Town of Saugus, MA - ATM

ATM - May 3rd 2010

ANNUAL TOWN MEETING

MINUTES

May 3, 2010

Town Moderator, Robert J. Long, called the Annual Town Meeting of May 3, 2010 to order at 7:37 p.m. at the Town Hall Auditorium, 298 Central Street, Saugus, MA with 41 members, plus the moderator present.

Joyce Rodenhiser and Edward S. W. Boesel were appointed and sworn as tellers.

Peter Rossetti will, as a courtesy, be making motions this evening.

Boy Scout Troop 61 presented the colors and led the meeting in the salute to the flag. Scout Leader Nelson Miller along with Scouts Dan Drescher; David Bauman; Joe Sorrentino; Anthony Sorrentino; William Mironchuk; and Thomas Stewart were all participants.

Reverend Robert LeRoe from the Cliftondale Congregational Church led the members in prayer.

Town Clerk, Joanne Rappa, called the roll.

Attubato, Joseph	X	Long, Robert J.	X
Bartolo, Jean M.	X	Lopresti, Anthony J.	X
Billingsley, Stacy A.	X	Malone, Barbara J.	A
Boesel, Edward S.W.	X	Maltais, Sean A.	X
Brooks, Wayne C.	X	Manoogian, Peter Z., Sr.	X
Cecere, Rodney G.	X	McCarthy, Stephen F.	A
Connors, Arthur D., Jr.	A	McLaughlin, Patricia	X
Cox, Robert J.	X	Merrifield, Henry F.	X
Dever, Maureen P.	A	Moriello, George T.	X
Devlin, F. Ann	X	Moschella, Dennis J.	X
DiNardo, Albert J.	X	Moses, Jeffrey D., Sr.	X
Dockery, Michael	X	Nelson, Stephen A.	A
Faiella, Ellen L.	X	Nicholson, John H.	A
Falasca, Thomas A.	X	Palczynski, Joseph, Jr.	X
Gill, Charles F.	X	Panetta, Debra	X
Goodwin, Pamela J.	X	Petkewich, Paul M.	X
Grande, Robert E.	X	Politano, Kimberly A.	X
Greene, Michael R.	A	Ring, Darren S.	X
Groark, Laura Z.	X	Rodenhiser, Joyce C.	X
Hansen, John N.	X	Rossetti, Peter A., Jr.	X
Hawkes, Timothy R.	X	Serino, Angelo, Jr.	X
Hoffman, Robert D.	X	Smith, Rick A.	X
Johnson, Patricia Anne	X	Sullivan, Betty Ann	X
Lawrence, Raymond F.	X	Sweezey, Stephen D.	X
Leuci, Janet M.	X	Vecchio, Matthew J.	A

42 members present, a quorum is met.

State Representative Mark Falzone gave an update regarding local and state aide as it pertains to Saugus.

Moderator Long stated that the Alternative Study Committee, Affordable Housing Committee, Sidewalk Committee and the Finance Committee would all give updates under Article 1.

Article 1. Reports of Committees

Joanne T. Vannah, Chairman, Saugus Alternative Energy Committee summarized her handout, which was distributed, reviewing the objectives and accomplishments of the Committee.

Janet Leuci, Chairman of the Affordable Housing Committee announced that there is a forum scheduled for Wednesday, May 5, 2010 at 7 p.m. in the Town Hall Auditorium, which will educate the public on the by-law passed last year, and invites anyone interested to attend.

Peter Manoogian, Chairman of the Sidewalk committee gave an update on his committee.

Robert Palleschi, Chairman of the Finance Committee stated that Fin Com has taken very serious consideration of all budgets presented, but the committee still has a lot of work to do and it’s possible that they won’t complete their recommendations for about three more weeks.

Robert Cox made a motion to accept the following Resolution, which was presented, thru the Moderator:

“Whereas, the Finance Committee has not yet finalized the FY 2011 Town of Saugus Budget nor approved the FY 2011 Library Budget,

Whereas, the Town of Saugus has been without a certified library for more than three years thus resulting in the residents of Saugus being barred access from the North of Boston Library Exchange Program as a result,

Be it resolved that the Saugus Town Meeting hereby requests that the Finance Committee presents a FY 2011 budget that will include sufficient funding so that the Saugus Public Library can regain certification thus allowing Saugus residents to once again have borrowing privileges from other libraries.”

Seconded at 8:17 p.m.

Mr. Cox discussed the proposed resolution, explaining how the elderly, disabled, and young alike depend on the Library for various reasons and asks Town Meeting members to please help provide this much needed service to the Town.

Mr. Rossetti moves to give Mr. Cox and additional two minutes to speak.

Seconded at 8:27 p.m.

Unanimous voice vote to allow Mr. Cox an additional two minutes

Mr. Cox continued to explain that a fully functioning library should be a mandate of the Town, and is sure that everyone is in agreement that the library needs to be recertified. Mr. Cox asked for 14 other members to stand with him in a roll call vote on the proposed resolution.

14 other members standing, a roll call vote is ordered.

Mr. DiNardo asked for support of the resolution, noting that the administration has done a wonderful job during the past few years, getting the Town thru some very difficult times, but now is the time to support the library and for Town Meeting to send a message to the Finance Committee as such.

George Moriello asked that Mr. Palleschi of the Finance Committee to speak on the subject.

Mr. Palleschi stated that the Library Budget will probably be taken up on Wednesday evening.

Mrs. Leuci asked for support of the resolution, as it will benefit everyone in Town.

Mr. Manoogian thanked the current and previous Library Trustees for doing wonderful jobs. Mr. Manoogian noted that the library is a focal point of the community and asks for Fin Com to support a budget with recertification in mind.

Ms. Johnson asked where Fin Com will find the money to support this resolution.

Mr. Palleschi stated that they will try to reduce other budgets, and will have to find a way if the resolution passes.

Moderator Long explained that the Finance Committee has been meeting since March with posted meetings and agendas and expects they will do their best to recommend budgets that are in the best interest of the Town.

Vote on Mr. Cox’s resolution:

Attubato, Joseph	Y	Long, Robert J.	P
Bartolo, Jean M.	N	Lopresti, Anthony J.	N
Billingsley, Stacy A.	Y	Malone, Barbara J.	A
Boesel, Edward S.W.	Y	Maltais, Sean A.	Y
Brooks, Wayne C.	Y	Manoogian, Peter Z., Sr.	Y
Cecere, Rodney G.	Y	McCarthy, Stephen F.	A
Connors, Arthur D., Jr.	A	McLaughlin, Patricia	Y
Cox, Robert J.	Y	Merrifield, Henry F.	Y
Dever, Maureen P.	A	Moriello, George T.	Y
Devlin, F. Ann	Y	Moschella, Dennis J.	N
DiNardo, Albert J.	Y	Moses, Jeffrey D., Sr.	N
Dockery, Michael	N	Nelson, Stephen A.	A
Faiella, Ellen L.	N	Nicholson, John H.	A
Falasca, Thomas A.	N	Palczynski, Joseph, Jr.	Y
Gill, Charles F.	Y	Panetta, Debra	Y
Goodwin, Pamela J.	Y	Petkewich, Paul M.	Y
Grande, Robert E.	Y	Politano, Kimberly A.	N
Greene, Michael R.	A	Ring, Darren S.	Y
Groark, Laura Z.	N	Rodenhiser, Joyce C.	Y
Hansen, John N.	Y	Rossetti, Peter A., Jr.	Y
Hawkes, Timothy R.	Y	Serino, Angelo, Jr.	N
Hoffman, Robert D.	Y	Smith, Rick A.	Y
Johnson, Patricia Anne	N	Sullivan, Betty Ann	N
Lawrence, Raymond F.	N	Sweezey, Stephen D.	N
Leuci, Janet M.	Y	Vecchio, Matthew J.	A

Yeas: 27 Nays: 14 at 8:45 p.m.

Resolution passes

Moderator Robert Long reviewed the Town’s By-laws as they pertain to Town Meeting. Moderator Long then stated that he is hoping to take Articles 22, 23, 26, and 30 up this evening.

Mr. Rossetti moves to take Articles 22, 23, 26, and 30 out of order.

Seconded at 8:50 p.m.

Vote to take Articles 22, 23, 26, and 30 out of order.

Yeas: 36 Nays: 0 at 8:50 p.m.

Vote to take the articles out of order passed.

Mr. Rossetti moves, as a courtesy to the petitioner, Article 22.

Seconded at 8:54 p.m.

Article as written:

Article 22. To see if the Town will vote to amend Chapter 200.00, Government of Town Meeting, of the General Bylaws of the Town of Saugus by replacing the current section 205.00, Use of Check List, with the following new section:

205.00 Roll Call Vote

Except in the case of a unanimous voice vote as declared by the Moderator, a roll call vote shall be required for all final main motions with respect to the following subject matters: adoption or amendment of zoning by-laws; adoption or amendment of general by-laws; and fiscal matters which are defined as any appropriation, borrowing, fund transfer, or the creation of or re-authorization of such enterprise or revolving funds as may be authorized by state law, provided, however, that in the event of a vote which the moderator determines to be near unanimous, the Moderator shall take a roll call of only those voting in the minority. For all other matters and motions, a roll call vote shall be required if requested by any one (1) representative town meeting member. (Jill R. Silvester)

Jill Silvester of 38 Fairchild Ave., sponsor of the article, stated that she created this article because she gets confused watching Town Meeting and feels that this would help the public, especially those watching at home, to make choices on electing their Town Meeting members, based on how they vote on specific articles.

Debra Panetta stated that Ms. Silvester is a constituent of hers and she supports the article. Mrs. Panetta then asked for 14 other members to stand in support of a roll call vote.

14 other members standing, a roll call vote is ordered.

Karla DeSteuben of 172 Forest Street pointed out that the article does not request that a roll call vote be taken on every single vote, and that transparency is important. Ms. DeSteuben asks for members to please vote in favor of the article.

Mr. Sweezey suggested that the current number of 15 members is very obtainable and if one member is allowed to order a roll call vote, they will be able to bring the entire system to a halt.

Mr. Rossetti stated that, after being a Town Meeting member for over 25 years, he doesn’t recall more than one or two times when 15 members did not stand upon request to support a roll call vote.

Mr. Sweezey moves to amend Article 22 by changing “(1) representative…” to “(15) representative…”

Seconded at 9:01 p.m.

Ellen Faiella stated that she felt offended that anyone would not trust members and believes in the honesty and integrity that town meeting members have always shown and is insulted by the insinuating reference of this article.

Jill Silvester stated that she did not mean this to be insulting, but she would like to know how her town meeting members are voting and it will help make it clear for those at home as well.

Mr. Hawkes, Mr. Manoogian, and Mr. DiNardo all spoke in favor of the article.

Vote came on Sweezey Amendment.

Yeas: 18 Nays: 20 at 9:13 p.m.

Sweezey Amendment does NOT pass.

Article as voted:

Article 22. Voted to amend Chapter 200.00, Government of Town Meeting, of the General Bylaws of the Town of Saugus by replacing the current section 205.00, Use of Check List, with the following new section:

205.00 Roll Call Vote

Attubato, Joseph	N	Long, Robert J.	P
Bartolo, Jean M.	Y	Lopresti, Anthony J.	N
Billingsley, Stacy A.	Y	Malone, Barbara J.	A
Boesel, Edward S.W.	N	Maltais, Sean A.	Y
Brooks, Wayne C.	N	Manoogian, Peter Z., Sr.	Y
Cecere, Rodney G.	Y	McCarthy, Stephen F.	A
Connors, Arthur D., Jr.	A	McLaughlin, Patricia	Y
Cox, Robert J.	Y	Merrifield, Henry F.	Y
Dever, Maureen P.	A	Moriello, George T.	Y
Devlin, F. Ann	Y	Moschella, Dennis J.	N
DiNardo, Albert J.	Y	Moses, Jeffrey D., Sr.	N
Dockery, Michael	N	Nelson, Stephen A.	A
Faiella, Ellen L.	N	Nicholson, John H.	A
Falasca, Thomas A.	N	Palczynski, Joseph, Jr.	N
Gill, Charles F.	N	Panetta, Debra	Y
Goodwin, Pamela J.	Y	Petkewich, Paul M.	N
Grande, Robert E.	Y	Politano, Kimberly A.	N
Greene, Michael R.	A	Ring, Darren S.	Y
Groark, Laura Z.	Y	Rodenhiser, Joyce C.	Y
Hansen, John N.	N	Rossetti, Peter A., Jr.	N
Hawkes, Timothy R.	Y	Serino, Angelo, Jr.	N
Hoffman, Robert D.	Y	Smith, Rick A.	Y
Johnson, Patricia Anne	Y	Sullivan, Betty Ann	N
Lawrence, Raymond F.	Y	Sweezey, Stephen D.	N
Leuci, Janet M.	Y	Vecchio, Matthew J.	A

Yeas: 23 Nays: 18 at 9:15 p.m.

Article 22 passes as written.

Mr. Rossetti moves, as a courtesy to the Town Meeting Charter Committee, Article 23.

Seconded at 9:15.5 p.m.

Article as written:

Article 23. To see if the Town will vote to petition the Legislature to enact special legislation to amend Chapter 17 of the Acts of 1947 as follows:

(ADD)

ARTICLE 2

SECTION 3. “Powers of the Selectmen”.

The selectmen shall be the chief policy makers of the Town.

(CHANGE)

SECTION 3. (TO) SECTION 3A.

(CHANGE)

SECTION 3A. (TO) SECTION 3B.

(Town Meeting Charter Committee)

Peter Rossetti explained that the committee felt that they wanted to make it clear in the Charter that the Board of Selectmen are the chief policy makers for the Town.

Mr. Manoogian, Mr. DiNardo, Mr. Moriello, Mr. Hawkes and Selectmen Michael Serino all spoke on the article.

Article as voted:

Article 23. Voted to petition the Legislature to enact special legislation to amend Chapter 17 of the Acts of 1947 as follows:

(ADD)

ARTICLE 2

SECTION 3. “Powers of the Selectmen”.

The selectmen shall be the chief policy makers of the Town.

(CHANGE)

SECTION 3. (TO) SECTION 3A.

(CHANGE)

SECTION 3A. (TO) SECTION 3B.

Yeas: 38 Nays: 2 at 9:24 p.m.

Article 23 passes as written.

Mr. Rossetti moves, as a courtesy to the Town Meeting Charter Committee, Article 26.

Seconded at 9:24 p.m.

Article as written:

Article 26. To see if the Town will vote to petition the Legislature to enact special legislation to amend Chapter 17 of the Acts of 1947 as follows:

(ADD)

ARTICLE 2

SECTION 1A “Candidacy Limit on Town-wide Elective Office”.

No person shall run for more than one (1) major town-wide elective office: Selectmen, School Committee, Housing Authority and Representative to the North East Regional Vocational School. A candidate for any town-wide office may also run for a seat on Town Meeting within his precinct. (Town Meeting Charter Committee)

Mr. Rossetti explained that it was an error to have “North East Regional Vocational School” included in the list of offices in the article. Mr. Rossetti further explained that the purpose of this article is to eliminate the possibility of having vacant offices after elections.

Mr. Manoogian spoke on the article and suggested that it should be tabled.

Mr. Boesel moves to amend Article 26 by deleting “North East Regional Vocational School” from the article.

Seconded at 9:30 p.m.

Mr. Serino explained that he inadvertently included language in the article which he composed after it was voted on at a meeting.

Mr. Hawkes makes a motion to table Article 26.

Seconded at 9:31 p.m.

Vote to table Article 26.

Yeas: 22 Nays: 17 at 9:31.5 p.m.

Article 26 is Tabled.

Mr. Rossetti moves, as a courtesy to the Town Meeting Charter Committee, Article 30.

Seconded at 9:35 p.m.

Article as written:

Article 30. To see if the Town will vote to petition the Legislature to enact special legislation to amend Chapter 17 of the Acts of 1947 as follows:

(ADD)

ARTICLE 2

SECTION 4 A. “School Committee Vacancy”.

When a vacancy occurs on the School Committee for any reason, the Board of Selectmen and the remaining members of the School Committee share the responsibility for filling it.

As provided in the law, the School Committee will notify the Selectmen that a vacancy has been created within thirty (30) days after it has occurred. After one (1) week’s notice has been given by the Committee to the Selectmen, so that voters of the Town may have the opportunity to state their candidacy, the two (2) governing bodies will meet to fill the vacancy by roll-call vote.

For election to fill a vacancy, a candidate must receive a majority of the votes of the officers entitled to vote. The person so elected will fill the seat on the School Committee until the next town election, at which time a member will be elected to serve the remainder of the term, if any. (Town Meeting Charter Committee)

Mr. Rossetti stated that he thought this article would help uncomplicate the method by which members on the School Committee would be replaced in the event of a vacancy and noted that this procedure has been used successfully in the past.

Arthur Grabowski, School Committee Member, questioned the wording and ethics of this article, further questioning why replacing a school committee member would be different than replacing a member of the Board of Selectmen. Mr. Grabowski feels that the sixth place candidate running for the office should be the person to fill the vacancy.

Wendy Reed, Chairman of the School Committee, stated that this procedure was already outlined in the Massachusetts General Laws and is confident that this process works well.

Mr. Sweezey, Mr. Rossetti, Mr. Manoogian, Ms. DeSteuben, and Mr. Boesel, who made a motion to refer Article 30 back to committee, all spoke on the article.

Mr. Boesel’s Motions is seconded at 9:49 p.m.

Mrs. Leuci and Town Counsel, John Vasapolli, both spoke on the article.

Mrs. Billingsley moved to table Article 30.

Seconded at 9:52 p.m.

Vote to Table Article 30.

Yeas: 37 Nays: 4 at 9:52 p.m.

Article 30 is tabled.

Motion is made to adjourn Town Meeting to May 17^th, 2010 at 7:30 p.m.

Seconded at 9:55 p.m.

Unanimous voice vote to adjourn until May 17^th at 9:55 p.m.

Meeting adjourned at 9:55 p.m.