SB approves changes in town counsel services

With all three members in attendance voting in the affirmative, the Select Board on Tuesday opted to go in a different direction with the town’s legal services, approving a transition from longtime town counsel Paul DeRensis of Brooks & DeRensis, P.C. to the Pembroke-based firm of Clifford & Kenney, Canton’s current labor counsel. Town Administrator Charles Doody will coordinate a transition plan.

Voting to approve the change were Select Board Chair JR McCourt and board members Susan Harrington and Chris Albert. Absent from the meeting were Vice Chair Trish Boyden, who was attending a wedding out of the country, and board member Mike Loughran, who was on vacation.

McCourt said most of the board members had a chance to speak with or meet the principals of Clifford & Kenney, including partner and co-founder John Clifford, who attended Tuesday’s meeting.

“We believe it is time to make a change,” said McCourt, citing a discussion that board members had during a recent goal-setting workshop. “This is a positive move for the town.”

McCourt said the board was very satisfied with the performance of Clifford & Kenny as labor counsel. The firm, which currently represents over 20 Massachusetts municipalities, offers unlimited phone and email access for a flat monthly fee. This unique billing structure, according to the firm’s website, has helped Clifford & Kenney maintain a “close working relationship with local officials, providing insight on minor issues before they become major problems.”

Clifford himself is a former Marshfield town administrator and previously served for 10 years as a member of the state’s Joint Labor-Management Committee for Police and Fire. Clifford said the team also includes Chris Kenney, who is an expert on zoning and land use and previously served as in-house counsel for the Norfolk Sheriff’s Office, and David Kouroyen, who works with a number of municipalities on a wide range of matters and has extensive experience in all phases of civil litigation.

“We are very excited and look forward to working with you,” said Clifford.

In other news from Tuesday’s meeting, DPW Superintendent Mike Trotta announced that the next phase of the town’s ongoing water service line inspections will take place over two weeks beginning Monday, September 8. Trotta said they will be distributing hundreds of door hangers informing residents that contractors from Kleinfelder and CHESS Engineering will be available to perform in-home inspections of water service pipe material — part of a federal mandate by the Environmental Protection Agency to identify lead service lines. Trotta said the long-term goal of the program is to identify the material of every water service line in town (lead, copper, steal, galvanized steel, etc.).

The inspections take approximately 10 minutes and require access to the water meter, typically located in the basement. Residents can schedule an inspection by calling 339-298-6266 or emailing CantonWaterInspections@Kleinfelder.com.

Trotta said Canton Water-Sewer Department personnel will accompany the contractors during on-site inspections. If the connections were provided by the town and found not to be suitable or healthy, Trotta said the DPW will come up with a plan to replace them by 2027. If the connections were not put in by the town, the contractors may advise the homeowners on other options.

Residents can also conduct their own inspection and self-report the results. Instructions are available at tinyurl.com/canton-water-inspect. For more information about the town’s Lead and Copper Rule Improvements Program, go to town.canton.ma.us/1019/LeadService-Line-Inventory.

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Posted by Mike Berger on Aug 22 2025. Filed under News, Town Government. Both comments and pings are currently closed.