Page 2 THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, MAY 2, 2025 Councillors send term-limit issue to subcommittee Advocate Staff Report R evere voters may have a chance to weigh in on whether the city should adopt term limits for local elected offi cials. At this week’s City Council meeting, Councillor-at-Large Michelle Kelley presented a motion for a nonbinding public advisory question, aka, a nonbinding ballot question, on term limits on the ballot in this November’s election. City councillors are divided on the question of term limits. Councillor-at-Large Robert Haas did not oppose a ballot question but he expressed concerns about term limits. “I don’t see the benefi t of placing a timeline on someone’s ability to do their job,” said Haas, adding that decisions on whom to elect should be left to voters. Ward 1 Councillor Joanne McKenna shared that when she fi rst started teaching it took multiple years for her to genuinely understand the job. “I’ve been here 10 1/2 years and there are things that I know now that I didn’t know back then,” said McKenna, adding that even now, when she needs help, she turns to longtime Councillors Anthony Zambuto and Ira Novolselsky. She stressed that time and experience are valuable. Ward 4 Councillor Paul Argenzio said that even with a vote the question of term limits would return to the council, then go to the mayor and then the state legislature, which would have to approve a home rule petition. Argenzio said he doesn’t want voters to get the wrong impression that their vote would decide the issue. Councillor-at-Large Anthony Zambuto again explained his evolving view on term limits, which he opposes. Zambuto didn’t support the proposal for a ballot question not because of his view on term limits, but rather because of his view on nonbinding resolutions. “You don’t get anything out of nonbinding resolutions. They don’t mean anything. They are like a bucket of spit,” said Zambuto in this week’s notable quotable moment. Mid-grade Regular 2.73 24 $3.37 29 Over 47 Years of Excellence! 1978 - 2025 Full Service ULS $2.78 Order online at angelosoil.com Kelley acknowledged it was nonbinding but said that wasn’t the point. “It lets us know how our constituents feel about term limits. I want to hear from constituents. I want to enact their will,” said Kelley. As for the argument that elections themselves are term limits, Kelley said the power of incumbency and name recognition is enough to discourage new candidates, with new opinions and fresh ideas, from seeking offi ce. She said that during the last 10 years there have been 31 candidates running unopposed for city offi ces. But, in the last at-Large race, there were three open seats and eight candidates joined the race. Kelley said it is worth it to give voters a voice on term limits and to let the process start with them rather than the City Council. “We can respect the way they feel and decide then how far to take it,” said Kelley, adding that it would empower the community to have a say in how local government is structured. Kelley also said that having councillors decide on term limits is having them vote on their own job security and it creates the Michelle Kelley Councillor-At-Large impression of impropriety. City Council President Marc Silvestri, who filed a motion last week to limit terms for city councillors and school committee members to fi ve two-year terms, said he was withdrawing his motion and joining Kelley as a cosponsor on the ballot question. The council agreed to send Kelley’s motion to the Legislative Aff airs Subcommittee, which will review the proposal on May 12. North Shore Philharmonic Orchestra Presents “Wild Symphony” at Children’s Concert Sunday T he North Shore Philharmonic Orchestra presents a Children’s Concert and Instrument Petting Zoo on May 4 at the First Baptist Church in Beverly beginning at 2 p.m., led by guest conductor Marshunda Smith, Music Director and Conductor of the Lowell Philharmonic Orchestra. The concert program will feature Dan Brown’s “Wild Symphony”, based on the best-selling author’s book of the same name that is details the adventures of Maestro Mouse and his companions from the animal kingdom. Tickets are available online at NSPO.org or at the door for $12, $5.75 for ages 5 to 18, and children four and under are admitted free. The events will begin with an Instrument Petting Zoo, where youngsters can get to feel what it’s like to hold and play a classical instrument. A variety of crafts and student performers will highlight the pre-concert festivities. Dan Brown, creator of the Wild Symphony, is renowned as author of such thrillers as CONCERT | SEE Page 5 Check Out Our LOW PRICES!
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