Saugus Selectmen could end up with new duties

SAUGUS-As the Charter Commission closes in on a completed draft of a potentially new charter, a proposed change in the role of the Board of Selectmen has emerged.The most notable changes include adding the duty of policymaking and a new way of choosing leadership.In discussions regarding a charter change with elected and appointed officials last spring, Charter Commission Chairman Peter Manoogian said one issue that jumped out was the a “the limited public role played by the selectmen in the governance of the town.”Manoogian said transforming the board from elected officials to elected policymakers, thus making it a role of true action, is one way to change that perception.”The current charter does not indicate that the selectmen play any role in policy formulation or implementation,” he said.Instead, Manoogian added, it is often the town manager who is responsible for policies, which Selectmen have then signed off on. Manoogian cited the deal Town Manager Andrew Bisignani made earlier this year to sublease Kasabuski Arena as an example.With this new charter, it would be the selectmen making decision such as subleasing the rink and Bisignani implementing them.Manoogian is quick to say the switch is not about stripping the manager position of duties, instead it’s about concentrating those duties and giving the manager actual time to manage.He also said it’s about giving residents a much needed link between their vote and the direction of the town.”There really isn’t one now,” he said.He said it also forces Selectmen’s hands to take clear cut stands on various issues. When the issue of paying for trash pick up arose several years ago, some board members sat on the fence. Manoogian said under the proposed charter, the manager would have to be directed by the board as to which way to go thus forcing board members to not only make a decision and but make it publicly.Along with policymaking, the new role of the board would also include developing a master plan for the community and guiding its implementation. Manoogian said it is currently the Planning Board’s jurisdiction to develop a master plan, but it doesn’t have the time.The board would also add water commissioners to its job description, but would lose the title of licensing board. Instead, the draft proposal recommends an appointed licensing commission.The licensing commission would then become one of 11 boards or committees the selectmen would appoint, relieving the Town Manager of that responsibility. The Town Manager would still appoint of Town Counsel and Superintendent of Public Works, for which the town manager would nominate a candidate for a three year term, which the selectmen would then have to approve.Choosing it’s own leader would also be a totally different ballgame for the board. For decades, with one exception, the chairmanship of the board has always gone to the largest vote getter. For nearly 25 years, that honor went to Janette Fasano. Fasano, or another candidate could still enjoy a lengthy run as chairman but he or she would have to be elected specifically to the chairmanship by the town to do so.Under the new charter, the board, which would still include five seats, would have staggered elections effectively putting an end to the top vote-getter becoming chairman. Instead, whomever yearned to be chairman of the Selectmen would have to run specifically for that seat. If they lost, they would not be a selectman at all.Manoogian admits there are big changes afoot within the proposed charter, but he also truly believes it is what the voters asked for when they voted to form a charter commission more than a year ago.”We believe this is what the public said they wanted and, if it is, we believe this is the best document,” he said.