Countdown Till Saugus Town Meeting

Editor’s Note: The 2025 Annual Town Meeting convenes on Monday, May 5. As a special service to our readers and the registered voters of Saugus, we are reaching out to all 50 Town Meeting members, focusing on one precinct each week, in the weeks leading up to the start of Town Meeting, asking members about their expectations for the upcoming Town Meeting. This week, we received responses from three of the five Town Meeting Members in Precinct 1. For next week’s newspaper, we will reach out to the five Town Meeting Members from Precinct 3. The 2025 Annual Town Meeting convenes eight weeks from Monday.

  Question One: What do you consider the top priority for the town as you prepare for the opening of the 2025 Town Meeting session?

Robert J. Camuso Sr.: A priority I would like to see addressed is how Saugus is going to fund the upcoming obligated bill from the Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational High School project. There are two costs associated with this school project that in my opinion needed to be addressed in some way years ago to help prepare ourselves for this upcoming cost when this project was presented to Saugus’ doorstep. Saugus still to this day doesn’t know the actual cost to taxpayers, so I mostly see the reason for no public information given to residents. The cost to Saugus is based on student enrollment from Saugus, so seeing the new school’s higher capacity of 400+ more students, the bill will fluctuate with more or less students that actually attend from the Saugus community every school year. I think not knowing this information cost is going to put Saugus into a very difficult financial situation at the last minute which will need to trigger a town override vote. The other large cost associated with this project is the higher yearly operating cost for this new school project compared to the old school’s operating cost. It jumped up from the old $29 million a year to a new $44+ million a year, so communities need to find an additional 15+ million dollars more yearly to what we pay now (Divided by each yearly student enrollment number per the 12 communities involved). Not knowing each year’s cost and seeing it’s a 30-year payback provided by Saugus taxpayers with a higher operating cost is a large total sum of money for any community to find. I’m looking to see any progress on updated information on allocated funding and the impact to Saugus financial stability it will have. Residents are already paying higher utilities, groceries, cable and Internet fees etc. Nothing is cheap today! understand. So, this is my point. This will have a substantial impact on taxpayers. Also, how this will impact any future Saugus upgrades or needs and how to be able to fund them responsibly is a great question to ask. I don’t consider myself a spender by any means, so I ask every resident to pay attention when any updated information is provided on this to know what we should expect.

Matthew Parlante: One of the town’s top priorities should be moving forward with plans for our third fire station. Ensuring public safety by being as prepared and well-equipped as possible is essential, especially as our population continues to grow. The residents have already voiced their support, and Town Meeting has allocated funding for a feasibility study—now it’s time to take action and get this project underway.

Another key priority is making sure our children have access to essential resources by utilizing the Opiate Abatement Funds the town has received from the state. These funds have been sitting for years when they could be used for proactive and preventive measures to support the youth in our community. It’s time to put them to work.

Additionally, I believe we need to establish a legitimate Chamber of Commerce—one that actively works to revitalize Route 1 and make it something we can truly be proud of. Enhancing the town’s social media presence and improving communication with residents should also be a priority, ensuring people stay informed and engaged when it matters most.

Peter A. Rossetti Jr.: I think there are two priorities for Town Meeting. One is housing and the other is education. On the housing side, there are many Saugus residents that are looking for housing; seniors in large homes that wish to downsize, however, there are limited places they can go. Most senior housing is controlled by the state and federal governments, however there is a shortage of available spaces. Saugus is presently looking at a new 40B project, however that will only bring a limited number of affordable units. The State is presently attempting to increase the number of housing units by changing the rules for accessory units, however that has its own issues. This is an area where Town Meeting may have a role. Zoning is a key issue with housing and the Town Meeting controls that for Saugus, subject to State rules.

Education is another key issue. Housing is related to the school system. The better the school system the more desirable the community is to live in and the more expensive the housing. This impacts the tax base, and finances of the town. Town Meeting controls the town budgets, and can impact the school budget, but not allocate it. Support for the school system can impact housing.

Town Meeting is a forum for open discussion of issues that concern the Town, however, in recent years it doesn’t seem to want to tackle some of the more difficult issues. Maybe that will be different this year.

Question Two: What do you consider the top priority for residents in your precinct as you prepare for the opening of the 2025 Town Meeting session?

Robert J. Camuso Sr.: We know there’s a rodent problem throughout Saugus and Precinct Two is seeing it also. Property management and responsible trash control will absolutely help the ongoing situation. So, if possible, help your neighbors if they can’t efficiently maintain their property or take their trash for them to the curbside on trash day if possible. If you see a neighborhood issue report it to the town. If they don’t know about it they can’t help you to resolve it.

Matthew Parlante: One of the biggest concerns in my precinct is the increasing use of our neighborhood as a cut-through for daily commuters, creating safety risks for residents. There are viable solutions to address this issue, and I am committed to continuing my efforts to implement them.

Addressing crime in our neighborhood remains a top priority. Last summer, we saw a spike in car break-ins, and unfortunately, this trend is likely to continue unless we take action. We need to increase overnight police presence and establish a neighborhood watch program to help deter crime and improve community safety.

Another key focus is continuing to enhance Anna Parker Playground. The new courts have already been put to great use, and we’re excited about what’s next. Upgrading the playground and fields will ensure this space remains a great asset for families and young athletes in our community.

Peter A. Rossetti Jr.: An issue that I would like to see is a playground in Precinct 2. There is an area of open land on top of Baker Hill that could be a small playground for the area. Maybe a few benches and clean the area up a little. The closest playgrounds are Anna Parker, the Vets and Bristow Street. Those are a distance away and at a difference in elevation of close to two hundred feet. I think a small park could be in the area for a modest amount and would be welcome by the residents. This was an article I introduced to the Town Meeting a few years ago with support from other Town Meeting members from the precinct, however, it doesn’t seem to have had much traction.

  Question Three: Are you working independently or in collaboration with other members on articles to be introduced for this year’s Town Meeting? Could you please elaborate? Summarize your article and what you hope to accomplish.

Robert J. Camuso Sr.: I’m presently not working on any upcoming Town Meeting articles with any Town Meeting members. I’m always willing to help […] just reach out to me and any residents please do the same with any concerns or issues.

Matthew Parlante: At this time, I am working independently on several articles that I plan to introduce at this year’s Town Meeting, all aimed at improving the town and benefiting residents.

One of my key proposals is to establish a Charter Review Committee, formed by Town Meeting, to conduct a thorough review of our Town Charter. As our community evolves, it’s essential to ensure that our governing document remains effective, modern, and reflective of the town’s current and future needs.

Another article I plan to introduce focuses on updating and enforcing an existing bylaw related to overnight parking. Clearer regulations and stronger enforcement will help address ongoing concerns and improve the quality of life for residents affected by parking issues.

These proposals are about progress and accountability, and I look forward to working with my fellow residents to move them forward.

  Question Four: Please feel free to share any other views about the upcoming Town Meeting.

Robert J. Camuso Sr.: Saugus has some great new upgrades to our Anna Parker Playground for every Saugus resident to use and enjoy! Street hockey court with bleacher seating, six pickleball courts and picnic tables with a new water fountain. Anna Parker Playground also has a new lighting system for extended use time for residents. More parks are scheduled this year for upgrades and improvements so it’s good to see parks getting attention. I also would like to see Saugus create a fund to purchase property to help keep open green space throughout Saugus. Remember 2025 is an election year, get involved in your community and make a difference. November will be here before you know it.

Matthew Parlante: Town Meeting empowers residents, giving them a direct voice in the decisions that shape their daily lives. It ensures that local government remains responsive and accountable to the people – but it only works if residents actively participate. I encourage everyone to show up, get involved, and see firsthand how our town government is designed to work for you. If you have an idea or see something in town that needs improvement, now is the time to take action. Reach out directly to me at ma*************@gm***.com and if your proposal warrants a Town Meeting article, we will work together to bring it forward and make a real impact. Your voice matters—be part of the process!