Saugus charter board focuses on changing election system

SAUGUS – Although the Charter Commission is still very much in the information-gathering mode, Chairman Peter Manoogian said one clear thought has risen out of months of talks – staggered elections.According to the commission’s research, Manoogian said it appears that Saugus is the only town in the state in which every seat for Selectmen, School Committee and Town Meeting are up every two years.Manoogian said even the Department of Revenue has suggested the town go to a staggered election system.Staggered elections are not the only suggestion that has come from ongoing discussions, which have involved three former town managers, including Steve Angelo, seven former selectmen and current Town Counsel John Vasapolli.Manoogian said the need for the community to promote a “we” attitude rather than a “me” attitude has also been prevalent.”The Commission has heard over and over about the competitive nature of running for one of five seats on the board of selectmen,” he said.Manoogian said both current and former selectmen said the election system puts up barriers because it also places an emphasis on who places where in the final balloting.It has been argued, he added, that the voting system, coupled with a three-decade tradition that gives the top vote getter the chairmanship in spite of experience or background, is probably not in the town’s best interest.Manoogian said there is even evidence that shows that during the last eight elections the average ballot had only 2.5 votes for selectmen rather than five. In fact, he said, the top vote getter has consistently been “blank.””It is now becoming more common to see a majority of the five Selectmen and five School Committee members elected by a minority of those voting,” he said. “‘Bullet voting,’ or casting just one vote for a favorite candidate, helps to insure that a candidate may get elected or re-elected.”Commission Vice Chairman Debra Panetta said the group planned to re-visit the election issue when it concludes the problem-identification phase at the end of March.Manoogian said the group will now move onto interviews with the legislative branch and, next week, will reopen the public hearing continued from December.”I don’t expect too many people to come out because we haven’t proposed anything,” Manoogian said.The continued hearing will be held Thursday, Feb. 21 at the Belmonte Middle School.On that same night, Manoogian said the committee will hear from former Town Moderator Clayton Treffrey and current moderator Robert Long.The commission plans to spend the rest of February hearing testimony from the School and Finance committees, and will hear from five former Town Meeting members, each who served 10 years on Town Meeting.All Charter Commission meetings are open to the public and there are two opportunities at each meeting to hear public comment.Residents can also check out information posted at http://www.saugusma.gov/Pages/SaugusMA_Chartercomm/index.