Canton’s annual town meeting kicks off Monday, May 9
By Jay TurnerSee this week’s Canton Citizen for a detailed snapshot of the 2016 town meeting warrant.
Full-day kindergarten, traffic and school building studies, historical preservation projects, and an assortment of zoning amendments will all be up for consideration when voters convene for Canton’s 2016 annual town meeting, which kicks off this coming Monday, May 9, in the Canton High School auditorium.
Page 15 of this week’s Canton Citizen
According to the Canton Historical Society, this year marks the 300th anniversary of town meeting in what is now Canton, dating back to the establishment of the Dorchester South Precinct in 1716. In that inaugural meeting, which took place on March 28 in a meetinghouse near present-day Canton Corner Cemetery, the early settlers chose a moderator, a precinct clerk, and three assessors.
“Congratulations on our most basic form of government for the people and by the people,” wrote the Historical Society in a recent Facebook post.
Today, a full three centuries later, the spirit and purpose of the exercise remains largely the same; however, the needs and priorities of the community have certainly grown as evidenced by the $84 million budget for FY 2017 that will be presented to the voters at the conclusion of town meeting.
This year’s warrant consists of 45 articles, including eight proposed changes to the zoning bylaws — which all require a two-thirds vote — as well as six citizen-sponsored articles.
As with all town meetings, some of the articles are considered “housekeeping” measures, while a number of others — including a series of four pertaining to the use of Reservoir Pond — are expected to be withdrawn by their sponsor on town meeting floor.
Yet there will still be plenty to deliberate and discuss, including the aforementioned kindergarten proposal and nearly $2 million worth of free cash transfers for items ranging from new LED street lights to the annual July 4th celebration. Meanwhile, the Finance Committee has once again proposed to eliminate the salaries of select town officials — a contentious issue at past town meetings — while a citizen is seeking to institute term limits for members of all town boards and committees, both elected and appointed.
It all gets underway at 7 p.m. on May 9. The first session will adjourn at or around 11 p.m. and the second session, if needed, will commence at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 11. Town meeting will continue to meet on consecutive Mondays and Wednesdays at 7 p.m. until all business has concluded.
Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=33227
Posted by Jay Turner
on May 5 2016. Filed under News, Town Government.
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