News that Peter Rossetti, Jr. and Dennis Moschella will resign from the Saugus Planning Board (Item, April 22) is startling and underscores challenges Saugus and neighboring communities face as they attempt to attract volunteers to serve on town boards and committees.
Rossetti is one of Saugus’ most civic-minded residents, and his decision to step down as Planning Board chair comes at a time when planning reviews will be required for Cliftondale Square’s business revival.
Rossetti and Moschella cited competing time commitments in explaining their exodus and Town Manager Scott Crabtree’s office has appealed for residents to fill vacancies on Planning as well as the Board of Health and the Commission on Disabilities.
To the town’s credit, major local boards tasked with making important policy and financial decisions, including the Board of Library Trustees and Conservation Commission, have members whose terms are not due to expire in at least a year.
But a quick town website review reveals other boards in need of fresh blood. The Boats & Waterways Commission — a not-insignificant board in a town with a working riverfront — has a four-member board with a vacancy and two membership terms two years past their expiration date.
All seven Youth & Recreation Commission board memberships expired between 2012 and 2015.
The problem of attracting and retaining volunteers to municipal boards is not confined to Saugus. Lynn regularly issues appeals for volunteers to join boards. Swampscott advertised for volunteers to represent the town on a board reviewing Logan Airport flight paths, and Lynnfield residents mixed concern with admiration when Planning Board Chair Brian Charville announced his ultimately-unsuccessful School Committee candidacy.
Boards and committees are often stepping stones for civic-minded citizens who eventually set their sights on running for School Committee, City Council and Select Board.
We urge city and town officials to review board and committee membership lists and work to fill membership vacancies. This effort could be accompanied by publicity campaigns — including social media appeals — to entice residents into civic engagement.
