The legislation would abolish the position of a possible political rival for Congress next year.
Sen. Stanley Rosenberg plans to file bill to eliminate jobs of registers of deedsBOSTON -- Sen. Stanley C., Rosenberg is sponsoring a bill that would eliminate the job of a possible political rival for Congress and the jobs of 6 other registers of deeds.
Rosenberg said his bill is intended to save money by creating only one elected register of deeds for each of the state's 14 counties.. He said $600,000 a year could be saved by eliminating elected registers in counties that currently have more than one including Berkshire and Bristol, which each have three, and Essex, Middlesex, Worcester, which each have two.
Rosenberg said his bill has absolutely nothing to do with his possible campaign for the 1st congressional seat in Washington if U.S. Rep. John W. Olver, D-Amherst, decides against running for re-election. Rosenberg said he is keeping his options open, but that he expects Olver to seek re-election and that he will be supporting Olver.
Andrea F. Nuciforo of Pittsfield, the current register for the Berkshire Middle District, said he will definitely run for Congress next year. Nuciforo, a Democrat and former state senator, could square off against Rosenberg depending on the results of redistricting of congressional seats and Olver's decision. Olver has said he will run for re-election.
Andrea Nuciforo is planning to run for Congress next yearRosenberg said he submitted the bill in reaction to an undercover report by WFXT-TV Channel 25. Robert F. Kelley, the Northern Essex Register of Deeds, usually worked at the Lawrence-based registry for just an hour or two a day during the eight days he was watched by the station over three months, the station reported.
Nuciforo said Rosenberg's bill is a great idea. "We're at a point in government where we have to try to find savings wherever we can find it," said Nuciforo, who makes $90,000 a year as register.
Registries of deeds maintain real-estate records and make them available to the public.
Nuciforo served in the state Senate with Rosenberg for 10 years. Nuciforo said Rosenberg is attempting to save money. He said he has no reason to believe that Rosenberg is taking a swipe at him because the two might square off in a congressional contest.
Rosenberg is the Senate chair of a redistricting committee. The state lost a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in this year's census and will need to consolidate the current 10 seats into nine for the 2012 election.
If his bill is approved, Rosenberg said, it would take effect for the 2012 election and would begin saving money in 2013. Rosenberg's bill would not close district buildings where registry records are kept and business is conducted. Berkshire, for example, has offices in Adams, Great Barrington and Pittsfield and one elected register for each office. Hampden has offices in Springfield and Westfield, but only one register.
“The present system is simply inefficient and duplicative,” Rosenberg said. “There is no reason to have a separate registrar for each office. In Hampden County, for example, we have one registrar overseeing two offices, so we know it can be done."