Upcoming Select Board Agenda Comments 2/17/2026

• Congratulations To Chief Daniels, we look forward to your leadership!

• The Judge Rotenberg Center is donating (as the Select Board agenda states) $100,000 to the Town of Canton, reportedly as part of a PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes) arrangement. JRC is a nonprofit that provides services in our community, and like any taxable property owner, it should be assessed using consistent standards.

That raises an important policy question: Are nonprofit properties being valued consistently compared with other large commercial and industrial properties? More can be fond here.

Rather than focusing on any single property, the Town should establish a clear, transparent policy for how nonprofits are valued and how comparable commercial properties are treated so taxpayers understand the methodology being used.

In Canton, Massachusetts, a nonprofit PILOT would still be treated the same way it is across Massachusetts municipal finance: It is municipal revenue — not a charitable donation — unless the agreement explicitly creates a restricted gift. So the question is why is the Chair of the Board of Assessors calling this a a donation during a reelection campaign, and why is the Town Administrator allowing this to be named a "donation" on the agenda?

• When reviewing trash budgets, I recommend the board consider offering composting service to trash collection.

• I recommend the board consider contributing more to municipal workers’ health insurance premiums since the town has about $10,000,000 in the health care trust fund. This has been a prior discussion in prior Finance Committee meetings.

• The board needs to establish a capital plan for addressing the $100,000,000 OPEB unfunded liability.

• I would recommend that any DIF funds for Plymouth Rubber be used to improve the district Infrastructure such as roads, improving crosswalks, and adding bike lanes. All Select Board members have advocated for improving the infrastructure so now their chance to make a difference.

• Regional school assessment is a variable expense to the town and based on the number of Canton students enrolled at Blue Hill Regional and the Norfolk County Aggie.

• Executive Office budget needs to follow Article IV Section 16 of the town bylaw for the use of the funds in account 910. These are labor contracts such as the Town Administrator, Finance Director, the Police Chief and others. As a prior member of the finance committee this information was never provided. I would demand this transparency and inform the Town Administrator that he needs to follow the bylaws as a member of the Select Board.

Section 16. Labor Contracts 4-16 At least forty-five (45) days before the start of a Town Meeting at which any labor contract between the town and any municipal employee or group of municipal employees is to be presented to any Town Meeting for funding, copies of the contract shall be placed on file by the municipal employer for public examination, inspection and review in the Office of the Board of Selectmen, Finance Committee, Town Clerk and at the Canton Public Library, and further in case of any labor contract entered into by the School Committee, copies of any such contract shall also be placed on file at its Administration Offices. In addition, all such labor contracts shall be posted at Town Meeting in a conspicuous place designated by the Moderator. A representative of the municipal employer shall certify to the Town Meeting that the foregoing requirements have been met. Such certification shall be conclusive.

• Now that the Paul Revere museum is open and generating revenues, I would expect to see the Trust less dependent on using additional incremental town funds in their FY27 budget. Also, the Rolling Mill revenue should be forecasted to meet the resolving account 142 request.

• When the board votes on Annual Town Meeting Articles, I would like to see discussions on the articles.

• The Blue Hills Ski Area is a great part of our town, and the Select Board should work with the state legislature, so the lease can be extended over 5 years. This will encourage the manager of the mountain to invest more in the property and improve economic development in town.

• The Luce School Fun Run and 5K and an excellent event and we need to let the other elementary schools they their children can participate in the fun run. My child attends JFK and has participated in this fun in the past, but there were not many other children from the other schools.

• Many of the agenda items are subject to police approval which indicates the police may have more authority than the Select Board. I would encourage all private events to be seek police and fire approval prior to appearing before the board.

• On the Cemetery Lot/Perpetual Care Deeds – residents have told me that the cost of these lots is too low and that the price should increase. Financial assistance should also be considered for the residents who need the assistance.

• Public comment has now been returned to the end of the meeting – will the board consider making other changes to this policy and will the time change be permeant?