SAUGUS — The School Committee will discuss an Open Meeting Law complaint filed by a board member later this month.
In a complaint to Attorney General Maura Healey’s office dated Sept. 29, Peter Manoogian, who is not running for reelection to the board, said an issue arose when voting executive session minutes at a Sept. 14 meeting.
The panel will address the complaint in an executive session at the start of the October 26 meeting in an attempt to mediate the problem, said chairwoman Jeannie Meredith.
“The committee has not had an opportunity to review the complaint as a whole,” said Meredith, who explained that an executive session was scheduled for a previous meeting but cancelled because of a posting error by the superintendent’s office.
“I asked that executive session minutes from the Aug. 24, 2017 meeting be amended to include my reasons for voting ‘no’ to a $25,000 salary increase for the school business manager, raising her salary to $137,000,” he wrote in the complaint, which was obtained by The Item from the Attorney General’s office. “I was told by the chairman at the Sept. 14 meeting that I would not be able to include my reasons unless the committee voted to allow me to do as per policy.”
During the meeting, committeewoman Liz Marchese pulled up the existing policy, which states that specific comments or discussions should not be included in the minutes. But Manoogian disagreed.
“I have a right to have my reasons recorded,” he said.
Meredith responded that she was following the policy and Manoogian argued that it was only her interpretation of the policy.
Committeewoman Linda Gaieski made a motion to discuss whether Manoogian’s comments should be added to the minutes at the next scheduled meeting.
“They’re not comments, they’re reasons for voting no,” said Manoogian.
In his complaint, Manoogian said his reason for voting no was that the business manager knew what the job entailed when she accepted the position, and the town treasurer and budget coordinator was receiving $103,000 and that position had “greater duties.”
By filing the complaint, Manoogian said he wants the committee to immediately adopt a policy, procedure, or protocol that allows member’s reasons for voting yes or no to be included in the minutes, and that requires minutes be approved within 30 days of an executive session meeting. He also wants all documents related to meetings be part of the minutes, whether executive or open session.
“My complaint is not against an individual, it’s against the process,” he said. “You’re supposed to notify the public. People have no understanding of why (the School Committee) is going into executive session. As a citizen, I will be pursuing this to make sure it’s done right. I want transparency. There’s millions of dollars that get voted in executive session. If you want transparent government, it has to start with the agenda.”
Attorney Howard Greenspan, who represents the board, filed for an extension that would allow the problem to be resolved after Oct. 20, which was the deadline given to the committee by Healey’s office.
Meredith said that the complaint will be taken seriously and the committee will make the appropriate changes, if necessary.
“Most of the School Committee members prefer to focus its efforts and energy working with the school district and community on positive, collaborative solutions that work towards improving student achievements, implementing the district’s new 21st century pre-K through grade 12 education plan, the design and construction of the town’s new grade 6-12 MSBA Middle/High School, and many other important issues facing our students and families in Saugus,” she said in a statement. “This appears to be a bit unusual and unprecedented to have a sitting member file this type of complaint against his own committee. However, this is probably not unusual for Mr. Manoogian. We on the School Committee prefer to be part of the solution for the schools and town and not part of the problem as some have a long experienced history of being. The town and schools are undeniably moving forward in a positive direction and are looking at one of the brightest futures that the town has ever seen – thanks to the community’s support. The School Committee is committed to the students, parents, and community they serve and will continue to make decisions that are in their best interest.”
A policy subcommittee meeting on Wednesday at 8 a.m. will be held to discuss recent changes to the Open Meeting Law, and whether the board is still in compliance or if changes need to be made, said Meredith.
