Kelleher asks to reinstate defunct Board of Welfare

SAUGUS-Selectman Michael Kelleher is looking to breathe a little life into a defunct board aimed at the welfare of residents.”I would like to re-establish the Board of (Public) Welfare,” he said. “It’s a three member board that simply looks out for the welfare of the town and its citizens.”It seems no one can quite remember when the board was last together, but Town Moderator Robert Long said it is provided for in the Town Charter.According to the charter, the board would be appointed by the Town Manager, but Long said there is no description of what the board’s specific duties would entail.”I think I remember my mother referring to it in the ?40s,” he said. “It was after the depression. It has been non-existent forever though. I don’t know anyone who knows on anyone who served on it for decades. It was a long time ago.”Long said when it was active he had his suspicion it was almost a badge of dishonor to apply for help.”You had to be in really rough shape,” he said. “You were essentially asking your neighbors to fund you.”And that is what concerns Town Manager Andrew Bisignani who likes the idea but is worried about financing.”How would we fund something like this,” he wondered.Bisignani said he interpreted the idea as one that might deal in donations rather than information. He said he would need a more specific definition before he pursued naming a board because he didn’t want to start something that would require a budget to be attached.But Kelleher’s plan is more about dispensing knowledge rather than cash. Kelleher used the seminar he conducts in conjunction with Lynn Economic Opportunity as an example. The seminar is not about handing out money; it’s about handing out information on where residents in need can get help with fuel assistance.”This would be a group that would make itself aware of situations in town and find people resources to help,” he said. “There is a lot of need out there.”Charter Commission Chairman Peter Manoogian agreed. In researching the charter during commission meetings, Manoogian said they stumbled over the Public Welfare Board and he thought of Kelleher. He said although the board fell out of fashion in town in the 1960s, what little description there was of the board was broad enough to cover what Kelleher was looking to do – offer some guidance to residents in need.Kelleher suggested that Bisignani ask someone from the Clergy Council to chair the board namely because much of what Kelleher envisions the board doing the council already does.Kelleher said despite Bisignani’s misgivings he hopes he gets behind the project.”If Andy doesn’t think it’s government’s job to do this sort of thing he’s wrong,” Kelleher said. “It is the job of the government. It’s our responsibility to do these things.”