New town committee to explore uses for St. Gerard’s

By Mike Berger

Canton Fire Chief and soon-to-be Town Administrator Charles Doody received his first major assignment last week as he was placed in charge of a new 10-member resident committee tasked with identifying and recommending uses for the former St. Gerard’s Church property, which was purchased by the town earlier this year.

Doody is excited by the assignment and will be looking to call a committee meeting this month to begin the undertaking.

At its meeting last Tuesday, August 30, the Canton Select Board appointed Marilyn Curran, Amanda Ryder, Edward Sussek, Mary Graziano, Gene Manning, Brian Callery, Joe Masciarelli, William Quinn, Sal Salvatori, and Pete Marshalka as members of the new committee, which will report its findings and recommendations to the board at a date to be determined. Doody said there is currently no time frame, but he expects at least a progress report will be made at the May 2023 annual town meeting.

Doody said the St. Gerard’s Reuse Committee will start with a clean slate and analyze the property and acreage, hold public hearings, and evaluate potential uses that are appropriate for the site. For example, he doubts whether the committee would recommend any commercial or retail operation since the former church property sits in a residentially zoned district.

Doody is pleased with the makeup of the committee, which he said includes a “good mix” of former parishioners of St. Gerard’s, representatives of adjoining neighborhoods, and concerned citizens.

The committee will meet monthly and its first order of business will be to create an overall agenda, establish roles, and decide how it will pursue a path toward recommending the best use of the property.

Doody said a key early priority will be determining what the town needs in terms of operations and space and whether the former church property can address those needs. The property itself includes the church building, rectory, and a large parking lot.

Another priority of the committee will be obtaining public input through surveys and social media outreach. “We need to take a pulse of the community,” said Doody.

Comments from neighbors and abutters will also be sought as Doody said it is important that the recommended use fits into the fabric of the community and quality of life is maintained in the neighborhood.

Share This Post

Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=91009