A Polarizing Question: Signs are popping up all over Saugus, urging residents to vote “Yes” or “No” on whether to elect a commission to revise the town charter

By Mark E. Vogler

SAUGUS – In recent weeks, a lot of “YES” signs with big red lettering have been planted in front yards across town. Saugus residents who have been following town politics for the past several months know it’s a sign imploring them to vote in support of Ballot Question #1, “Shall a commission be elected to revise the Charter of the Town of Saugus?

Another conspicuous sign, but much less prevalent than the “YES” sign, is one that declares “VOTE NO … LET’S KEEP SAUGUS A TOWN.”

Are voters satisfied with their current form of government? Or do they feel it’s time to make some improvements – and thus change the Saugus Town Charter? That is the overriding issue in this year’s biennial town election.

When voters go to the polls next Tuesday (Nov. 7), they will decide whether to elect a Charter Commission. And in the event that the question passes, they will simultaneously vote for nine members out of a list of 27 candidates who are seeking to get elected to the commission. “If the vote is YES, then the highest votes for the nine people will be elected to establish a Commission to revise the Charter,” Town Clerk Ellen Schena said this week.

“I believe the Commission has 18 months to submit a New Charter to the citizens of Saugus to be voted at the next town election in 2025,” Schena said.

There are 21,560 registered voters in Saugus. Schena said she has no opinion on what the turnout will be for Tuesday’s election.

Voters will also decide:

–Who fills the five seats on the Board of Selectmen. The current board has served the last two two-year terms together. They are Board of Selectmen Chair Anthony Cogliano, Vice Chair Debra Panetta and Selectmen Corinne Riley, Jeffrey Cicolini and Michael Serino. There are two first-time candidates challenging them: Sebastian DiModica and Sandro Pansini Souza.

–The five seats on the School Committee. The five incumbents – three who have served together for the last four years – all seek another term. Chair Vincent Serino seeks his second consecutive term. John Hatch, Joseph Dennis Gould and Ryan Fisher all seek a third consecutive term. Leigh Gerow, who is finishing up the unexpired term of former School Committee Chair Thomas Whittredge, seeks reelection to a full term. There are two challengers: Whittredge – the top vote-getter in the last two elections – and first-time candidate Stephanie Lauren Mastrocola.

–Two seats on the Saugus Housing Authority. Incumbents Maureen Whitcomb and James Tozza are both seeking another four-year term. Nicholas V. Melanchook is their lone challenger.

–Voters in each of the 10 precincts will elect five Town Meeting members for a total of 50 members. There are seven candidates running in Precincts, 1, 2, 3, 4, 8 and 10. There are six candidates running in Precincts 5, 6, 7 and 9.

Board of Selectmen Chair Anthony Cogliano is the driving force behind the campaign for the Charter Commission, something he has been advocating for since late last year. “I would like to see Saugus work, and I will lead the charge to change our charter in 2023 and finally become a city,” Cogliano told The Saugus Advocate in a late December interview.

“It’s time, our form of government is outdated and in my opinion, we can and should be doing better. If all goes well, we could have a question on the November ballot to change the charter and form a charter commission. Should everything go to plan, we could have our first election for Mayor in 2025, which also goes along with the expiration of the current Manager’s Contract,” Cogliano said.

“I believe the top official in Saugus should be elected by the people and not simply reappointed by 3 members of the Board of Selectmen. I would imagine a Mayoral race in Saugus would be quite interesting…. something I would definitely be interested in,” he said.

Cogliano has spoken openly about one day serving as a Saugus town manager or a mayor – if Saugus were to become a city.

Cogliano has succeeded in getting percent of the town votes to sign a petition, putting the question of possible Charter Change on the ballot. And in recent months, he’s organized a Moving Saugus Forward Committee, which in a recent ad identified 13 candidates who are running for seats on the Charter Commission. Cogliano has backed off his initial push for Saugus to become a city. The recent ad shows a picture of the sign “VOTE NO … LET’S KEEP SAUGUS A TOWN.”

“This is a lie, so you vote for the status quo,” the Moving Saugus Forward ad states.

“THE FACT is that the proposed Charter Commission allows us to have a conversation about Saugus’s future – nothing more,” the ad says. “THE FACT is, if you want to keep Saugus a town, you should still VOTE YES.” The ad went on to identify 11 Charter Commission candidates who are against the Charter Commission.

School Committee Chair Vincent Serino took issue with his name being included on the list. “My issue right now with this ballot question is how it is dividing this town,” said Serino, one of two School Committee members running for Charter Commission. “As a school committee member, what are we showing our youth about civics and politics? We need to work together and we have to have what is in the best interest of the residents and students of town in mind. I don’t want to assume anything and I would rather wait until I have the facts on any charter changes or not.”

Some candidates in next week’s election don’t feel comfortable saying how they plan to vote on Question 1.

“Becoming a city hurts Saugus, the residents certainly don’t want it, and the attack ads telling people not to vote for candidates who aren’t open to becoming a city tells you what you need to know,” said School Committee Member Ryan Fisher, another member of the committee who is running for a seat on the Charter Commission.

Former School Committee Chair Thomas Whittredge won’t say where he stands on Question 1. “The political climate is disappointing. People get vicious with each other over what should only be a difference of opinion,” Whittredge said this week.

“I’m not interested in participating in that. What I will say is the Charter is favorable to the School Department because it is its own entity. The decisions are solely the responsibility of the Superintendent and School Committee,” he said.

School Committee Member Joseph Dennis Gould said he believes “there are many areas that could be looked at to make the operation of the town better.”

“I will vote yes on forming a commission and I trust my fellow Saugonians to vote in nine members that will take this commission seriously and go into research with open minds,” Gould said.

School Committee Member John Hatch said the town has the capability of improving its form of government without the need for a Charter Commission. “I do believe there should be a committee established to review and make updates to the charter as necessary through the town meeting process,” Hatch said.

From a pure sign standpoint, it looks like there is widespread support for a Charter Commission. Cogliano said the Moving Saugus Forward Committee has already found yards to place 450 signs throughout town. “If people ask me for a sign, I’ll take care of it. I’ve got 50 more ordered,” Cogliano said. “I’m not making any predictions. But I think Tuesday night is going to be a great night for Saugus.”

The work of a Charter Commission could take up to two years, according to a Charter Guide prepared by the Massachusetts Division of Elections. “If a majority of the voters approve the question, the top nine vote getters sit on the commission which is directed by statute to hold its first public hearing within 45 days of the election,” the guide states. “It must complete a preliminary report within 16 months, then publish and submit its preliminary report to the attorney general for an advisory opinion, and complete its final report within two additional months (or 18 months from the election). Charter commission recommendations are then placed before the voters for acceptance or rejection. If the commission has no recommendation, then no vote occurs.”

  When To Vote: Tuesday, Nov. 7, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Where To Vote

Precinct – Polling Locations

1 Saugus Middle High School Complex – 1 Pearce Memorial Dr.

2 Veterans Early Learning Center – 39 Hurd Ave.

3 Saugus Senior Center – 466 Central St.

4 Belmonte STEAM Academy – 25 Dow St.

5 Saugus Senior Center – 466 Central St.

6 Veterans Early Learning Center – 39 Hurd Ave.

7 Knights of Columbus – 57 Appleton St.

8 Belmonte STEAM Academy – 25 Dow St.

9 Saugus Middle High School Complex – 1 Pearce Memorial Dr.

10 Italian American Club – 1 Beachview Ave.