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Canton Town Meeting — 2006 ATM
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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.
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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 - 2 -
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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 - 3 -
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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. - 4-
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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 - 5 -
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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 - 6 -
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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 %). - 7 -
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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. - 8 -
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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. - 9 -
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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 - 10-
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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 - 11 -
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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. - 12-
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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." - 13 -
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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. - 14-
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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 - 15-
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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_______ - 16-
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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_______ - 17-
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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______ - 18-
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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______ - 19-
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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
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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. - 21 -
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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 - 22-
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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 - 23 -
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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. - 24-
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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 - 25-
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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 - 26-
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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 - 27-
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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 ~ - 28-
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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______ - 29-
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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. - 30-
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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 - 31 -
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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______ - 32-
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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 -
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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 - 34-
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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______ - 35-
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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 - 36-
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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. - 37-
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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 - 38-
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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 - 39-
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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. - 40-