
Systemwide HV AC Replacements
Systemwide Plumbing Needs
Space Needs - High School "B" Building Upgrades

$1,180,000
208,000
133,000
117,000
~

TOTAL

~

The sums shown are intended to be estimates of individual items but the amount to be
appropriated is one line item in the total amount of One Million Six Hundred Seventy Six
Thousand Dollars ($1,676,000). The Finance Director and the School Business
Administrator, acting jointly, are hereby authorized to distribute such funds in such manner
as may be needed to accomplish the foregoing list of projects subject to the approval of the
Building Renovations Committee; provided, however, that each project contained in the list
set forth above is undertaken and that any excess funds are available because one or more
of the listed projects cost less than was estimated and not because a project intended to be
undertaken is not so undertaken.

VOTE: 8-0-0

MOTION #5
DISCUSSION:

Stand alone Maintenance/Storaoe Facilitv 51 180 000
Property Acquisition ($239,600)
Purchase and construct 10,000 Sq Ft Building ($890,400)
Six month temporary lease of current facility ($50,000)
This request is to replace the current leased building on North Street used to house the maintenance
and storage facility.

Soace Needs "A" Buildino Uoorades (5208 000)
Renovate the lower level of the "A" Building to accommodate the Pre K program.

OTHER - HVAC/Maintenance - 5133 000
Hansen School ($57,550)
Luce School ($19,750)
Kennedy School ($8,650)
Galvin Middle School ($20,400)
High School Building "A" ($6,500)
High School Building "B" ($20,150)

This is year 8 of the 10 year master plan to replace and maintain the HVAC systems in all schools so
that a safe and healthy environment can be maintained.

Plumbino Includino ADA Plan reouirements (5117 000)
Request is to upgrade existing plumbing as per ten year plan in order to maintain the integrity of the
building infrastructure.

Soace Needs "B" Buildino Uoorades (538 000)
Renovate the space in the basement of Building "B" to accommodate the weight room.

APPROVED______ DISAPPROVED______

- 33 -

Source page 34

ANNUAL TOWN MEETING APRIL 24, 2006

Motion #6
MOVED: That One Hundred Thirty Four Thousand Dollars ($134,000) be appropriated
to be spent by the Department of Public Works Superintendent with the approval of the
Board of Selectmen for the purpose of repairing the sewer system in the Cedarcrest area
and rehabilitating the Town's septage facility and to meet said appropriation One Hundred
Thirty Four Thousand Dollars ($134,000) be transferred from the sewer enterprise surplus,
reserved for appropriation account.

VOTE: 8-0-0

MOTION #6
DISCUSSION:

Sewer Repair - Cedarcrest Area ($92,000)
This project will replace or relay approximately 500 feet of 8" AC Sewer Pipe along the Easement from
Cedarcrest Rd. to MWRA Neponset Valley Interceptor Sewer. The project aims to clear, grub and
rebuild haul road, divert, rip-rap, and reroute brook, and regrade slope and easement.

This 8" main carries the sewer from Cedarcrest area to the MWRA Trunk line. During cleaning in
2004, it was discovered that this main had become exposed due to erosion. The joints had become
misaligned and the main had sunk a few inches causing the sewer to back up and flow was reduced.
The pipe needs to be laid true to line and grade and recovered to protect the wetland area from
sewerage overflow. The brook crossing also needs to be redefined to reduce the erosion problem.

Septage Facility Rehab ($42,000)
The purpose of this project is to connect decanting tanks to existing septage chamber located on
Neponset St. New tanks will provide additional volume for solid storage before removal. The project
will also update and reconnect electronic controls and security system (SCADA) and regrade and clean
up the site.

The Septage Facility is a MWRA approved dump site for the solids and grit removed from non-public
sewered properties in Canton and surrounding communities. Public works operates the facility under
agreement with the MWRA. MWRA is requiring the upgrade. The Facility generates about $35,000 in
fees. The Department will raise fees to recoup the expenditure.

APPROVED______ DISAPPROVED______

MOTION #7
MOVED: That Two Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($2,500,000) be
appropriated to be spent by the Department of Public Works Superintendent with the
approval of the Board of Selectmen for the purpose of expanding the water system to the
Glen Echo/Indian Line area and to meet said appropriation the Town Treasurer, with the
approval of the Board of Selectmen, be authorized to borrow, pursuant to any applicable
statute or any enabling authority as may be, the sum of Two Million Five Hundred Thousand
Dollars ($2,500,000) as general obligations of the town, with Fifty Percent (50%) of the
cost of principal and interest be paid for by betterments imposed upon the parcels of land
benefited thereby, and the remaining Fifty percent (50%) be paid from water department
enterprise revenues.

VOTE: 8-0-0

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Source page 35

ANNUAL TOWN MEETING APRIL 24, 2006

MOTION #7
DISCUSSION:

Water System Expansion ($2,500,000)
The purpose of this project is to replace existing water main and appurtenances on Indian Lane and
South Streets. Install new water main on Lake Road and its adjoining streets that are not currently
served by municipal water. The cost includes construction and inspection. It is anticipated that the
project will require a 50% betterment charge to the owners of the affected properties.

This project design was authorized at ATM 05. The water system improvements are needed to meet
the health and safety concerns expressed by the Canton Board of Selectmen, the Board of Health and
the Canton Fire Department.

APPROVED______ DISAPPROVED______

MOTION #8
MOVED: That Four Hundred Thousand Dollars ($400,000) be appropriated to be spent
by the Department of Public Works Superintendent with the approval of the Board of
Selectmen for the purpose of replacing Well #5 and installing a vault at the Dedham Street
water meter and to meet said appropriation the Town Treasurer with the approval of the
Board of Selectmen be authorized to borrow pursuant to any applicable statute or any other
enabling authority as may be, the sum of Four Hundred Thousand Dollars ($400,000).

VOTE: 8-0-0

MOTION #8
DISCUSSION:

Replace Well No.5 ($280,000)
Well NO.5 is a vital link in Canton's public water system. It was constructed in 1965. The well as
originally installed is 58 feet deep with an 18-inch well screen. The permitted capacity is 278 gallons
per minute or 400,000 gallons per day. Efforts to clean and redevelop Well NO.5 were made in 1991
and 1999. In 1991, the original well screen was given an acid cleaning and in 1999 a new 12-inch
well screen and gravel pack was placed into the existing 18-inch screen.

These efforts resulted in restoring some well capacity but the yield has continued to decline. This
indicates that only the well screen and filter pack was affected by redevelopment and that the ground
or aquifer around the well was not rehabilitated. In order to restore capacity and permitted yield a
new well should be installed at the Well NO.5 site.

The replacement project includes drilling a new well, installing a slotted well screen and gravel pack,
placing new pump and piping, and the mechanical and electric work to connect to the Corrosion
Control Facility.

Dedham Street Water Meter Vault ($120,000)
This project entails installing an 8' wide x 8' deep x 20' long concrete vault near the existing MWRA
connection containing 24" and 18" piping, 3 Butterfly Valves, and an 18" Magnetic Flow Meter. The
flow meter will be used to monitor and check MWRA measurements on which Town of Canton billing is
based. This project will help verify annual water usage reports required by DEP.

APPROVED______ DISAPPROVED______

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Source page 36

ANNUAL TOWN MEETING APRIL 24, 2006

MOTION #9
MOVED: That Twenty Three Thousand Dollars ($23,000) be appropriated to be spent
by the Board of Library Trustees for library Books and other library materials and to meet
this appropriation the sum of Twenty Three Thousand Dollars ($23,000) be transferred
from the appropriation voted pursuant to Article 13 Motion 4 of the 2005 Annual Town
Meeting, thereby increasing the fiscal year 2006 appropriation for Library Collection
Development from Twenty Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000) to Forty Eight Thousand Dollars
($48,000).

VOTE: 8-0-0

MOTION #9
DISCUSSION: In order to meet state guidelines, the Board of Library Trustees requested to
reallocate fiscal 2006 cash capital approved at ATM 2005. Instead of spending $23,000 in cash capital
for various equipment, the Board of Library Trustees wants to add this to the collection development
appropriation for books and other library materials. The Finance Committee supports this motion.

APPROVED______ DISAPPROVED______

.,..,. lei. ale

STREET ACCEPTANCES
Article 13 To see if the Town will vote to accept as a town ways, the layout of the following
described streets, as recommended by the Planning Board and laid out by the Board of Selectmen
(M.G.L. c. 41 and c. 82, as amended), and to authorize the Board of Selectmen to acquire by
purchase, gift, eminent domain or otherwise, such land, slope and drainage easements or other
easements as may be necessary to effect the purpose of this Article, and to see if the Town will vote
to raise and appropriate, borrow pursuant to any applicable statute or transfer from available funds, a
sum of money for such purposes; and to take such other action as may be appropriate thereto:

1. Canton Dale in its entirety beginning at a point on Pleasant Street running along its
centerline northeasterly 345' (feet) to its terminus [at a point at the end of and includino the cui
de sac], shown as, or bound and described as on a definitive subdivision plan entitled "Street
Acceptance Plan Canton Dale," last revised on February 16, 2005, prepared by Toomey-Munson &
Associates, Inc., a copy of which is on file with the Board of Selectmen's Office, Town Clerk's Office,
Town Engineer's Office, the Canton Public Library, and on the Town website, or to take any other
action in relation thereto.
Board of Selectmen

MOVED: That the Town accept as a town ways, the layout of the following described
streets, as recommended by the Planning Board and laid out by the Board of Selectmen
(M.G.L. c. 41 and c. 82, as amended), and to authorize the Board of Selectmen to acquire by
purchase, gift, eminent domain or otherwise, such land, slope and drainage easements or
other easements as may be necessary to effect the purpose of this Article, and to see if the
Town will vote to raise and appropriate, borrow pursuant to any applicable statute or
transfer from available funds, a sum of money for such purposes; and to take such other
action as may be appropriate thereto.

1. Canton Dale in its entirety beginning at a point on Pleasant Street running along
its centerline northeasterly 345' (feet) to its terminus [at a point at the end of and
includino the cui de sac], shown as, or bound and described as on a definitive subdivision
plan entitled "Street Acceptance Plan Canton Dale," last revised on February 16, 2005,
prepared by Toomey-Munson & Associates, Inc., a copy of which is on file with the Board of
Selectmen's Office, Town Clerk's Office, Town Engineer's Office, the Canton Public Library,
and on the Town website,

VOTE: 8-0-0

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Source page 37

ANNUAL TOWN MEETING APRIL 24, 2006

DISCUSSION: The Finance Committee unanimously recommends adoption of this article.
Similar articles to accept the Canton Dale Street was deferred at the April 2005 Town Meeting and
again at the October 2005 Special Town Meeting. At this time the street has been approved by the
Town Engineer and Planning Board Engineer for acceptance as a town way.

APPROVED______ DISAPPROVED______

i".II.I".=-~

DONA TION OF LAND FROM JOHN BULMAN, TRUSTEE OF EAGLES FARM II REALTY
TRUST
Article 14 To see if the Town will vote to accept the donation of land to the Canton Conservation
Commission by conveyance of deed of real property from John Bulman, Trustee of Eagles Farm II
Realty Trust, as shown on a Plan of Land entitled, "Overview Land Donation Plan Adjacent to and at
Pequit View & pequit Estates" in Canton, dated October 6, 2005, prepared by Norwood Engineering, a
copy of which is on file in the offices of the Planning Board, Board of Selectmen, Town Clerk and at the
reference desk at the Canton Public Library and more particularly described in a deed located in the
Norfolk Registry of Deeds at Book 9959, Page 38 and Plan Book 541, Page 75-76 and to take any
other action in relation thereto:
These parcels are a portion of Canton Tax Assessor's Map 91, Parcel 2;
ParcellB - Adjacent to York and Pequit Brooks - 4.91 Acres
Parcell-B1 - Buffer between Pequit View and Pequit Estates - 3.93 Acres
Parcel II-A - Adjacent to open space parcels l-B and l-Bl - 3.96 Acres
Parcel III-A - South and East of Pequit View - 34.7 Acres
Board of Selectmen

MOVED:

That the subject matter of this article be postponed indefinitely.

VOTE: 8-0-0

DISCUSSION: At the time of the Finance Committee vote, we did not have enough
information to make a recommendation to the Town one way or another. For example, at the time it
was unclear if the land had been inspected for any possible financial liabilities.

APPROVED______ DISAPPROVED______

.,..,. lei. =-..

DONATION OF LAND FROM PATRICIA BARLETTA
Article 15 To see if the Town will vote to accept the donation of land to the Canton Conservation
Commission by conveyance of deed of real property from Patricia I. Barletta, as described below, and
as shown on a Plan of Land entitled, "Overview Land Donation Plan Adjacent to and at Pequit View &
Pequit Estates" in Canton, dated October 6, 2005, prepared by Norwood Engineering, a copy of which
is on file in the office s of the Planning Board, the Board of Selectmen, the Town Clerk or the
reference desk at the Canton Public Library, and more particularly described in a deed located in the
Norfolk Registry of Deeds at Book 23222 at Page 412 and to take any other action in relation thereto.

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Source page 38

ANNUAL TOWN MEETING APRIL 24, 2006

Canton Tax Assessor's Map 103, Parcel 25; .40 Acres on York Street opposite Spruce Lane
as shown in Plan Book 362, Page 1455.

Canton Tax Assessor's Map 103, Parcell; 41.4 Acres on the north side of Waterman Road as
shown in Plan Book 541, Page 77.

Canton Tax Assessor's Map 92, Parcel 23; 14.67 Acres on the south Side of Waterman Road as
shown in Plan Book 547, Page 76.

Canton Tax Assessor's Map 92, Parcel 10; 1.03 Acres on the south side of Waterman Road as
shown as Lot 53 in Plan Book 440, Page 431.
Board of Selectmen

MOVED:

That the subject matter of this article be postponed indefinitely.

VOTE: 8-0-0

DISCUSSION: At the time of the Finance Committees vote, we did not have enough
information to make a recommendation to the Town one way or another. For example, at the time it
was unclear if the land had been inspected for any possible financial liabilities.

APPROVED______ DISAPPROVED______

.,..,. lei. al.

PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO GENERAL BY-LA W BY ADDING TO ARTICLE XVI.
MISCELLANEOUS, A NEW SECTION 17 FOR TITLE 5 RESTRICTIONS

Article 16 To see if the Town will vote to amend the Town's General By-Law by adding to
Article XVI. Miscellaneous, a new Section 17, entitled "Title 5 Restrictions" as follows or to take any
other action in relation thereto:

Section 17. Title 5 Restrictions. The Town's Board of Health may, in specific cases, require,
approve, accept, file, record and enforce covenants and restrictions related to real property, arising
from the requirements, implementation or enforcement of Title 5 of the State Environmental Code
(310 CMR 15.000, et seq., as the same may be amended), including but not limited to the siting,
construction, grading, installation, upgrade, expansion and/or alteration of on-site sewage treatment
and disposal systems and for the transport and disposal of septage.
Board of Selectmen for Board of Health

MOVED: That the Town amend the Town's General By-Law by adding to Article XVI.
Miscellaneous, a new Section 17, entitled "Title 5 Restrictions" as follows or to take any
other action in relation thereto:

Section 17. Title 5 Restrictions. The Town's Board of Health may, in specific cases as the
Board of Health deems necessary, require, approve, accept, file, record and enforce
covenants and restrictions related to real property, arising from the requirements,
implementation or enforcement of Title 5 of the State Environmental Code (310 CMR
15.000, et seq., as the same may be amended), including but not limited to the siting,
construction, grading, installation, upgrade, expansion and/or alteration of on-site sewage
treatment and disposal systems and for the transport and disposal of septage.

VOTE: 8-0-0

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Source page 39

ANNUAL TOWN MEETING APRIL 24, 2006

DISCUSSION: The Finance Committee unanimously supports this article. The intent of this
article is to protect residents who have on-site sewage treatment and disposal systems, their
immediate neighbors and our ground water supplies from contamination due to failed or failing septic
systems. It further insures that remediation of failed or failing septic systems does not negatively
impact immediate neighbors.

APPROVED______ DISAPPROVED______

.,..,. lei. a..

INTERMUNICIPAL MUTUAL AID AGREEMENT TO PROVIDE PUBLIC HEAL TH
SERVICES
Article 17 To see if the Town of Canton will, in accordance with G.L. c. 40, section 4A, authorize the
Board of Selectmen, upon the recommendation of the Board of Health, to enter into an intermunicipal
agreement with one or more other governmental units to provide public health services which the
Board of Health is authorized to perform, in accordance with an InterMunicipal Mutual Aid Agreement
to be entered into between the Town and various governmental units, or take any other action relative
thereto.
Board of Selectmen for Board of Health

MOVED: That the Board of Selectmen, in accordance with G.L. ch. 40, section 4 A, upon
the recommendation of the Board of Health, be hereby authorized to enter into an inter
municipal agreement with one or more other governmental units to provide public health
services which the Board of Health is authorized to perform, in accordance with an Inter
Municipal Mutual Aid Agreement to be entered into between the Town and various
governmental units.

VOTE: 8-0-0

DISCUSSION: To appropriately address regional public health threats, the Massachusetts
Department of Public Health has divided the state into 7 regions. Canton is located in Region 4B,
which is comprised of 27 communities stretching in an arc around Boston from Winthrop to Scituate.
The State Board of Health regulations give the Canton Board of Selectmen the authority to enter into
intermunicipal mutual aid agreements (MAA) with other towns within Region 4B. The proposed MAA
governs the terms and conditions under which the Town of Canton will render public health mutual aid
to another town within Region 4B. The cost for rendering such aid is borne by the Town of Canton.
Conversely, the cost to any other town for rendering public health aid to Canton is borne by that town.
This Article does not limit the Town from entering into MAAs with non-Region 4B towns.

The Finance Committee unanimously recommends the adoption of this article.

APPROVED______ DISAPPROVED______

.,..,. lei. a It:

INTERMUNICIPAL MUTUAL AID AGREEMENTS
Article 18 To see what inter municipal agreements the Town of Canton will vote to authorize the
Board of Selectmen to enter into with one or more other governmental units in accordance with G.L.
c. 40, section 4A, or take any other action relative thereto.
Board of Selectmen

MOVED:

That the subject matter of this article be postponed indefinitely.

VOTE: 8-0-0

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Source page 40

ANNUAL TOWN MEETING APRIL 24, 2006

DISCUSSION: Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 40, Section 4A authorizes the Board of
Selectmen to enter into a Mutual Aid Agreement (MAA) with other municipalities for the purpose of
rendering and receiving mutual aid in times of need when Canton's municipal resources are not
sufficient to address an imminent need (i.e. major fire, civil disturbance, storm clean up, etc.). The
cost for rendering such aid is borne by the Town of Canton. Conversely, the cost to any other town
for rendering aid to Canton is borne by that town.

Since there are no agreements with other towns to be voted on, the Finance Committee recommends
that this article be postponed indefinitely.

APPROVED______ DISAPPROVED______

i".II.I".=-~

PROPOSED ZONING BY-LA W AMENDMENT - CCEOD
Article 19
5.6 Canton Center Economic Opportunity District By-Law
There is hereby established a Canton Center Economic Opportunity District (CCEOD) Zoning By-law.
The CCEOD is divided into three separate and distinct sub-districts of Canton Center as follows:

Priority Revitalization Area "A": That area of Canton Center that runs along Washington
Street from Neponset Street to Sherman Street, a distance of approximately 3000 linear feet.

Revitalization Area "B": That area of Canton Center that runs along Washington Street
from Sherman Street to Lewis Street, a distance of approximately 1000 linear feet.

Revitalization Area "C": That area of Canton Center that runs along Revere Street from the
boundary of the CCEOD Revitalization Area "A" to the intersection of the railroad bridge/tracks
and Revere Street, a distance of approximately 2,500 linear feet. Also included in
Revitalization Area "C" are approximately 3.1 acres of land (Revitalization Sub-Area "C-l")
located between Neponset Street and the flood control spillway and shown as Parcel 29-092
on the Canton Tax Assessor's plans, and an area of approximately two acres located on the
easterly side of Revere Street (Revitalization Sub-Area "C-2") and shown as Parcel 26-111 on
the Canton Tax Assessor's plans. Reference herein to Revitalization Area C-l shall include
Revitalization Sub-Area "C-l" and Revitalization Sub-Area "C-2".

Revitalization Area A and B are shown on a map entitled "Canton Center Economic Opportunity District
(Priority Revitalization Area "A" and Revitalization Area "B") prepared by the Canton Planning
Department and dated December 20, 2004.

Revitalization Area C , less Revitalization Areas "C-l" and "C-2" is shown on a map entitled "Canton
Center Economic Opportunity District (Revitalization Area "C") prepared by the Canton Planning
Department and dated July 13, 2005.

Revitalization Sub-Area "C-l" and Revitalization Sub-Area "C-2" are shown on a sketch attached
hereto.

All of which maps are hereby incorporated by reference in this Section 5.6.

5.63 Priority Revitalization Area "c"

The benefits described in this Section 5.63 shall accrue only to those parcels located entirely within
the boundary of the Priorty Revitalization Area "C".
Priority Revitalization Area "C" is established for the accomplishment of the following purposes:

A. To promote the economic health and stability of the Town by encouraging development
and economic investment in Canton Center.

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