ATM kicks off Monday with lots of intrigue

By Mike Berger

Update: The Canton Planning Board, responding to concerns voiced by members of the local business community, decided on Wednesday night to reverse course on the series of town meeting articles pertaining to the rezoning of Route 138. Rather than recommend their adoption, the board voted 4-1 — with member Kathy Gibbs McCormack opposed — to request that the articles (36, 37, 39, 41 & 42) be withdrawn without prejudice.

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The revitalization of Route 138, a possible new parking option for downtown patrons, a new stabilization fund for capital projects and many other intriguing proposals will be put on the table at Canton’s 2022 annual town meeting, which kicks off Monday evening, May 9, beginning at 7 p.m. in the Canton High School auditorium.

To better prepare voters for the upcoming legislative session, representatives from several town boards shared a snapshot of some of the key warrant articles as part of a webinar-style preview held last Thursday, April 28. The Pre-ATM session is re-airing on Canton Community Television and is accessible for on-demand viewing via cantoncommunitytv.org.

Participating in the webinar were Tim McKenna, Finance Committee chair; Mike Loughran, Select Board chair; David McCarthy, Planning Board chair; Finance Director Randy Scollins; Town Administrator Charlie Aspinwall; Town Moderator Dick Staiti; and Stephen Marshall, finance and operations director for the Canton Public Schools.

Participants opened the session with an overview of this year’s warrant, which contains 43 articles in total, nine of which have been deemed “non-controversial” and will be acted on together as part of the consent agenda. There are also 11 zoning-related changes up for consideration (articles 32-42); however, several of them pertain to the same proposal and will be clustered together, such as articles 32-34, articles 35-38 and 40; and articles 36-37, 39 and 41-42.

The latter group of articles relates to a proposed commercial mixed-use district for portions of Route 138 that is based on recommendations made in the town’s recently updated master plan. The new district would allow for a mix of residential and commercial uses to help promote the revitalization of those segments of Route 138.

The first three zoning articles focus on off-street parking, parking in the Canton Center Economic Opportunity District, and regulations for parking garages, while the remainder are mostly “housekeeping” issues designed to clean up the zoning bylaws.

Articles 19-20 will also be acted on together as they both involve a property at 25 Neponset Street. The Select Board wanted to sell the town-owned portion of the property but has since rethought its position and is considering whether to create a new parking lot, mainly to help out downtown restaurants.

Article 20 is sponsored by Dr. Gabriel Solomon, who would like to have the opportunity to purchase the Neponset Street property to build a home for his family.

Article 21 proposes funds for a pickleball court at Pequitside, but Loughran said the measure is likely to be postponed because the Select Board believes it will be able to use American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to pay for the project.

Some of the articles are lengthy and contain several motions, including Article 15 (capital expenditures) and Article 17 (Community Preservation Committee recommendations).

McKenna pointed out several other articles of interest, including Article 22 (exterior renovations to Memorial Hall), Article 24 (Galvin Middle School Renovation Feasibility Study), and Article 30 (creation of a $1 million Capital Stabilization Fund). The stabilization fund will provide the town with the opportunity to set aside funds for specific future capital projects. The establishment of the fund will require the approval of two-thirds of the town meeting voters.

Article 43, the final article on the warrant, concerns the FY23 budget and is the last to be considered.

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