Annual Town Meeting: Warrant Articles Being Discussed in Canton

is quickly approaching and the Town Meeting Warrant is being discussed and debated amongst the Board of Selectmen and other town committees.

There are 44 warrant articles currently on the April 25 Town Meeting Warrant. The warrant will be finalized by the end of the month and the final warrant will be published by April 11, according to Finance Director Jim Murgia. The town is looking at a $15.5 million recommended budget.

The Board of Selectmen reviewed all of the articles at the discussed several of them. Discussions will continue at Tuesday's meeting at Town Hall at 7:00 p.m.

A few discussion-inducing warrant articles included:

• Article 20: More assistance for seniors. This article will raise the rate from $750 to $1,000 a year. The town program allows seniors to work for town departments to receive a tax rebate from the town. Selectman Avril T. Elkort, 102 seniors are already signed up for this program.
• Article 29: Mimosas for brunch? This article will change the time of alcohol sales for restaurants in Canton on Sundays to 10:00 a.m. Currently, “you can’t get a Bloody Mary” at brunch in town, Elkort said. said it would encourage business in Canton and benefit the town.
• Article 34: Paying a little extra for . This tax would add a .75 % tax on meals in Canton. If you spend $100 on a meal, you would pay an extra 75 cents on your bill if this article were passed at Town Meeting. This article sparked much debate among the Board of Selectmen members, the Finance Director Murgia and Town Administrator William Friel. Selectman John J. Connolly said the extra 75 cents or so would not deter folks from eating out in Canton. “If the food is good and the beer is cold,” he said. “I think we should do it.”
• Article 35: The “res.” This article would allow the town to accept a repaired as a donation from the owners. A vote at Town Meeting would authorize the town to receive the donation. Selectman Gerald Salvatori said. If the article is not approved, the owners will breech the dam and water levels will get lower, Salvatore said.
• Article 37: Golf anyone? This article will give the town the ability to negotiate with the state on the maintenance and improvement of