Braintree Town Councilor Makes Mistake On Council President Vote

BRAINTREE, MA — Steven Sciascia, the newly elected town councilor for District 2, said he made a mistake on his vote for Town Council president — and that vote decided the race. After last week's inauguration ceremony, the newly elected Council held its first vote of the year, deciding whether at-large Councilor Shannon Hume or District 4 Councilor Stephen O'Brien would be president.

Sciascia, in his first vote as a town councilor, voted for Hume by mistake, he said. Sciascia apologized and said he misunderstood a procedural rule.

"In my first and only vote thus far as a town councilor, I misunderstood a procedural rule and ended up voting in a way that was not my intent," Sciascia said during a Town Council meeting Tuesday. "I apologize for making such a mistake."

Sciascia said he tried to correct the mistake, asking Clerk Sue Cimino if anything could be done. She forwarded the question to Town Solicitor Nicole Taub.

Taub sent a memo Friday with the opinion that a reconsideration is only allowed if requested during the same meeting. The motion would have needed at least one councilor who voted for Hume to support it, and a two-thirds majority would have to approve allowing a re-vote.

At-large Councilor David Ringius said the opinion letter never should have been drafted. Town councilors are allowed to ask the town solicitor about law-related questions but not council rules, he said.

"The town solicitor cannot give any formal or written appointment about parliamentary rule," Ringius said.

Despite that, Ringius said he agreed with Taub's conclusion.

Sciascia apologized to the public and the council for the appearance of any confusion or discord stemming from the vote.

"Though I did not do things right, I tried to do the right thing by attempting to correct it rather than pretending it didn't happen," Sciascia said. "I would also like to make clear that none of this should imply any bias or lack of respect and support for any member of the council. I apologize to the public and my fellow constituents to the extent that this created any appearance of confusion or discord."

After the vote, Hume became the first woman ever to be named Town Council president in Braintree. Hume, a four-term councilor, won with five votes: Sciascia, Hume, At-Large Councilor Charles Ryan, District 5 Councilor Meredith Boericke and District 1 Councilor Julia Flaherty. The four who voted against Hume were Ringius, District 3 Councilor Donna Connors, O'Brien and District 6 Councilor Lawrence Mackin Jr.