SAUGUS — An article to create a Community Engagement Committee, which was approved at an earlier night of Town Meeting, has been reconsidered and tabled.
Article 23, which was brought forth at the second night of Town Meeting by Precinct 2 Town Meeting Member Matthew Parlante, would create the committee.
The Community Engagement Committee, as outlined in the article, would meet bimonthly, participate in two public events — such as having a table at Founder’s Day — and hold one educational forum prior to Annual Town Meeting in 2025.
After a motion by Precinct 4 Town Meeting Member Robert Long to refer the article back to its author failed by a vote of 20 to 22, the article narrowly passed at the second night of Town Meeting, with 21 in favor and 19 against. Later that night, a second vote was taken, as it had come to the attention of Town Moderator Steve Doherty that there was a discrepancy with the vote.
This time, the article passed by a vote of 22-21.
During the third night of Town Meeting, Precinct 10 Town Meeting Member Peter Manoogian brought forth a motion for the article to be reconsidered, which passed 28-16, and then a motion to table the article until the next meeting, which also passed.
“As a former civic teacher, when I saw the word ‘civic engagement’, that excited me. However, upon reviewing the article when I got home, there were some things that concerned me,” Manoogian said. “In particular, the fact that this body was divided on it… I feel that any committee that’s going to engage the public and be representative of Town Meeting should have a unanimous vote, or a near-unanimous vote to have that type of authority that is necessary for the public to take it seriously.”
Manoogian expressed concern that the committee would end up in a similar position as the Sidewalk and Audit committees, which have, according to him, become defunct.
“The last thing I want to do is create something that is going to go by the wayside and just die on the vine,” Manoogian said.
Manoogian later added that he does not want to kill the article, and said he wanted to work with Parlante to discuss his ideas.
Parlante said that the article and the committee it would form are “for the residents” and would represent an opportunity for the town to “do something different around here.”
Parlante said that less than 25% of voters had shown up at the previous election and added that he would like to see that number increase.
“This could be a way to create that,” Parlante said.
The formation of the committee will be, once again, open for discussion and is expected to be voted on at the next convening of Town Meeting, which will take place at Town Hall on June 3 at 7:30 p.m.
