Selectmen reluctantly back extra meals tax

By a vote of 3-2, Canton selectmen on Tuesday reluctantly agreed to support the local option meals tax offered by the state, but voted 4-1 against adoption of the Community Preservation Act and the state’s optional “Stretch Energy Code.” (See town meeting preview.) These articles will be acted upon by voters at the upcoming annual town meeting, which begins at 7:30 on Monday, April 25, at Canton High School.

The meals tax, if approved, would add another .75 percent tax on the sale of restaurant meals and could generate up to $274,000 in extra revenue for Canton, according to state Revenue Department estimates.

Selectmen Avril Elkort and Bob Burr both opposed the tax. Selectman Sal Salvatori said he wavered back and forth, but opted to support it because of the additional revenue, plus the fact that the tax, from what he could discern, would not have a dramatic impact on restaurant patrons.

BOS Chairman Victor Del Vecchio and Selectman John Connolly said the new revenue would help offset declining state aid.

In other action, DPW Operations Manager Dan Teague told selectmen that the DPW is now in a mode of street cleaning and fixing potholes following a winter in which there were 83 inches of snow removed and, since January 1, nine plowing events and 15 sanding events. He said the DPW in the first quarter (January to March) has completed 285 out of 349 work orders.

Teague said the damaged culvert on Bolivar Street would be repaired in the late summer/early fall while the one on Pine Street would be done in mid to late summer. Connolly asked that the DPW install a traffic sign around the Bolivar Street culvert indicating that oncoming traffic has the right of way.

In other news:

* Peter Augis, president of Blue Hills Brewery, and Leo Waters explained their proposal to rebuild the historic Doty Tavern, which burned down in 1888. Doty Tavern was a famous meeting place and a working tavern where colonists met in 1774 to draft the Suffolk Resolves — which formed the basis of the Declaration of Independence.

Augis said he would like to rebuild it near the original site (now the grounds of Trinity Episcopal Church) or move it to the grounds of the Meditech property, which houses the former Prowse Farm. Augis said he would like the tavern rebuilt as a museum with a community effort like a “barn raising.” He plans to discuss his proposal with members of the Canton Historical Commission.

* Selectmen held a moment of silence for the passing of Maurice Ronayne Jr. and Mario Alfano.

* Selectmen will meet at 7 p.m. at CHS on Monday, April 25, prior to the first session of town meeting and at 6:30 pm. on Wednesday, April 27, prior to the second session of town meeting.

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Posted by Mike Berger on Apr 21 2011. Filed under News, Town Government. Both comments and pings are currently closed.