City Council balks at backing voter-approved audit as Beacon Hill feud heads to court

By Barbara Taormina

In the 2024 election, more than 9,500 Revere residents joined 72 percent of Massachusetts voters and voted in favor of giving State Auditor Diana DiZoglio the authority to audit the Massachusetts Legislature. However, Speaker Ron Mariano and Senate President Karen Spilka refused to cooperate, claiming there are constitutional issues involved, and the question of the audit is now headed to the Supreme Judicial Court. This week, Councillor-at-Large Michelle Kelley presented a motion that the council send a formal letter to the Massachusetts Legislature, including members of the General Court, the Office of the State Auditor and other appropriate state officials, expressing the City’s support for the implementation of an audit of the Massachusetts Legislature as approved by the voters.

“This motion simply asks whether the council wants to send a letter in support of our voters. It does not create any new policy or obligation. It is communication. We would be following the lead of Reading, which has already done so. We have the opportunity to show we are one of the first municipalities to stand behind our voters on this,” Kelley told fellow councillors.

Ward 5 Councillor Angela Guarino-Sawaya said she felt the motion was out of order. “I have concerns about the role of this body in this matter,” she said. “The Revere City Council is a municipal body, and we do not have any jurisdiction over the internal operations of the Massachusetts Legislature. The responsibility for implementation of the audit lies within the appropriate state entities, not us. The bottom line is this motion is out of order and beyond the jurisdiction of this council. I don’t think it is appropriate for us to vote on it.”

Councillor-at-Large Joanne McKenna felt the council should let the case play out in court. “It’s in litigation, and where it is in litigation, I think we should stay out of it as a city,” said McKenna.

Ward 4 Councillor Paul Argenzio agreed. “This is heading for the courts and there are real legal and constitutional issues involving separation of powers…” said Argenzio. “We should allow the process to play out. Sending a letter stating the obvious is just symbolic, not substantive. A letter from us holds no weight, it is unnecessary.”

Councillor-at-Large Marc Silvestri said he respects the motion and voted for the audit but couldn’t support sending a letter. “I don’t want to get into a back-and-forth contest, or have anyone look at us with ill will,” said Silvestri. “The budget is coming up, and they are approving money coming to the cities and towns. I just don’t want to get into that.”

Council President Anthony Zambuto said that over the years he has not supported similar letters and resolutions. But this motion, in support of Revere voters, was different. “This letter won’t mean a hill of beans, but to not support it would mean I couldn’t sleep tonight,” said Zambuto.

The council voted 8-3 against the motion with Kelley and Zambuto voting in favor and Silvestri voting present.