Town Meeting Citizen Advocates Announced

For last year's Town Meeting, newly-elected Town Moderator Mark DiSalvo introduced "citizen advocates" to help in the process and make things run smoothly for attendees.

And this year, they will be back.

"In the past we have all heard of citizens intimidated by the Town Meeting process and I want to remove all obstacles to any citizen’s desire to express their thoughts and beliefs," DiSalvo said.

One major role of the citizen advocates is to help citizens word their amendments. In past Town Meetings, they would have experienced people do that for them with the moderator.

Now, the moderator can refer a voter to one of the citizen advocates help correctly form the amendment and present it properly before the meeting.

"People don’t even need to wait until they wish to speak but can seek out the Citizen Advocate beforehand as well," DiSalvo said. "I believe that just the availability of support by the Citizen Advocates will help make Town Meeting more efficient and government more approachable."

Who Are They?

Returning in these roles are Maria Galvagna Mesenger and John Smolak, and new advocates are John Fouhy and Phil DeCologero. Galvagna Mesenger, Smolak have legal experience. DeCologero, active in town elections, is also executive assistant to Methuen Mayor Stephen Zanni.

"These selfless professionals, all residents of North Andover, deserve significant kudos for volunteering their time and accepting my invitation to serve," DiSalvo said. "They have a wide degree of proficiencies and expertise and unquestionably can help out on any matter a citizen might need."

Town Meeting will be Tuesday, May 21, at North Andover High School.