TV question passes with 88 percent of vote

SAUGUS – Members of Saugus Concerned Citizens were calling for celebration in Town Hall as support for the return of Saugus Community Television won by a landslide. Question 2, “Would you like to see Saugus Cable Television revert back to Saugus Community Television, a community-operated organization, where you have a voice as opposed to a Board of Selectmen controlled operation?” earned 87.81 percent of the vote with 4,084 votes Tuesday night.Chet Stentiford, a member of the Concerned Citizens who worked to get the question on the ballot with a petition, said he was tired from holding signs in Saugus center for days, but was “overwhelmed” with the support.?It?s going to be back on the hands of the people now,” said Stentiford, adding “It?s been held captive for so long.”The question is non-binding, and now it will be up to the new Board of Selectmen to pursue the wishes of the voters.After learning of his reelection, Selectman Steve Castinetti pointed to the result of Question 2 as one of the positive changes that would be happening soon in Saugus. “I think that?s a great move in the right direction,” said Castinetti. “And we?ve got a board that I?m sure will support it.”The ballot question proposing staggered elections for selectmen and School Committee members did not pass, with 2,362 votes against it.Town Meeting member Peter Manoogian, a supporter of Question One, said staggered elections would have “calmed down” what he described as a pendulum-like swing of ideas on the board. Manoogian said the board that was elected Tuesday had a majority that would work against Town Manager Scott Crabtree.?It would have been better for the town,” said Manoogian.With 2,329 votes yes for Question 3, voters decided that the town should transfer custody of the Curley property to the Cemetery Commission with the intent to be used for a cemetery.In August, the commission?s Chairman Dennis Gould said it was the only space left to expand the cemetery, which, according to Gould, has only 180 graves left.It passed by a slim margin with 51.11 percent of the vote supporting the proposal. With the question being non-binding, it still leaves the property available for the possibility of a new school or park.Question 1: Should Saugus stagger elections?{{tncms-asset app=”editorial” id=”8fcbc666-469c-11e3-9437-0019bb2963f4″}}Question 2: Should SCTS revert to SCTV?{{tncms-asset app=”editorial” id=”ba0481d4-469c-11e3-8406-0019bb2963f4″}}Question 3: Should the Cemetery Commission control the Curley property?{{tncms-asset app=”editorial” id=”da89394a-469c-11e3-9bbf-0019bb2963f4″}}