(image above: Frank Surillo)
Surillo chosen at-large councilor
After three rounds of voting and extensive – sometimes heated – discussion, Francisco “Frank” Surillo was the top vote-getter at City Council’s special meeting to fill the at-large council seat vacated by Mayor DJ Beauregard.
Surillo will serve the term’s remaining year.
He ran for one of three at-large council seats back in November 2023, finishing fourth. Per the city charter, he could not automatically assume the seat as he did not receive 20% of votes cast in that race.
On Dec. 16, after reviewing the city’s rules on filling the vacant seat following the Dec. 10 special mayoral election, Council Chair Joel Faretra encouraged residents to appear at the Dec. 19 Council meeting and state their request to be considered.
In addition to Surillo, seven residents volunteered to serve in the spot: Douglas Cairnie, Ryan Dugan, Bill Hannefant, Neil Hunter, Christina St. Onge, James Sarcione and Mike Welch.
There was discussion between councilors and City Solicitor Ken Rosetti on his interpretation of the charter and how the process should unfold. Councilor At-Large Jana Zanni Pesce called the meeting “a circus,” favoring a citywide special election to fill the vacancy.
The winning candidate needed to secure five votes.
The first two rounds saw votes cast for only Surillo and Hannefant, though neither received five, and Zanni-Pesce voting “present” both times. After Round 3, Surillo secured his five. Councilors Joyce Campagnone, Neily Soto, Patricia Valley, Ron Marsan, Jana Zanni-Pesce, Allison Saffie and Joel Faretra voted for Surillo, while Nicholas DiZoglio voted for Hannefant.
Following the meeting, Surillo was immediately sworn in by City Clerk Anne Drouin.
Surillo is the Business and Economic Development Director for the City of Lawrence, a rep-at-large of the Merrimack Valley Planning Commission and chairs the Methuen Housing Authority Board of Directors. He has lived in Methuen since 2015.
Public Schools’ Safety hotline
Following inspections jump-started by staff and parental complaints about mice and mold in several schools, Mayor Beauregard launched a hotline designed to support Methuen Public Schools faculty and staff by providing a confidential way to report facilities and maintenance issues.
The hotline can be reached by calling (978) 794-3201.
“This initiative is part of the Beauregard administration’s continued efforts to expose and address long-standing facilities and maintenance concerns within Methuen’s schools,” according to a Dec. 18 press release.
For additional information about the administration’s ongoing commitment to school safety and improvements, visit: www.methuen.gov/schoolsafety.
City Hall extends hours
Methuen City Hall offices have started a six-month pilot program of remaining open until 7:30pm on the evenings of City Council meetings. So if your days are busy but you need to pay a bill, order a birth certificate or pull a permit, head on over to the Searles Building!
2025 dates are as follows:
Monday, Jan. 6 and Tuesday, Jan. 21.
Monday, Feb. 3 and Tuesday, Feb. 18.
Mondays, March 3 and 17.
Mondays, April 7 and 21.
Monday, May 5.
