SAUGUS ― After waiting for state approval, the Board of Selectmen was able to approve redistricting of the town at their latest meeting on Sept. 31.
The precincts that are affected the most by the change are the third, sixth, and eighth precincts, according to Town Clerk Ellen Schena. Schena revealed that she had been a part of the third precinct for 22 years and, with the new redistricting, will be a part of the sixth precinct. The changes are being made so that there is not a huge population disparity between one precinct versus another.
The board unanimously approved the measure for the redistricting with little discussion occurring on the matter. Selectman Jeffrey Cicolini stated that at a prior meeting, Saugus was still waiting to hear back from the state government in regards to their proposed map, which didn’t differ much from what the state already had.
“Subsequent to that meeting and our vote, the next morning I believe, we were having another meeting and the clerk informed us that she did hear back from the state,” Cicolini said.
Cicolini then made the motion for the Board of Selectmen to accept the redistricting map.
Board of Selectmen member Debra Panetta stressed the importance of redistricting after the meeting.
“With development and growth in any community, you may have residents of a large population moving into a particular part of Saugus and it’s important to have the proper representation within each district,” she said. “So (redistricting) is something that is necessary. It needs to be done. It is revisited every 10 years and you just want to make sure that everybody is being fairly represented.”
The changes will not be in effect until 2022 and the first town election under the new redistricting scheme will occur in 2023.
Sam Minton can be reached at [email protected].
