The Starting Point

Selectmen and School Committee members make leadership roles official as they prepare for their next two years in office

By Mark E. Vogler

It’s usually the tradition that the top two vote-getters in the election of the Board of Selectmen and School Committee races are awarded the chair and vice chair leadership roles. In separate organizational meetings following their respective swearing-in ceremonies last week, the two townwide policy-setting local government bodies made it official:

• Veteran Selectman Debra Panetta will preside as chair again while Selectman Anthony Cogliano will serve as vice chair for the next two years.
• After finishing as the top vote-getter among School Committee candidates for third time in the last four town elections, veteran School Committee Member Thomas Whittredge will be the chair again while runner-up Stephanie Mastrocola will assume the vice chair’s seat.

The official votes were taken last week immediately following the swearing ceremonies.

A very experienced Board

Voters elected all four incumbents who sought reelection to the Board of Selectmen. Newcomer Frank Federico, who finished in an impressive fourth place as a first-time candidate in a townwide campaign, had completed one term as a Town Meeting member in Precinct 7. He essentially filled the vacancy left by former Selectman Corinne Riley, who had decided not to run for a fourth two-year term. All four of Riley’s former colleagues each have a decade or more of experience in accumulated time served as a selectman.

“I’m starting my 17th year,” Cogliano said.

“I look forward to it. This is my swan song,” he said, referring to his pre-election declaration that he would not seek another two-year term if reelected.

Serino said he is also beginning his 17th year in total service to the board. Panetta said she is beginning her 15th year on the board.

Selectmen will meet again on Nov. 25

School Committee welcomes new members

The School Committee doesn’t have the aggregate experience that the Board of Selectmen possesses. Brian Doherty and Shannon McCarthy are both newcomers. Doherty brings some special fiscal expertise, having served previously on the town Finance Committee

Committee member Gould has four years of past experience. Mastrocola is beginning her second two-year term. Whittredge is the most experienced, having been elected to the committee four times.

“I really love helping the kids. It just feels like it’s part of me. It really does,” Whittredge said.

“And I’m not going to let you down,” he said.

Nov. 20 is the next scheduled School Committee meeting. The committee is also expected to meet on Dec. 4 and Dec. 11.