Town in talks to build path from Revere site to train

By Mike Berger

The Canton Select Board is making progress with Thorndike Development, builder of condominiums at the Paul Revere Heritage Site, on the creation of a boardwalk/access path which would lead from Thorndike’s rear properties to the MBTA train station. The path would make it easier for pedestrians to walk to the train station and also serve as additional parking for PRHS events and for visitors to the site.

The board approved preliminary plans on Tuesday evening and sent a recommendation to the Zoning Board of Appeals. Although the town has an easement, use of the Thorndike property would make access safer, according to Revere Heritage Commission representative and former Select Board member Victor Del Vecchio.

Lloyd Geisinger of Thorndike said he was optimistic that a final solution would be reached and was pleased with the progress of talks so far.

In other news from the May 11 Select Board meeting:

* The second major phase of the Elm-Dedham Street water main project will necessitate a partial closing of Elm Street after Elm Drive and near Standish Drive which will last from June 1 to July 1. All affected residents will be notified by mail and postings will be published on the town website and in the Canton Citizen. Those residents on Elm Drive will enter through Dedham Street and those living on Standish Drive will come in through Pecunit Street. The first part of the project (Green Lodge Street water) will be completed in the next week.

* Although the town had to cancel its annual Memorial Day parade due to COVID-19, Canton Veterans Agent Arafat Knight said that a ceremony will still be held on Monday, May 31, at 10 a.m. at Veterans Memorial Park in Canton Corner Cemetery. Up to 250 visitors will be allowed to attend the ceremony. Knight is also planning a female veterans appreciation breakfast, to be held at the American Legion on June 11.

* The town received an exemplary 2020 Fiscal Year audit report from independent auditors Tony Roselli and Paul Gargano, which led to another AAA bond rating by Standard & Poor’s — marking the 10th consecutive year that the town has received the highest possible municipal bond rating. Roselli and Gargano found little wrong in the town’s financial reporting and were amazed that the town’s reserves were able to continue growing despite limitations on the local economy due to COVID-19. Roselli said this is the 20th consecutive year that the town has received a “Clean” opinion from auditors. Roselli said the town’s reserve ratio hovers around 20 percent, which is twice the state average and well above S&P’s recommendation for AAA communities (15 percent). Roselli said Canton ranks in the top 10 percent of communities in the state with respect to investment appeal. He also noted that the town has decreased its OPEB (Other Post-Employment Benefits) obligation to $6.4 million. In fact, at this pace of funding …

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