Town weathers fiscal storms of 2009

By Jay Turner

Editor’s note: Although it is impossible to properly measure the importance of one event against another, the editors of the Canton Citizen have carefully reviewed all of the stories that made headlines this year and have selected the ones that they feel have had the greatest impact on the community. What follows then, is the Citizen’s list of the top ten stories of 2009.

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From a purely statistical standpoint, 2009 was the year that the national economy finally bottomed out. While it did not happen overnight, the GDP eventually showed modest gains after four consecutive quarters of decline, and by year’s end the so-called ‘Great Recession’ — one of the nation’s longest and deepest in recent memory — appeared to be over at last.

But it was also a year in which few Americans noticed — and for good reason — as the unemployment rate soared to a 26-year high while home foreclosures continued to climb, reaching record levels as late as November and showing no signs of slowing down. Meanwhile, on Beacon Hill, a soaring budget deficit forced lawmakers to first cut spending, then raise taxes, while local officials remained on high alert for the next fiscal bomb to drop, which may or may not be on its way in the months ahead.

Story of the Year: Town weathers fiscal storms

It seems like a distant memory now, but when Canton residents overwhelmingly approved a $4.5 million operational override in May of 2008, the prevailing thought was that the road to recovery had finally begun. It soon felt that way, too, as positions were brought back, user fees were eliminated or drastically reduced, and supply budgets were restored to healthier levels.

Indeed, it was a time of relative prosperity, but it was all too short-lived as the worsening recession began to wreak havoc on an already fragile state budget. By the time 2009 rolled around, the focus had shifted away from preserving gains and more toward minimizing losses, and that was especially true after Governor Patrick announced mid-year local aid cuts totaling $128 million with deeper cuts to follow for FY 2010.

In response, Canton officials instituted immediate spending freezes and began to seriously reconsider the complexion of their FY10 budgets, eventually slashing everything from previously planned capital projects to the schools’ recently expanded textbook budget. The school department even cut a few jobs, eliminating the equivalent of 1.8 full-time positions between the middle and high schools.

The 2009 economy produced other casualties as well, most notably the Recreation Department’s annual July 4^th celebration, which was conspicuously absent for the first time in nearly 30 years. Citing a lack of funding, department members said they had no choice but to eliminate one of the town’s two major annual events, and after consulting with residents, they ultimately decided to focus their efforts on the popular downtown block party and homecoming parade at the expense of the carnival and fireworks display.

But for the most part, Canton was able to weather the storm and avoid any major reductions in service, buoyed by the recent override as well as a healthy level of cash reserves that will likely be relied upon again when residents head to town meeting this spring. It wasn’t easy by any means, but compared to many nearby communities, the town closed out a particularly tough year in reasonably good shape.

At the same time, 2010 promises its fair share of fiscal challenges, including the potential for more local aid cuts as well as a structural deficit tied to special education that is impossible to predict going forward. In other words, there is a chance that it gets worse before it gets better. At this point, only time will tell.

2. Canton mourns the loss of Paul Matthews

The Canton Public Schools lost one of its most dedicated and passionate supporters when longtime School Committee member Paul Matthews died suddenly in March at the age of 54.

A product of the Canton schools himself, Matthews became a successful attorney yet remained deeply committed to his hometown, serving in a number of official and unofficial roles over the years, including as a member of the Finance Committee and as a youth sports coach. First elected to the School Committee in 1997, he went on to serve four consecutive terms and had only recently announced plans to step down at the conclusion of his term in April. Matthews left behind his wife, Suzanne, his three children, Julia, Kate and Alex, as well as countless friends and admirers.

Within weeks of his passing, fellow School Committee members showed their admiration by establishing a prestigious award in his honor, the Paul Matthews Senior Cup, reserved for two CHS seniors each year who demonstrate excellence in the areas of scholarship, sportsmanship and service to their community. For the inaugural honor, the faculty chose two very deserving seniors: Lauren Cortizo, the senior class president and a championship wrestler, and Scott Herr, a three-sport athlete and a member of the National Honor Society. In a horrible twist of fate, Herr was killed in a car accident on New Year’s Eve, and like Matthews, will be forever remembered for his selfless devotion to others. (See extended coverage on page 1)

In addition to the Senior Cup, Matthews was also honored with a “Celebration of Community Spirit” event in September, which raised money for a scholarship for the cup winners as well as for Canton youth sports. Hailed as a success, the event was organized by the Paul R. Matthews Foundation, a charity begun by Suzanne Matthews to “continue Paul’s efforts of uniting the community and to instill in Canton’s students the personal rewards and benefits of community teamwork and service.”

3. Burr for senate

Canton Selectman Bob Burr provided the town with arguably the year’s biggest surprise when he announced to the Boston Globe on Labor Day weekend that he was entering the race for the late Ted Kennedy’s U.S. Senate seat.

Burr, a lifelong Canton resident and former Little League president, also made history by becoming the first Republican and just the second overall candidate after Attorney General Martha Coakley to formally declare for the race.

While acknowledging from the start that he was a decided underdog, Burr maintained that he was just as qualified as any other potential candidate and vowed to run an efficient, inexpensive campaign. He added that his candidacy was an opportunity for Massachusetts residents to elect a Republican to “ensure that there will be debate on the issues affecting healthcare, taxes and deficit spending.”

The reaction among Canton residents, meanwhile, varied from supportive to suspicious, while Burr himself appeared to take it all in stride, focusing his efforts instead on the “arduous task” of collecting 10,000 signatures in order to qualify for the December 8 primary ballot. But by mid October it was clear that he was going to fall short of that goal, so he ultimately called it quits while throwing his support behind Republican frontrunner Scott Brown.

In all, Burr’s campaign lasted six weeks, and despite the end result he said he had “no regrets” and also would not rule out another run of some kind in the future.

4. School controversies

Beyond the numerous fiscal challenges they faced, school officials seemed to confront controversy at every turn in 2009, from an emotionally charged debate over school residency to an uproar over Halloween parties that became fodder for national news outlets.

The residency debate, in one form or another, had actually been going on for years, but a rise in complaints from parents and school staff prompted School Committee members to appoint a subcommittee to examine and potentially revise its existing policy. The subcommittee went on to propose numerous changes focused on stricter enforcement standards and the elimination of loopholes such as “sponsorship,” in which a nonresident stays with a Canton ‘sponsor’ other than a legal guardian for the sole purpose of attending the Canton Public Schools. The School Committee eventually adopted some, but not all of the recommendations, citing recent legislation that tied residency to the child rather than the parent or legal guardian. Still, some residents, including Citizen columnist Joe DeFelice, felt the new policy lacked bite and insisted that more be done. School officials, in turn, responded with letters to the editor attempting to explain their thinking, but the debate raged on even as a new school year began.

Residency was just one in a series of challenging issues, however, as the School Committee also found itself embroiled in a controversy over holiday celebrations at the JFK elementary school following a Fox 25 report that claimed the schools had done away with Halloween. The story eventually went national, resulting in a flood of angry emails, faxes, and phone calls, many of which were aimed directly at the school’s principal.

But Superintendent Dr. John D’Auria placed the blame squarely on a group of upset parents, who had complained to the news channel after receiving letters detailing plans for a more general fall-themed celebration. D’Auria also defended the school’s decision, noting that it was considerate of curriculum, food allergy issues, religious views, and other individual needs.

5. Water treatment plant fight and approval

Although somewhat removed from the public consciousness, the dispute between town officials and a group of Riverview Road neighbors over the proposed location of a water treatment plant reached an absolute crescendo in the early part of 2009, with the neighbors even contemplating legal action when it became clear that the project would be approved.

From the selectmen’s vantage point, the 10,000-square-foot facility represented a golden opportunity to lessen Canton’s dependence on expensive MWRA water; however, neighbors contended that the project would “loom over [their] backyards,” threatening not only their safety but their property values as well. They also claimed, with the support of two local attorneys, that the land in question was off limits due to its location in a Parkland, Recreation and Open Spaces District.

The debate raged on for months and even spilled onto the pages of the Citizen, while one resident went so far as to claim that the site selection process was “rigged” by overzealous town officials. To combat that perception, selectmen hired a consultant to review the entire process, which was later deemed fair and appropriate, and they also agreed to several site plan modifications, including relocation of the plant further into the woods and a more aesthetically pleasing exterior.

Far from satisfied, however, the neighbors took their fight to the Zoning Board of Appeals, where they continued to oppose the project on the grounds that it did not belong in a parkland zone. But while they agreed that the zoning bylaw was poorly worded, ZBA members ultimately sided with the town counsel’s position that the project was a use “as of right” and voted for unanimous approval on July 15.

6. Voters reject Rte. 138 bylaw

It may have lacked the drama of town meetings past, but Canton’s 2009 annual town meeting still had its fair share of interesting story lines, including the postponement of a landmark zoning bylaw aimed at transforming the Route 138 corridor into a major commercial and entertainment hub.

The proposed new “economic opportunity” district, a two-year project of the Rte. 138 Corridor Study Committee, would have applied to two large sections of Route 138: the stretch from the Milton town line to the I93/95 overpass and another stretch from the Randolph Street intersection to the Tracy Wood Road intersection. The bylaw was designed to promote the construction of taller buildings and parking garages as a way to maximize open space, while encouraging such uses as restaurants, scientific or research laboratories, shopping centers, showrooms, sporting event clubs, and family-oriented amusement activities, among others.

The majority of voters agreed with the spirit of the bylaw, but overall they felt it was too much, too soon. For committee chairman Sal Salvatori, however, it was a “disheartening” result, especially after two years of work. Yet he also vowed to try again at a future town meeting, calling the revitalization of Rte. 138 too important an issue to ignore going forward.

Also at town meeting, voters approved the town’s first-ever “wind energy bylaw,” which established a permitting process and guidelines for the “placement, design, construction, monitoring, modification and removal of wind facilities,” as well as the first-ever age-restricted (55 and over) zoning district, which was proposed by developer Pat Considine for a mixed-use development off Rte. 138 and Arboretum Way.

7. Town responds to H1N1

While it seems to have died down at least for now, no other public health story received more attention — or caused greater concern — in 2009 than the global H1N1 flu pandemic. Initially reported in the spring, the “swine flu” reached widespread levels across the continental United States by early fall, prompting federal and state health agencies to recommend massive vaccination programs targeting school children and other “vulnerable populations.” Unfortunately, supplies of the vaccine were severely limited due to manufacturing issues, and many towns, including Canton, were left with no choice but to cancel previously scheduled clinics while residents continued to contract the illness.

Once shipments did arrive, however, the Board of Health, in partnership with the Canton Public Schools, embarked on an aggressive vaccination program designed to achieve “herd immunity” among the school age population. They also took the drastic step of administering the vaccinations during the school day at both the middle and high schools, while scheduling Saturday clinics for the elementary students. To date, the Board of Health has vaccinated 44 percent of all school age children in Canton, and it is now offering vaccines to any interested resident, with the next public clinic scheduled for January 16 at Canton High School.

8. Dedications honor Canton heroes

Always a town to honor its heroes, Canton paid tribute to several more in 2009 with three emotional dedications: Charles S. Tolias Square in downtown Canton, the Matt Christian Waterfront at Reservoir Pond, and a Fire Department memorial honoring all of “those who served our community.”

Held in July at the corner of Washington and Bolivar streets, the Tolias Square ceremony honored Staff Sergeant Charles Tolias — a highly decorated World War Two veteran who took part in the D-Day attacks on Normandy Beach — as well as the “853 men and women who served in WWII from this small community of 4,500 inhabitants.” Tolias lost his legs from the knees down when his Jeep hit a landmine in Germany, but he returned to Canton and remained an inspiration until his death in 2003.

Less than a month after the Tolias dedication, the Massachusetts Hospital School held a waterfront ceremony in honor of the late Matt Christian, a former volunteer counselor who, despite being born with partial arms and legs, became a world-class swimmer as well as an inspiration to all who knew him. A graduate of Canton High School, Christian proved from a young age that he could live a normal life despite his disability, and he did just that for 25 years right up until his tragic death last January.

Tragedy was also the subject of the third dedication, as Canton firefighters paid tribute to all those who perished in the September 11 attacks with a special ceremony on the eight-year anniversary of 9/11. As part of the ceremony, Fire Chief Tim Ronayne unveiled a new monument intended to recognize “anyone who served the town of Canton in any way.”

“We will guard it and keep it safe, as we keep your families safe,” Ronayne promised.

9. CHS students stand up to protesters

A day that could have very easily turned disastrous instead became a defining moment for the Canton High School student body when hundreds of students, staff and supporters came together to peacefully oppose a group of professional Midwestern protesters who had come to spread a message of hate.

The group, known for its anti-gay rhetoric and for its offensive protest signs, had traveled all the way from Kansas to picket the upcoming CHS production of The Laramie Project, a play about the reaction to the 1998 murder of gay college student Matthew Shepard in Laramie, Wyoming.

In response, student leaders organized an entire counterprotest, which included a stunning “wall of silence” along the entrance to the school as well as a rally for peace at the steps of the Rodman building. Many students wore T-shirts displaying the message, “Hate is not a Canton value,” while others held signs or recited poems. They were also joined by various community leaders, as well as dozens of parents, teachers and alumni.

The event, similar to the play itself, drew rave reviews. It also achieved its goal as the protesters were barely heard before packing up their signs and leaving town.

10. Changing of the guard at the Fire Department

It was truly the end of an era when Fire Chief Tim Ronayne, a lifelong Canton resident, retired in October after 38 years with the Canton Fire Department; yet it was also the beginning of a new one as Charlie Doody, another Canton native, took the helm in Ronayne’s place.

An employee of the town since high school, Ronayne had spent almost a decade with the Canton DPW before joining his father, then Deputy Chief Thomas Ronayne, on the Fire Department in 1971. Later joined by his brother Barry, Ronayne went on to enjoy a long and fruitful career, serving as deputy chief for 17 years and chief for the past eight.

Doody took a slightly different path, switching careers from a teacher to a firefighter in 1995 before being appointed lieutenant in 1999 and deputy chief in 2001. He also served as the department’s EMT coordinator and lead fire investigator, and in 2008, he was one of 10 nominees for the Fire and Life Safety Educator of the Year Award. He was also the unanimous choice of the Board of Selectmen, who named him chief on October 20.

Farewell…

Retirements

Dr. Jim Galvin, a lifelong resident, retired in May after nearly 50 years of practicing medicine in Canton and Norwood.

Bill Sweeney retired in June after 28 years as a math teacher at Canton High School.

Susan Mathieson retired in June after 27 years as a teacher and reading specialist at the John F. Kennedy and Hemmenway elementary schools.

Bill Griffin retired in June after 35 years in education, including the past 14 as the principal of the Lt. Peter M. Hansen Elementary School.

James Fitzgerald, a local attorney, retired in July after 33 years on the Zoning Board of Appeals.

Ellen Barnett retired in July after 14 years with the Animal Control Department, including the past five as animal control officer.

Fire Chief Tim Ronayne retired in October after 38 years with the Canton Fire Department, including the past eight as chief. Ronayne also worked at the Canton DPW from 1962-1971.

Marylou Stein retired in October after 36 years as the secretary for the Recreation Department.

Ilene Kramer retired in October after 25 years as a librarian at the Canton Public Library.

Deaths

Ronald D. “Butch” Pasquarosa, 69, on January 11. A Marine Corps veteran and CHS graduate, Pasquarosa worked for the Canton DPW for 45 years, retiring in 2003 as assistant superintendent.

Edward J. Walsh, 78, on January 13. A CHS graduate, Walsh worked for the Canton DPW for 20 years, retiring in 2000.

Raphael A. “Lena” Carrara (Decembrele), 89, on January 21. A lifelong resident, Carrara was the owner of the Washington Liquor Store in downtown Canton.

Lawrence F. Cedrone, 80, on February 20. A Navy veteran of the Korean War, Cedrone was regarded as one of the best high school athletes in state history and was later elected to the North Quincy High School Hall of Fame. He went on to spend 40 years at Instron in Canton and was the founder and president of the Canton Association of Industries.

Joseph P. Barrs, 61, on March 8. A CHS graduate, Barrs worked for the Canton DPW and was a member of the Canton Historical Society.

John Vincent Leonard, 82, on March 29. A Navy veteran of WWII and a CHS graduate, Leonard worked for the Norfolk County Corrections Department and the Canton Police Department.

Elizabeth Estey, 101, on March 30. Born in Scotland, Estey immigrated to the United States at age 15 and spent most of her life in Canton. She was the proprietor of Estey’s Variety.

Mary V. Dunn on May 29. Dunn worked for the Canton Public Schools and was a senior volunteer at Canton Town Hall.

Lawrence J. Poirier, Jr., 59, on June 6. A CHS graduate, Poirier was a call firefighter for the Canton Fire Department and was the owner of Poirier’s Garage in Canton.

Margaret “Jo” Morgan on June 29. Morgan was a former trustee of the Canton Public Library and was a choir director and organist at St. Gerard Majella Church.

Thomas J. Fitzgerald, 47, on June 30. Fitzgerald worked for the Canton Public Schools as a custodian and was a professional freelance photographer.

Irene L. Franklin on July 12. Formerly of Canton, Franklin founded the Canton Suburban Shopper. As publisher, she assisted countless Canton businesses and politicians over the years in designing their advertisements.

Everett P. Pope, 90, on July 16. Formerly of Canton, Pope was a decorated Marine veteran of WWII, earning the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart and the Congressional Medal of Honor for “conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty.” He served as president and CEO of the Workmen’s Cooperative Bank in Boston, and following his retirement, served as overseer, president of the Board of Overseers, and trustee and president of the Board of Trustees at Bowdoin College.

John W. McDermott, 73, on August 29. A lifelong resident, McDermott taught industrial arts and adult evening education in the Canton Public Schools for 39 years. He was also an assistant for the Roache-Pushard Funeral Home for many years.

Marguerite “Peggy” F. Simons, 71, on September 11. Simons was a nurse practitioner at Mass Hospital School for many years. She also served on the Finance Committee and the Recreation Department.

Graham H. Donlon, 87, on October 3. A Navy veteran of WWII, Donlon was responsible for signaling the invasion on D-Day on Utah Beach in Normandy, France. He served as the town’s veterans agent and previously worked for the Canton Public Schools in the maintenance department.

James M. Salah on October 11. Well known for his financial contributions to the town, Salah served on the Zoning Board of Appeals and created the Salah Family Foundation, which gives scholarships in his name to graduating students from Canton each year.

Charles L. Rogers, Sr., 98, on October 14. A graduate of St. John’s High School where he was the president of his class, Rogers served the town as a meter reader for many years. He was also a special police officer from 1955-2006, a school bus driver, and was among the founders of the Canton Town Club along with his brother Paul.

Ruth E. Minkwitz, 89, on November 13. A Canton resident for over 50 years, Minkwitz was a librarian at the JFK Elementary School for 15 years and was the Christian education director at the United Church of Christ in Canton.

James R. L’Heureux, 70, on November 20. An Army veteran, L’Heureux was a custodian at Canton High School for many years and was also a school bus driver.

John Ames Bright, 90, on December 26. A lifelong resident and Army veteran of WWII, Bright was an engineer and a former building inspector for the town of Canton.

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