English
Spanish
Portuguese
Arabic
Haitian Creole
Chinese (Traditional)
(Editor’s Note: Today is the last in a series of question-and-answer articles leading into the Nov. 4 Town Election. We asked each of the School Committee candidates the following:
Question Three: Please answer a simple “yes” or “no” to these following questions:
1. Do you think there should be a standing Charter Review Committee, to meet periodically as an advisory board to review and make recommendations on ways to improve town government?
2. Do you think the town would be better served by having staggered terms for the Board of Selectmen and School Committee, with three seats for both elected bodies to be put on the ballot one year and two the following year?
3. Do you think there should be a standing public safety committee consisting of representatives from the Police Department, the Fire Department, Town Meeting, the Board of Selectmen and the School Committee to consider traffic and public safety issues raised by residents, with the purpose being advisory to offer recommendations on ways to improve public safety in the neighborhoods, roads under jurisdiction of the town and public safety hazards or concerns as they arise?
In 300 words or less, if you could make one change to improve the operation of town government and the governance of Saugus Public Schools, what would that be?
Here are the responses from the candidates who will be on the ballot seeking a two-year term in one of the five seats. We have listed the candidates alphabetically.
Roberto Bruzzese, a career educator and former Saugus teacher:
I do believe the response to each one of these questions would be a yes and here is my reasons why:
As a member of a community and being elected as a public servant, there should be some accountability. In my chosen profession as an educator there is a tremendous amount of accountability. I am responsible for the education of children. If one does not notice what I am doing and see what I am teaching, then as a person and educator I may get too comfortable and not do what is right for each of my students and therefore fail in what I need to teach. The same goes for public servants. If elected as a member to the board of schools, I would expect to answer to someone or to a group that will or would oversee this part of the town. Like anything else in society, we should have a body of individuals overseeing what should be done in our cities and towns. This will only make our government stronger and more powerful. If we want our schools to improve, these ideas need to be implemented and enforced so our children would have a better chance to succeed. If one does not have someone oversee what needs to be done or does not help with the decision making of our towns and cities then failure may be seen by our members. This is why I vote “Yes” to the above questions and how I see that our town would be most successful.
Brian Doherty, a member of the town Finance Committee:
He answered “Yes” to all three questions.
If I could change one thing to improve collaboration between our town government and Saugus Public Schools, I would prioritize strengthening communication among the town manager, Finance Committee, Town Meeting, and the School Committee. Currently, the School Committee submits its budget to the finance committee for review and recommendation. Afterward, Town Meeting votes to approve or reject the total budget amount, but the School Committee has the authority to adjust funds within that total as needed. If elected, I would ensure our committee keeps both the finance committee and town meeting fully informed about any budget adjustments and the reasons behind those changes. By maintaining open and transparent communication, we can keep everyone involved, foster trust, and support future funding requests more effectively.
Andrew Finn, a parent of a child in the Saugus Public Schools:
He did not respond to the question by the deadline.
Joseph “Dennis” Gould, a former Saugus School Committee member:
As far as making the School Committee itself operation a little better for continuity and experience, I believe four year staggered terms (2 one year, 3 two years later) would benefit new School Committee members who really drink from a fire house the first year on Committee and become more effective their second year but right now they already have to run again.
I don’t believe major changes needed in our form of government, but our daily operation is really driven by the revenue we take in and all the areas of both Town and School that lack total funding needed for following to happen as examples:
- Safety – Third Firehouse and its staffing, SRO for Middle/High School, Beat/Street Officers, Traffic/Parking Officers. Funding to add two buses for students all grades
- Town – More Public Work Employees, Maintain proper levels of Police and Fire that reflects growing living buildings and population
- School – Need more grade 2-5 teachers to lower classroom sizes back to more manageable and effective for all students, Proper funding to have librarian at both Belmonte and MSHS, Funding for buses to avoid students missing school days
Summary: I believe it is time to have a committee made up of Town Manager, Town Finance Officer, School Superintendent and/or School District Business Director, two representatives from School Committee, Selectmen, Town Meeting and Finance Committee to do deep dive into all Town is facing with added costs of New Vocational School, potential new 3rd Fire Station and staffing, impact of the loss of Department of Education and funding, change of demographics of new students entering Saugus School District and all other known and forecasted increases, to come up with a Town wide plan to address them all as a collaborative effort.
This effort has to be about Saugus as one collaborative team, not School Vs Town, but rather “We/Us”
I believe the residents would support a comprehensive plan that addressed all the needs of the Town if we work together.
Arthur Grabowski, a former Saugus School Committee member:
He answered “No” on the first question, “Yes” on the second question and “No” on the third question.
I would not make any changes in town government. We have a representative Town Meeting, consisting of five members from each precinct, (10 precincts, five Town Meeting members elected from each, for a total of 50 town meeting members) This group is considered the legislative body of Saugus government. These people are available to vote on town articles that directly affect the residents of the town. The town manager is considered the chief executive of the town. In Saugus, we have what is known as a “strong town manager”. He runs the day-to-day operation of the town as well as being responsible for the financial operation. The Town Meeting is the appropriating authority; they approve the budget for the town. No funds can be spent in the town without the approval of the Town Meeting. The Board of Selectmen is the chief policy maker of the town. They also have responsibilities for licensing, traffic and in some cases issuing special permits.
Any resident can put forward an article for town meeting consideration. The School Committee by statute is the sole governing body dealing with the operation of the schools. The town allocates the budget for the operation of the schools. This is a bottom-line lump sum figure that is then up to the sole discretion of the school committee as to how these monies are spent.
If all these entities work together for the greater good of the town, then the town can do nothing but succeed and prosper for all residents.
Stephanie Mastrocola, incumbent Saugus School Committee member:
She answered “Yes” on the first question, “No” on the second question and “Yes” on the third question.
If I could make one change to improve the operation of town government and the governance of Saugus Public Schools, it would be to start with our motto that has been used over and over again on signs and t-shirts and at special events. ONE TOWN ONE TEAM. If we really want to practice that, then we have to act like it. We need to start holding community meetings at the school where there are Fire, Police, Selectmen, School Committee members, Town Meeting members and any of the other organizations who want to join. Let the community come and ask questions to the people who have the real answers. Not the ones on Social Media who want to get people all fired up with false information. Let people be held accountable when tough questions are asked. If you don’t have the right answer, then and there then find out for people. We forget when we take these roles on that there is a level of responsibility that comes with it. We have been elected to these positions by the Town of Saugus, and we owe it to the community to be forthcoming and transparent. It’s when we cut corners and give people answers they want to hear instead of what they need to hear. It would also promote conversation to help each other out by learning what each committee does and how we can bring change to the community. There are many ways we can enforce and embrace positive change. I have worked on it for the last two years. I will continue to push even harder if elected this term. Thank you. Stephanie Mastrocola
Shannon McCarthy, a parent and active PTO member:
She answered “Yes” to all three questions.
If I could make one change to improve the operation of town government and the governance of Saugus Public Schools, it would be to establish a comprehensive accountability and modernization initiative that brings our systems, policies, and operations in line with today’s needs. The way our town government was structured was established at a very different time, with a very different scope of needs. What worked decades ago no longer fully supports the size, complexity, and expectations of our community today.
Too often, both town and school decisions are made using outdated information or processes. Within the schools, for example, some district files have not been updated since 2010, and the emergency plan has not been reviewed since 2012. These gaps make it difficult to ensure transparency, efficiency, and responsiveness.
At the same time, Saugus continues to grow. Our student population has increased from about 2,700 students in 2012 to roughly 2,900 today, while the number of schools has been reduced to just three. With new 40B housing projects underway, enrollment will likely continue to rise—adding further pressure to limited resources and outdated systems.
A structured review process—supported by clear benchmarks, public reporting, and interdepartmental collaboration—would ensure that policies are being followed, funds are spent effectively, and decisions are based on accurate, current data.
By modernizing operations, improving communication between town government and the schools, and holding ourselves accountable to today’s standards, we can build a stronger, more efficient foundation for Saugus. This change would not only improve coordination and fiscal responsibility but also restore public trust—ensuring that every decision truly reflects the needs of our residents and the future of our students.
Thomas Whittredge, incumbent Saugus School member:
He answered “yes” to all three questions.
If I could make one change, it would be to have a representative from either the Town or the Finance Committee attend our budget meetings. Their presence would provide us with valuable insight into the town’s overall fiscal situation, allowing us to build a more informed and realistic budget — instead of working in the dark without knowing what funding we can reasonably expect.
