Highlights from the Canton Board of Selectmen: Water and Sewer Rates, Irish Festival

A few updates from the Canton Board of Selectmen this week.

That sip of tap water could cost a bit more this July. Douglas W. Gardner, president of Pioneer Consulting Group, Inc., presented the FY 2012 Water and Sewer Rate Study Findings and Recommendations to the Board of Selectmen on Tuesday. The study is recommending an increase in water and sewer rates for Canton for the 2012 fiscal year, which would begin July 1. The average user would see a four percent increase for water and a nine percent increase for sewer, Gardner told the Canton Board of Selectmen. That translates to an estimated increase of about $18 per year for water and $46 per year for sewer for the average customer, according to Town Administrator Bill Friel. If accepted by the Board of Selectmen, the rates would be effective for …

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Two Canton Firefighters Retire After Decades on Duty

The men served the town of Canton for a combined 78 years.

Two Canton firefighters hung up their bunker gear last week and worked their final shifts for the Canton Fire Department. Lt. Barry Ronayne and Firefighter Jimmy Podgurski have a combined 78 years of service to the town when they officially retired last week.  Ronayne's last shift was on Wednesday, May 25 and Podgurski's last shift was on Friday, May 27, Canton Fire Lt. Tom Driscoll said.  Ronayne retired after working on the CFD for 38 years and Podgurski retired with four decades on duty. "Both are lifelong residents of the town of Canton," Driscoll said. "We thank them both for their many years of service to the department and the town and wish them a happy retirement." "Both Barry Ronayne and Jim Podgurski have served the citizens of …

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Patch Facts

Five Things You Need to Know Today: May 31

Here is what is happening in and around Canton today.

Five Things You Need to Know Today is a new Patch column that provides readers with essential, daily information at a glance. Check back later for more, and let us know what you think of the new feature in the comments section. 1. Seniors can unwind with a Yoga Class at the Canton Council on Aging at 10:30 a.m. today. 2. Bring the kiddos to Spring Storytime at the Canton Public Library at 10:30 a.m. today. 3. Get outdoors and get moving with a Conditioning Hike at the Blue Hills today at 10:00 a.m. 4. The Canton Board of Selectmen is meeting tonight at Town Hall at 7:00 p.m. 5. Canton's Great Decisions Discussion Group is meeting tonight at 7:00 p.m. at the Canton Public Library.

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Highlights from the Canton Board of Selectmen: Memorial Day Parade and Construction Updates

A few announcements from the Canton Board of Selectmen.

Potholes, parades and mosquito spraying. Here are a few announcements from the Canton Board of Selectmen. The board met last week and will meet again on Tuesday, May 31 at 7:00 p.m. at Town Hall.

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Finbarr's to Become T & B Pub

Say farewell to the longtime Irish pub in Canton.

Canton residents, get ready to say farewell to Finbarr's Old Irish Pub. The longtime Canton favorite is about to become T & B Pub. The Board of Selectmen transferred all licenses to the new owner, Rod Lampron, on Tuesday. Lampron, a Norwood resident, told the Board of Selectmen Tuesday night that his pub is named after his two sons and will be a family-friendly restaurant and pub. The family-owned pub will serve $6 lunch specials and comfort food, Lampron told the board. Mexican fare, pub food and Italian food will be on the new menu, he said. The new menu will have a "little bit of everything," Lampron said. He hopes to have T & B Pub open by the end of June. "We are very excited for you," Selectman Avril Elkhort said. The board wants the…

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Town Government: Annual Town Meeting

Highlights from the Canton Board of Selectmen: Town Meeting Warrant Articles

A few highlights from the April 19 meeting.

There is less than one week to go before Canton's Annual Town Meeting and the Board of Selectmen wrapped up final warrant business last night. The Board of Selectmen has been discussing the 44 warrant articles over the past several months, and gave their final recommendations at last night's meeting on the remaining articles. In a 3-2 vote, the board voted to support Article 34, the local option meals tax article. 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 when first discussed in …

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Canton Town Election Is Uncontested Today

Today is Town Election in Canton. Hit the poles to vote.

Although there are no contested races in today's Town Election, Canton residents are encouraged to brave the rainy weather and head to the polls. "While there are no contested races this local election, please join me in exercising our civic duty by voting on Tuesday, April 5," Canton Board of Selectmen Chairman Victor Del Vecchio said. " In times like these, we need to voice our support for a Board of Selectmen and other elected offices that continue to treat each other with respect and that, through consensus, represent a positive force that the town can rely on." Last year’s Annual Town Election “generated an anemic four percent voter turnout,” Town Clerk Tracy Kenney said. “We expect to see more of the same this year, having no …

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Board of Selectmen Weigh Pros and Cons of Community Preservation Act

Cost and need debated at the Board of Selectmen meeting.

Canton residents could be paying an extra $42 a year to preserve the town. That is, if Article 39 on the Town Meeting Warrant is passed at Annual Town Meeting and is also approved at Town Election. The Board of Selectmen on Tuesday night debated the pros and cons of the article–which would adopt the Massachusetts Community Preservation Act. The board discussed whether the timing is right for the town to set aside funds to be used for community preservation–which includes historical preservation, affordable housing recreational areas and open space. Deb Sundin, a member of the Canton Conservation Commission, and Katherine Roth, associate director of the Community Preservation Coalition, made a presentation to the board on Warrant Article 39…

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Patch Facts

Five Things You Need to Know Today: March 8

Here is what is happening in and around Canton today.

Five Things You Need to Know Today is a new Patch column that provides readers with essential, daily information at a glance. Check back later for more, and let us know what you think of the new feature in the comments section. 1. Get the scoop on the town budget and warrant articles. The Board of Selectmen are meeting today at 7:00 p.m. in Town Hall. 2. Aspiring artists can attend a portrait workshop at the Canton Public Library tonight at 6:30 p.m. 3. And Seniors who have always wanted to learn to paint can take an Oil Painting Workshop today at 10:00 a.m. at the Council on Aging. The cost is $30 for the class. 4. Haven't seen "The Social Network" yet? Check out the Oscar-nominated film at the Canton Public Library tonight at 7:00 p.m. 5…

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Annual Town Meeting: Warrant Articles Being Discussed in Canton

Articles include mimosas being served for brunch and extra help for seniors.

Town Meeting 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 March 8 meeting and 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:

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