Canton Voters Say 'Yes' To Road Measure, Deficit Fixes

CANTON, CT — Local voters Wednesday used their voices and said "yes" to two measures put forth by the town at a special town meeting, one on a roadway and the other on budget deficits.

There were two items of business at the town meeting — which took place at the Canton Public Library that evening:

• A $200,374 transfer from the town's undesignated fund balance to finance line-item budget deficits in the 2023-24 general fund budget.

According to Canton Chief Administrative Officer Mark Penney, this action is tied to the town charter, which mandates fiscal transfers for any line item deficits in the budget.

He said some years a budget will come out with a surplus, other years deficits.

"Approved budgets are, usually, approximates. You're making a forecast on future expenses in a given year," Penney said.

Several people commented about the deficit, some expressing concern about overspending in some areas.

Ultimately, the town was able to take care of the situation by pulling that amount from the town's surplus, which was confirmed via a majority voice vote that easily approved the transfers.

• The discontinuance of Brass Lantern Road as a town road.

Penney explained why the town was looking to discontinue the isolated and little-traveled Brass Lantern Road as a town road.

He said abandoning the road that is off Route 44 would alleviate the town of any road maintenance and liability for harm to people who might go on that roadway.

Penney said the topography and condition of the road make it difficult, if not dangerous, to plow and maintain the roadway and, given the road's usage, abandoning it is the best option.

To do that, however, Penney said it must come before voters. "It is just a part of Connecticut General Statutes that it has to come to a town vote," Penney said.

This measure was approved by a unanimous voice vote of those gathered at the town meeting, which took an hour and seven minutes to complete.

The meeting was open to all electors in the Town of Canton and qualified taxpayers that were allowed to vote at town meetings.

For the minutes of Wednesday's special town meeting, click on this ink.

For an audio recording of Wednesday's special town meeting, click on this link.

From Feb. 3: 'Canton Has Some Work To Do This Week At Town Meeting'