THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – Friday, May 17, 2019 Page 3 The Great Resolution Debate Is Saugus Town Meeting correct in not allowing a member to read his resolution or is it stifling democracy? By Mark E. Vogler T own Moderator Stephen N. Doherty said he doesn’t believe Town Meeting should be discussing a member’s nonbinding resolution to support school custodians. Additionally, he said that the resolution initiated by Precinct 5 Town Meeting Member Ronald M. Wallace – or any resolution brought forward by a Town Meeting member – should be included on the warrant in order to be considered during Town Meeting proceedings. “My main problem is that I don’t believe it’s in our purview to even discuss this,” Doherty told The Saugus Advocate this week. “We don’t vote on line items in the budget. So, we don’t have a reason to put this for discussion on the warrant. I’m not sure this is appropriate to vote on,” he said. But Robert J. Long – a former town moderator who served in that post during 18 of his 34 years as a Town Meeting member – said he believes a bad precedent was set during the opening night of the Annual Town Meeting last week when Wallace was not allowed to present his resolution. “The way we have always conducted the meeting, a resolution can be raised at any time by any member of the body and brought before the body,” Long said in an interview this week. “There’s nothing that prevents – nor should there be anything to prevent – raising a resolution. It’s the one way Town Meeting is a democracy,” Long said. “To deny a member the opportunity to speak is wrong. Never have I seen this body deny another member the AGAINST: Moderator Stephen N. Doherty questions whether Town Meeting members should be considering a resolution to support school custodians. right to speak. So, I’m very surprised when I read that he [Wallace] wasn’t allowed to speak about his resolution,” he said. Wallace is considering another effort to bring his resolution to fellow members’ attention when Town Meeting reconvenes Monday night. The session is set to begin at 7:30 p.m. in the second floor auditorium of Saugus Town Hall. Meanwhile, Doherty said he has conferred with Town Counsel John J. Vasapolli and other moderators as part of his research and plans to address Town Meeting members regarding his position on the resolution issue on Monday night. “Town Meeting violating its own rules” Peter Manoogian, a prolific author of nonbinding resolutions during his two decades as a Town Meeting member, FEELING WRONGED: Precinct 5 Town Meeting Member Ronald M. Wallace claims his free speech rights are being violated because he can’t read his resolution supporting school custodians. said he believes that Town Meeting would be violating the Town Charter and its own procedural laws – Robert’s Rules of Order – if it doesn’t allow Wallace to read his resolution. “It’s been a well-established practice in Saugus Town Meeting from time to time as matters of public importance that occur after the selectmen have closed The Town Meeting Warrant,” Manoogian said of the use of resolutions. “These resolutions are nonbinding. They neither appropriate money nor establish law. And if it had not been for a resolution, the Saugus Public Friday, May 24 at 8 PM Our 80th Year EDUCATION Next Classes DRIVER Friday, May 31 at 8 PM 2 Week Night Classes JUNE 3 One Week Day Class JULY 8 & JULY 22 We Carry... * 100% Waterproof LVT Flooring * Ceramic, Porcelain & Stone Tile * Hardwood Prefinished and Unfinished, Do-it-Yourselfer Products! Drop by our Showroom and check out our 250 styles of area rugs and other products! 31 Osprey Rd., Saugus * 781-289-9676 Contact@Russoflooring.com CALL - ENROLL or Register Online 617-387-9121 HENRYSAUTOSCHOOL.COM EVERETT AUTO SCHOOL “Successful Key To Driving” Since 1938 Gift Certificates Available Bob Seger Tribute Band Saturday, June 8 at 8 PM LIVE BULLET Every Tuesday Night OPEN MIC with BRIAN MAES Open to all ages! Registration 7:30 PM 221 Newbury Street, Danvers For Tickets call (978) 774-7270 or www.breakawaydanvers.com STONE GROOVE With 43 CHURCH STREET Friday, June 7 at 8 PM Tom Petty Tribute Show REBELS RADIO ROULETTE Library would most certainly have closed,” Manoogian said. “Town Meeting should always be able to express its opinion, because they are the body that is closest to the people … I would be disappointed if veteran Town Meeting members, such as Al DiNardo, do not fight to preserve this important practice that has taken place on previous occasions at the Saugus Town Meeting,” he said. Manoogian said it would be wrong to compare Saugus Town Meeting to any other town meeting in Massachusetts for several reasons. It’s the smallest representative Town Meeting in all of Massachusetts. It is one of – if not DEBATE | SEE PAGE 20 “When I first saw Grace, I knew I wanted to open my home to her. Now, we love to get our hair done and get manicures together. Grace has been a wonderful addition to our family.” Sharon, Caregiver to Grace 978-281-2612 AdultFosterCareNS.com Celebrating 18 Years dine drink gather enjoy THE NORTH SHORE'S HOTTEST NIGHTCLUB! Friday, May 17 at 8 PM LAVISH Saturday, May 18 Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute VYNTYGE SKYNYRD with guests: REVOLVER Saturday, May 25 at 8 PM WILDFIRE
4 Publizr Home