SAUGUS — With the election on Nov. 7 now just days away, the focus in town has unquestionably zeroed in on the race for Charter Commission, where 27 candidates are seeking nine seats.
The charter process began earlier this year with Board of Selectmen Chair Anthony Cogliano’s stated goal of turning Saugus into a city. Now, no candidates are actively lobbying for Saugus to become a city, despite what signs around town indicate, but there were discussions of doing so earlier this year, and if some vocal critics of the process are to be believed, it’s the hidden agenda of several candidates. In all, the charter race features a whopping 27 candidates vying for nine seats on a Charter Commission, the very formation of which is contingent on a majority of voters approving Question 1 on the ballot.
The race features an impressive collection of power players in town, from three sitting selectmen to the chairs of the Planning Board, Board of Appeals, and School Committee, Town Meeting members, and the chair of the Charter Commission convened in 2007.
In Saugus’ history, voters have twice approved a ballot measure calling for the formation of a commission to study the town charter. But, in both cases, the final documents produced by the commissions failed when they reached the ballot — with voters opting to make no change to the document that has governed the town since 1947.
At least some of the nine candidates elected to a commission this fall, if the question passes, would certainly be hoping the third time is the charm for charter change in town.
But, it’s not a guarantee that commissioners will propose dramatic changes to the town’s structure — and many of the candidates in the race say they oppose any change at all. However, others believe change is necessary for what they feel is an outdated form of government.
The Item posed a pair of questions to each candidate in the race. In all, 24 of the 27 candidates returned answers by press time, with John O’Brien, Chris Tarantino, and Larry Mingolelli failing to return multiple requests for comment.
What one specific change, if any, would you like to see made to the town’s charter?
Robert Camuso: A concerning issue I’m seeing lately is the need of a possible alternate selectman to sit in the vacant seat that is emptied from a conflict of interest situation. This will help important town issues move faster and more efficiently. Maybe even a better answer to the problem is to go from a five-seat board to seven seats. It prevents two-two tie voting that doesn’t resolve anything but stalls progress in Saugus.
Donald Cicolini: I advocate for the specific change of having an elected town manager. The current appointment process is outdated, and an elected manager would bring much-needed accountability without jeopardizing our town’s identity.
Anthony Cogliano: Early on in the process, I said I wanted to make Saugus a city and run for mayor. After spending three months knocking on doors and gathering 4,300 signatures to get the charter question on the ballot, I found that keeping Saugus a town and having an elected town manager is more in tune with what our residents are ready for. The Moving Saugus Forward Committee is about accountability, transparency, and community.
Gene Decareau: If there was one change I would really like, I would like the people to be able to vote for the town manager and stay a town, not a city. We want the people to vote and still be the Town of Saugus, not in name but in reality.
Ken DePatto: The structural integrity of our town’s government is sound, especially when looking at its financial growth and operational stability. The economic stability of our town is at its pinnacle, demonstrated by our stabilization fund, which has a balance in excess of $10 million. That is an integral component of global financial institutions’ assessments of financial performance and stability. Standard and Poor’s, a global financial institution, has awarded Saugus an AA+ Rating that grants the town favorable interest rates. This rating has allowed the town to save a significant amount of money and has led to new construction for our residents, including new tennis and basketball courts, new playgrounds, reconstruction of Hamilton Street and Lincoln Avenue, and new ladder and pumper trucks for the Fire Department.
Steve Doherty: While I think there are several aspects of the charter that could be updated, such as outdated language and some references to committee appointment requirements, I don’t feel that our form of government requires any wholesale changes. Speaking with residents, I get the same feedback that they’re comfortable with our current form of government but would like to see more communication. That said, I’m willing to listen to any and all arguments and draw conclusions based on the facts presented.
Frank Federico: I advocate a vital change for our town: barring paid Town Employees from political office. Currently, approximately 25% of Town Meeting members have connections to Saugus employees, leading to substantial conflicts of interest in resident representation. This reform would enhance our town’s governance and ensure more impartial representation.
Ryan Fisher: If I’d already made up my mind on changes, I wouldn’t be qualified to serve. Nine people would take two years to carefully research and recommend, and that process fails if everyone comes in with their minds made up. There are things I’d look at, like having Town Meetings regularly, but you need to put the work in before you start pulling threads.
Lori Gallivan: I am very interested in looking at all of the possibilities when it comes to the charter review. However, I know that I would like to see staggered elections for all of our current elected seats. I would like to see more accountability from our current system of government and the possibility of alternative representatives at meetings when a vote or quorum is necessary.
Bob Long: I am running to ensure that if a charter commission is approved by the voters that the charter members fully understand how our charter currently functions. Words such as a lack of transparency or accountability are frequently misused by those who don’t know, or choose to disregard, how the present system works. This needs to be addressed before any common recommendations can be put before the voters.
Peter Manoogian: I would like to see the conflict-of-interest law, MGL 268A, apply equally to all elected Saugus officials. Currently, Massachusetts Town Meetings are exempt from that law. Because Saugus has the smallest representative town meeting in the state with just 50 members, it is not uncommon for members to vote on matters in which they have a direct financial interest or an appearance of conflict.
Jeannie Meredith: One specific change I would like to see is staggered elections, as this would promote board continuity and anti-takeover provisions, creating more stability for our town. I would like to see the number of Town Meeting members increase. In my opinion, Town Meeting members are the closest voice to the people.
Julie Mitchell: I would like to see a change in how our government is run! We need the residents of Saugus to be heard and to be able to vote for their town manager. I love Saugus, but we need to keep up with the times and move forward. We need to proactively look at ways we can improve our hometown.
Sue Palomba: Currently, I see no issues with our Town Charter that would require a two-year process at a cost of up to $100,000 to conduct. Some minor revisions and amendments can be made through Town Meeting. If staggered elections are what is needed, we can already put that on the ballot without any expense to the taxpayers.
Debra Panetta: Selectmen and School Committee members are voted in office every two years. If five new people are elected as selectmen, for example, we could have a brand-new board with no expertise or knowledge of the office. This can lead to bad decisions, re-work, and potential lawsuits. With all members running for office simultaneously, it can also be unproductive for our town. Staggered elections would rectify this situation.
Matt Parlante: For a more effective local government, I would urge the Commission to prioritize increased civic engagement. Our Representative Town Meeting lacks sufficient representation, with only 26 town meeting members constituting a quorum to represent over 28,000 residents. The voices of our residents cannot possibly make their way into the decisions being made, unlike every other town that has three to five times more representation.
Peter Rossetti: I would like to see something in the charter that requires a response to citizens’ inquiries concerning town affairs. A board chairman, town manager, or department head should be required to acknowledge when a citizen has a question or issue. They don’t have to provide a solution, but they should at least respond that they received the question/ issue. That would go a long way to showing citizens they are a part of the government.
Michael Serino: A specific change that I would support to our current town charter is the inclusion of a standing Town Meeting charter committee that would review our charter periodically. Town Meeting members would be best suited since they have experience in town government. Most communities have this requirement in their charters.
Vincent Serino: As for any specific changes I would like to our town charter, I don’t see any glaring changes I would make at this point. When you look at the structure of our town government, it allows multiple residents to participate in our government. It has many checks and balances to prevent one official from running or bankrupting Saugus.
Tom Traverse: The most important change would be to the town manager position. Speaking with voters overwhelmingly, the direct election of a town manager was favored! Citizens want the town manager to be directly responsible to the voters. Saugus can remain a town per authorities with the state.
Rich Thompson: I’m not sure I’d change anything with the town’s current charter. This form of government is working. There has been talk of staggered elections for selectmen, and of course, there is a group that wants to explore changing Saugus to a city. There will be many things to study and discuss if the question passes.
Joe Vecchione: I’m hesitant to prescribe my own “wish list” in 50 words because I strongly believe that any changes need to be a collaboration and compromise between the nine elected Charter Commission members. My hope is that those nine members, whoever they may be, have a pulse on the public and approach this effort objectively with an open mind. The fundamental question is, “How does this change improve the function of our government”?
Judy Worthley: If I am elected to the Charter Commission, I want to keep an open mind regarding any changes that might occur. I am looking forward to meeting with residents and hearing what people in the town are thinking. Those meetings and commission meetings will guide me to what changes should be made, if any. I do believe that while change is hard, it’s usually for the better.
What sets you apart from the other candidates in the race?
Camuso: I believe I’m an honest person who can view both sides of the wants residents are looking to see. I want to help explore every resident’s suggestion and want to see candidates; views to help decide what is best for the whole town of Saugus. I feel I’m an unbiased person for this situation that will help give a better recommendation back to Saugus voters.
Cicolini: My extensive involvement from the charter petition’s beginning sets me apart. I’ve invested hundreds of hours, obtaining thousands of signatures. I’m dedicated to addressing residents’ concerns, ensuring transparency, and working tirelessly for positive change in Saugus.
Cogliano: Simply put, experience. I was first elected to the Board of Selectmen in 1991 and served for 10 years. I’ve seen Saugus at its finest. I returned to the board in 2019 and have been chairman since, so I can see where we are today, and I know we deserve better. As a grandfather of two beautiful girls, I want to give them an even better experience growing up than I had. The Charter Commission is step number one to pave a brighter future for all of us.
Decareau: My philosophy is simple: I’m there to help the town. We have to help the town. If you can help the people, then you help the people, but the town comes first. Precinct 8 wants to make a change. The way I look at it, the change has to be for the good of the town, not just the good of the precinct.
DePatto: Appointed member of the Finance Committee for 22-plus years and current chairman of the Finance Committee for over 10-plus years. Not a member of the Moving Saugus Forward Committee. NOT in favor of a charter change
Doherty: As someone who has served on Town Meetings for the past 12 years and as town moderator for the past decade, I think going into this project with no preset agenda but with an open mind and a desire to do the right thing for my community and neighbors makes me an ideal candidate for Charter Commission.
Federico: What sets me apart as a candidate is my ability to think long-term. I understand that today’s decisions can impact future generations. As a charter candidate, my focus extends beyond the present, ensuring Saugus’s alignment with our community values and the well-being of generations to come.
Fisher: I refuse to politicize the process. Our charter is 70 years old, and any changes we make should still benefit the town in another 70 years when none of us are here. It’s not about any one person or personality or agenda. You need an airtight system that works for everyone.
Gallivan: I have been an educator for 26 years, and I do not have any ties to current politics in Saugus. I don’t enter this process with any preconceived notions. I am open-minded to any possibility that will give Saugus a leg up in the future.
Long: What sets me apart from the other candidates is my knowledge of our current system of government in 45 years of public service in various positions. I have served as a selectman, chairman of the Planning Board, approximately 35-plus years as a Town Meeting member, with 18 of those years as town moderator.
Manoogian: Experience. I chaired a charter commission, served as a selectman, School Committee member, Town Meeting member, and Finance Committee chairman. I know the process. I know the requirements. I know the deadlines and procedures. A whole lot of money can be wasted on this if deadlines and requirements are not met. If Saugus voters choose to vote yes, they would benefit from having a member who has experience with our current government and the requirements and procedures of charter commissions.
Meredith: I have been actively involved with our town politics for several years, and I am well-versed in our town charter. I believe my experience sets me apart from some of the other candidates. Please consider me for one of your nine votes on Nov. 7.
Mitchell: I think most of us want the best for Saugus. I have lived in Saugus most of my life — I graduated from Saugus High School, and I raised my three daughters in Saugus (two of whom graduated from Saugus High) along with my husband Jeff. Additionally, I have been involved in Saugus politics as a selectman and Town Meeting member, and I have volunteered on many boards and committees for the past 35 years.
Palomba: My approach to people is something I take great pride in. Making others feel welcome and respected is something I have been taught and something I have taught my children. My approach to civic matters is the same. If the voters do decide they want a charter commission, I will insist that all voices are heard and no one is pushed over or made to feel intimidated.
Panetta: My vast experience in town and knowledge of the charter makes me a qualified candidate. I serve as vice chairman of the Board of Selectmen and have been on the board for 12 years. I served on the last Charter Commission as vice chairman, as a Town Meeting member. as the chairman of the School Committee, and on the Master Plan Advisory Committee.
Parlante: My experiences in life and as a firefighter equip me with problem-solving skills and persistence, which are the qualities essential for digging into our town’s charter. Working together to address complex issues is the only way to get the job done. I will bring this approach to the Charter Commission. As a newcomer to politics with no conflicts of interest, I offer a genuine voice for residents—someone who is in your shoes and can relate with you.
Rossetti: My experience with the town, having served in a variety of positions for decades, plus being active in other town groups and organizations. I think I understand Saugus and the citizens. I am a lifelong resident, parent, business owner, and attorney. I think my experience can serve the citizens of Saugus well. I was opposed to the charter change in the past, but changes in the town, I think, now require a new look at our charter.
M. Serino: My years and experience in town government. Board of Selectmen, Town Meeting member, chairman of the Board of Assessors, chairman of the Conservation Commission, Planning Board, and vice chairman of the Town Meeting Charter Commission. Moreover, people might not always support me. However, I believe they know how much I care about our town.
V. Serino: What sets me apart from other candidates is I have lived here my entire life, and I am the fourth generation in Saugus. I care about this town and was not recruited by anyone or any group. I did my research. I strongly encourage every voter to do theirs. There are 292 towns in Massachusetts, and none has an elected head administrator. There are 59 cities, most with elected mayors or head administrators. At the end of the day, it’s about staying a town.
Traverse: What sets me apart is that I want the job! Simply didn’t just put my name on the ballot and do nothing to get elected, hoping enough people will recognize my name and be able to block change and progress! This is what many candidates have done! My experience includes chairman of the Board of Appeals, several Town Meeting terms, Commission on Disabilities, Town Manager’s Economic Development Committee, and Saugus Affordable Trust. I have the qualifications.
Thompson: I guess I’m different from some because my actions are to benefit the town, not myself. I’m not looking to stand out from any other person running for Charter Commission. I am simply asking the citizens to vote for me to be a part of the process to explore what and how the town government should or should not change.
Vecchione: Being the youngest candidate in this race, I have a different perspective than most of the candidates, and I think it’s valuable for the younger generation to have a seat at the table in this discussion. My generation is the next to shape what Saugus will become, and I’m prepared to represent that perspective.
Worthley: I have been on Town Meeting for six years, as well as a member of the Board of Directors on the Council on Aging. Both areas have given me experience in the workings of the town. Along with that experience, I always make myself available to all town residents for discussion on any issues. I think that I would make a very good member of the Charter Commission because of my listening skills.
