Canton, Massachusetts · Saved source text
FINCOM 20250129 Minutes
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Source page 1
Finance Committee Members Present: Dan Cole, John Leonetti, Emilio Mauro, Maureen Menconi, Kristin Mirliani, Reuki Schutt and Cindy Thomas. Guests Present: Steve Choiniere, Supervisor, Central Maintenance Ellen Jones, Recording Secretary Louis Jutras, Manager of Information Systems Brian Lynch, Director of Central Maintenance Tyler Radicioni, Recreation Director Randy Scollins III, Finance Director Ed Walsh, Building Commissioner Call Meeting to Order: Mr. Mauro called the virtual meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Mr. Mauro introduced the Finance Committee members and the guests that were present at the virtual meeting. New Business: Resignation of Finance Committee Member — Mr. Mauro announced that Anne Lang had submitted her resignation from the Finance Committee due to time commitments. He thanked Anne for being part of the Committee and wished her well. Discussion - 155 — Information Systems — FY26 Budget Reguest Total request for the Information Systems FY26 operating budget is an approximately 4.7% increase. An approximately 1.4% increase is for contractual items in the salaries section and the remaining 3.3% increase is for the expense side of the budget. The expense section of the Information Systems budget covers a variety of software and hardware that is used by various Town departments. With the variety of applications that the Town has, most of those on a year to year basis change their pricing anywhere between 5% and 10-12%. Mr. Jutras stated that he tries to obtain as much information on the cost increases for the applications. Mr. Jutras provided the Finance Committee members a detailed spreadsheet that detail the various packages used by the Town with information regarding the names of the products that corresponds to the expense line items in the Information Systems FY26 budget requests. The total increase for the expense side is $23,800 and the total increase for the salary side $101200. Mr. Jutras stated that he has one new item request for $1,200 coming from a recommendation by the By -Law Modernization Committee (established at 2024 ATM). The By -Law Modernization Committee (BLMC) is close to signing a contract with a vendor to codify the By -Laws, in digital format, with better website access etc. During the By - Law Modernization Committee discussions it was mentioned that many cities and Towns that use a similar software have the cost for this type of software in the Information Systems budgets. The amount in subsequent years would be the same cost of $1,200 per year for annual maintenance for the next three years. Mr. Scollins and Mr. Jutras are both members of the By -Law Modernization Committee. The BLIVIC had a demonstration of the software (for both By -Laws and Zoning By -Laws) with the BLIVIC focusing only on the General By -Laws software. The completion time will be anywhere from 18-24 months with the end result of a standardized set of By -Laws. Within Norfolk County less than eight towns are not using the product with three or four towns in diSGUSSion with the software company. Ms. Thomas spoke in support of this By -Law software expense. FINCOM 20250129 Minutes Signed RBS WRS 2.3.25.docx Page 1 of 6 1/31//25
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This budget is for the maintenance of the Park located at the Paul Revere Heritage Site. Mr. Radoni oversees the maintenance for the park. No additional funds are being requested for this budget for FY26. FINCOM 20250129 Minutes Signed RBS WRS 2.3.25.docx Page 2 of 6 1/31//25
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Discussion - 700 — Rink Enterprise (Metro Skating Rink) — FY26 Budget Reg est An increase of $1,600 is being requested to the Night Differential salary line item due to additional staff working at the rink on weekends. Discussion - 192 — Central Maintenance (aka Public Builldinas/Procs rtv Maintenance - FY26 Budaet Reauest Brian Lynch thanked the Finance Committee for having him at the meeting. Steve Choiniere, Supervisor of Maintenance, was also in attendance at the meeting. Mr. Lynch explained that an HVAC position was approved in FY25. The HVAC employee began working for the Town on January 2, 2025. The HVAC position will save the Town from having to call private service companies. For FY26 Mr. Lynch is requesting a new Maintenance Staff position at an annual salary of $61,541. The Central Maintenance Department covers 28 Town -owned buildings in Canton. The department is responsible for cleaning the Police Station, Memorial Hall, Pequitside Tavern etc. and has a maintenance employee that works the evening shift from 7 PM to 12 AM every day. His department is also responsible for checking fire suppression systems, ADA handicap accessibility along with making sure there are safe conditions for all of the municipal buildings the Town owns. Mr. Choiniere reviewed the expense line item budgets. Electricity — $33,000 increase requested. The line item has been overspent in prior years. Vehicle Maintenance - $3,000 increase requested. Generator Maintenance - $8,000 increase requested. Maintenance Supplies - $15,000 increase requested. Telephone/Communications - $5,000 increased requested. Uniforms - $1,300 increase requested. More uniforms due to staff increase. Gas & Oil - $6,000 increase requested. Diesel - $2,000 increase requested. Work Shoes - $800 increase requested. More reimbursement for work shoes due to staff increase. In response to a question regarding the American Legion (listed on the Buildings owned by the Town) Mr. Choiniere stated that Central Maintenance recently took over responsibility for the building. There was major leak and rot. The air conditioning system is lacking and not working properly. The refrigeration system is an older system. The hot water in the building goes out when the fan system is on for cooking purposes. Ms. Thomas recalled that there were recent changes in the commitment to the Legion. She did not recall having this much responsibility in the past for this building. Mr. Scollins explained that the Legion is a Town -owned building and that the American Legion has been struggling since COVID with a lost revenue stream to cover basic expenses. The American Legion had asked through the Town Meeting process if the Town would help defray some of their basic expenses. The initial request had been capped at $25,000 with a budget of $17,000 now for on -going expenses. Mr. Mauro inquired if there was anything that had not been anticipated when the department was originally created. Mr. Scollins stated that FY24 was the first full year for Central Maintenance for consolidation of utility costs. Utility costs and building maintenance costs were "harvested" from other departmental budgets. When the FY24 budget was put together there was no definitive amount of funding that was needed to cover the list of 28 Town owned Canton Municipal Buildings. Mr. Scollins further explained that the department is still growing and the needs of the extensive list of buildings he anticipates the need for the Central Maintenance department to grow and that this is not a department where you can expect to see the budget decrease due to the Town buildings being a major asset of the Town. Discussion - 632 — Peguitside Farm — FY26 Budget., Reguest Mr. Choiniere stated that the building on this property has been neglected for a few years. Windows and trim will need to be replaced. q 11111liq 1111q! iiiilll 1;M9=14 � =*H] 11 11111• Mr. Walsh is requesting a 25-hour Part -Time Local Inspector, benefits eligible, along with expenses for additional education for an increase of $48,7111 for a salary plus $500 for education required by the state. Most items in comparable towns have one Full -Time Inspector and one Part -Time Inspector. He stated that his budget has bee.0 only over once in 22 years due to an extended sick leave for one employee. The Building Department is now conducting sprinkler reviews, sheet metal permits, certificate of assembly inspections for buildings. They review Zoning -By -Laws, are involved in Town planning and responding to emergency calls. FINCOM 20250129 Minutes Signed RBS WRS 2.3.25.docx Page 3 of 6 1/31//25