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(Editor’s Note: Today is the last story in a series of questions and answers leading into the Nov. 4 Town Election. We asked each of the Board of Selectmen 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.
Jeffrey Cicolini, incumbent Saugus selectman:
You asked for a yes or no so I answered yes to all three questions. However, I do believe the public safety committee should report its findings to the BOS as a full board as opposed to having one member of the BOS on the committee as the BOS are the traffic commissioners and should be involved in final decisions as a full board.
One way I would improve town government would be to have staggered elections for both Board of Selectmen and School Committee. The concept of an entire board turning over after an election could have a detrimental effect on the town’s operational stability as well as the school’s overall performance. Staggered elections would provide our town with some continuity year over year so policies and projects that are in place at the time of an election can continue without pause after the election. It takes time for an individual to get acclimated to the roles and responsibilities that come with the position and the town and schools cannot afford to wait for new members to get caught up, as they say, the show must go on. I also feel that routine meetings with our state delegation must continue in order to continue to press to find solutions to our traffic issues that are omnipresent in the north shore. We need to also try to join forces with neighboring communities in order to reach a broader group of state officials.
Traffic is out of control and getting worse. We all can press harder and explore new avenues to expand our reach to find solutions throughout the region, not just in Saugus.
Anthony Cogliano, incumbent Saugus selectman:
He answered “Yes” on all three questions.
1. Charter Review Committee
Many communities have a charter review committee to strengthen local government, and Saugus should too. In the past, opinions on this issue have changed, but now is the time to set personalities aside and focus on what’s best for our town. I fully support creating a charter review committee. Every candidate wants a better Saugus, and the only way to get there is through open conversation and teamwork. Let’s move forward together.
2. Staggered Terms
I strongly support staggered terms for the Select Board and School Committee. This system provides continuity, encourages long-term planning, and ensures experienced members are always at the table. It also prevents sudden shifts in policy and blends fresh ideas with valuable experience. Most importantly, staggered elections help balance accountability and stability so our local government can serve residents more effectively.
3. Advisory Board Collaboration
There’s always room to make Saugus stronger. Forming an advisory board with members from the Select Board, School Committee, Town Meeting, Finance Committee, Town Manager’s office, Superintendent, and Public Safety would create much-needed collaboration. We’ve talked about this before — it’s time to act. Meeting regularly to discuss growth, traffic, and school impacts will help us plan smarter for the future of Saugus.
Jennifer D’Eon, a former Saugus selectman:
She answered “Yes” on all three questions.
There are unfortunately two camps in Saugus, the Town and the School District. Communication between the Town and the School District must be addressed to improve the operation of town government and the governance of Saugus Public Schools. Candid conversations about fiscal realities will be beneficial to both and more importantly our residents. The School District is a separate entity within the Town that acts with virtual autonomy from it by design. I have seen first hand how this works. Both sides are jockeying for a slice of the budgetary pie so they can satisfy raises for employees, repair infrastructure, and expand services. If there is communication failure, we can lose sight of the end goals of both, to provide quality services and education to our residents and their families. One is not less important than the other, they are complementary and equally vital for the function and future of Saugus.
Town and School District leadership should be encouraged to communicate and collaborate with each other, to compromise on a balanced approach to delivering what are perceived to be on the surface divergent goals for the community. There should not be a win or lose mentality on either side. Both have common goals of delivering quality services and resources on one side and quality education and opportunity for the growth of our children on the other. Our residents need to be educated on the realities of municipal operations, governance and budgeting. The residents pay for a substantial portion of the services they receive through their taxes. Town meeting members, Board of Selectmen, School Committee, and Town Manager’s office have opportunities to voice their wants, desires, concerns, and complaints in public meetings. I am not saying there is one fix to solve many problems. We can all do better. Improvements can be made when each side is willing to take responsibility, listen and collaborate. I am willing to do that.
Frank Federico, a Precinct 7 Town Meeting member:
He answered “Yes” on all three questions.
The change that I believe would make the biggest impact is a multi-pronged approach focused on collaboration, accountability, and transparency.
First, within the limits of our town charter, the School Committee and the Board of Selectmen should be working together on shared concerns such as traffic around our schools. The School Committee is responsible for what happens inside the schools, while the Selectmen oversee what happens outside. Yet I have not seen members of either board attend one another’s meetings to address major issues like traffic and student safety. Improving that communication would directly benefit families and help develop practical solutions that keep our students safe.
Second, because the school budget makes up such a large portion of the town’s overall spending, I believe a yearly audit should be conducted to ensure that funds are being used properly and efficiently. This would help guarantee that our students receive the best education possible with the resources available to us, while also promoting fiscal responsibility and transparency for taxpayers.
Lastly, I believe in greater openness across all levels of town government. The more residents who are engaged and aware of how decisions are made, the stronger and more efficient our community becomes. When more people participate and have their voices heard, we gain a broader perspective on the challenges facing Saugus. From that, we can develop policies and plans that truly reflect the needs and priorities of the majority of our residents.
By improving collaboration between boards, ensuring responsible spending, and fostering transparency, we can build a more accountable and effective local government that works for everyone in Saugus.
Stacey Herman-Dorant, a Precinct 1 Town Meeting member:
She answered “Yes” for questions 2 and 3.
As a Selectman, you are charged with looking at things from all angles and viewpoints, always with improvement in mind. As someone who reviews hundreds of policies and procedures as a university administrator, I know that periodically policies need updating. Meaningful change happens only when we gather input from those most affected, our residents.
In 2023, voters chose not to form a charter commission. That decision must be respected. However, if community interest grows and there is support to revisit the issue, I fully back placing the question back on the ballot because residents should always have the final say. It’s also worth noting that Town Meeting has the authority to make Charter changes and has done so in the past.
Most towns/cities in Massachusetts have staggered elections with three-year terms. This would be beneficial and create continuity in both the Board of Selectmen and the School Committee.
No one can argue that improved communication and working across departments and committees improves outcomes. As Selectmen, we can encourage and work with the Town Manager to make sure everyone is at the table to make public safety a priority. Rather than making blanket statements, I believe in listening to those “in the trenches”—the staff, teachers, public safety officials, and committee members who work every day to serve our town. I want to understand what systems of communication are already in place and how we can strengthen them. Exploring alternative meeting formats, like Zoom sessions over lunch hours for example, could allow for the right people to be present and give input and make scheduling easier.
I’m ready to bring my leadership experience (visit my LinkedIn page: www.linkedin.com/in/staceyherman/) to the Board of Selectmen to help solve tough issues. I would appreciate your vote on November 4th.
Debra Panetta, an incumbent Saugus selectman and the board’s chair:
Staggered Elections – Implementing staggered elections could significantly enhance the operations of the Town. By staggering terms, Saugus would promote greater consistency and continuity in local government, particularly within the Board of Selectmen and the School Committee. Under the current system, both boards are subject to complete turnover every two years, placing institutional knowledge at risk. This loss of experience and historical context can lead to misinformed decisions, ultimately jeopardizing the effective governance and long-term stability of our Town. Without that continuity, even the most well-intentioned officials can make decisions without fully understanding the long-term implications.
Charter Review Committee – When it comes to reviewing and shaping the structure of our local government, Saugus is fortunate to already have a powerful and representative body in place: our Town Meeting.
I had the privilege of serving as Vice-Chair of the last elected Charter Commission, where we spent two years developing a comprehensive set of proposed updates to the Town Charter. Although the voters did not adopt the formal charter change, Town Meeting recognized the value of many of those recommendations and acted on them. Through a series of votes, they adopted several of the most meaningful and practical reforms from that effort.
In 2023, the voters did not vote in favor of establishing a Charter Review Committee. This vote may be because Saugus already has a built-in mechanism for ongoing charter review and structural reform through Town Meeting.
Public Safety Committee – The Board of Selectmen serve as traffic commissioners, where all decisions are guided by recommendations from the Police & Fire Departments. This collaborative structure is essential, but there’s room to strengthen our approach.
Looking ahead, I believe the next elected Board should prioritize traffic concerns by working closely with the Town Manager, State Delegation, School Committee, and Public Safety Departments to develop a comprehensive strategy. Traffic safety affects everyone — from school zones to commuter routes — and deserves focused attention.
Michael Serino, an incumbent Saugus selectman:
Question # 1
YES. Many municipalities have a Charter Review Advisory board that meets periodically to review ways to improve town government. In 2009 under former Town Moderator Bob Long, a Town Meeting Charter Committee was formed to review the town charter. All members were appointed by the Town Moderator. The committee was comprised of (5) Town Meeting Members, (2) School Committee members and (2) members of the Board of Selectmen, in which I was appointed along with Donald Wong. I was the main author of five charter changes that Town Meeting passed in 2010.
Question # 2
Town elections would be held every year, increasing election costs to the taxpayers. Yearly voter turn-out might decrease. Voters unhappy with elected officials would not be able to vote an entire board out of office in the next election cycle. The possibility that Selectmen or School Committee officials, not up for re-election, could rally around incumbents having to run for re-election, therefore, potentially making it difficult for a new person running for the first time to get elected. This question was put before Saugus voters in Nov 2013. It was voted down 53% to 47%.
Question # 3
YES. Under Massachusetts General Laws and the Town of Saugus By-laws, the Selectmen are the traffic commissioners in the Town of Saugus. Currently, if a resident reports a public safety issue to the Selectman, the Selectmen will refer the issue to the police department for an opinion to rectify the issue. A public hearing will be held if required by law. I believe that this process works very well. As far as public safety issues town-wide, I would support a public safety advisory committee to offer recommendations to the Board of Selectmen.
All of the above improves the operation of town government.
Vincent Serino, the current School Committee chair:
He answered “Yes” on all three questions.
1. The charter is a living, working document that guides how our town operates. It should be reviewed periodically to ensure it continues to meet the needs of our residents and reflects the best practices for effective local governance.
2. Staggered terms would provide better continuity, stability, and consistency in leadership. It ensures that institutional knowledge is preserved while still allowing for regular opportunities for new voices and perspectives.
3. We should always be looking for ways to improve public safety. A standing committee dedicated to identifying concerns and offering recommendations would help ensure that safety issues are addressed proactively and collaboratively across departments.
I would start with implementing staggered elections. This approach would provide greater consistency on the boards and committees that oversee our town and schools. Local government issues evolve daily, and having experienced members remain in place after an election helps maintain continuity and ensures that ongoing initiatives don’t lose momentum. By staggering elections, I also believe we would encourage more community engagement. When residents see that their voices can make a difference in a steady and continuous process, participation increases. We need to work together—as a community and as a school system—to move Saugus forward in a positive, collaborative way.
I also think our elected officials should hold regular office hours. This would give residents the opportunity to meet with their representatives, share concerns, and discuss ideas in person. Accessibility and open communication are key to building trust and accountability.
Another area to focus on is how we administer and plan for state and federal funds. While much of our revenue comes from local taxes, Saugus has done a good job securing grants. However, grants are temporary. Before they expire, we should evaluate their effectiveness and determine how to sustain successful programs within our regular budget. Recurring revenues need to be budgeted thoughtfully so that we can maintain progress from year to year.
Finally, we must continue to focus on smart growth. Let’s develop best practices for Route 1 and other major development areas. As we grow, we need to ensure our schools, public safety, and infrastructure can handle that growth. Thoughtful planning will help us preserve our small-town character while keeping our services strong and maintaining consistency in local government.
Sandro Pansini Souza, former candidate for Selectman:
1) Charter Review Committee: Yes. 2) Staggered Terms for Selectmen and School Committee: No. 3) Public Safety Committee: Yes.
If I could make one change to improve how Saugus operates, it would be to establish a permanent system of collaboration and accountability between Town departments, boards, and residents.
Too often, communication breaks down between our committees, and decisions are made in isolation rather than in coordination. For example, the School Committee, Selectmen, and Finance Committee may each be working hard—but not always in the same direction. The result is frustration, duplication, and delays in solving the very issues residents care about most: safety, infrastructure, schools, and taxes.
My proposal would be to create an “Open Coordination Council”—a quarterly public meeting that brings together representatives from every central town body, department heads, and citizen groups to discuss priorities, identify overlaps, and issue a short action summary for public view. This is not another layer of government, but a mechanism for transparency, teamwork, and trust—a way to keep everyone at the same table, focused on results.
This same approach can benefit our schools. Collaboration between educators, parents, and town officials must go beyond budget season. Regular, shared planning will help us direct resources where they truly make a difference for students and teachers, not just where the loudest voices push.
Saugus deserves leadership that listens, coordinates, and acts—not just talks. Together, we can build a local government that reflects the best of who we are: transparent, united, and forward-looking.
