Countdown Till Town Meeting

Editor’s Note: The 2024 Annual Town Meeting convenes on Monday, May 6. As a special service to our readers and the registered voters of Saugus, we will reach out to the 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 four responses from the five Town Meeting Members in Precinct 4. For next week’s newspaper, we will reach out to the five Town Meeting members from Precinct 5.

  Question One: What do you consider the top priority for the town as you prepare for the opening of the 2024 Town Meeting session?

Glen Davis:  High on the list of critical topics is the third fire station and the cost associated with the new Northeast Vocational School. A study has already been done to determine the best course of action for moving forward with a third fire station in town. We should be seeing some action soon on this which will increase the safety of our citizens. A new Northeast Vocational School was needed, and construction is underway. With that comes the cost associated with it and Saugus will need to contribute its share. The total amount hasn’t been determined yet, but projections put it in the two-million-dollar range per year. Both items may need to be funded outside of the budget as they come with significant costs, but town meeting will work together with the town manager to fund these top priorities.

Robert J. Long: I don’t necessarily have one top priority. I have a strong conviction that we need to make decisions that keep Saugus a strong residential community. We need to do something about the traffic situation. Traffic is literally choking Saugus at certain hours of the day. We can’t undo the past. But we can certainly do something about controlling it in the future.

Even with our new Middle-High School, more students are going outside the district to get an education. The Town Meeting, the administration and the School Committee should do whatever needs to be done to reverse that trend so that our young people can stay in the community. So, we need to strengthen the School Department to make this a place where we are totally focused on our school system.

Stephanie Shalkoski: As we prepare for Town Meeting, our highest priority is to have productive dialogue and thoughtful decision-making among the body of 50 elected representative members. Together we share a great responsibility to ensure that Saugus residents continue to feel proud to call this community home.

Neighbors are concerned about a variety of items including the continued financial stability of our town and tax base, investment in our schools, parks, roads, public safety, and more, while we navigate the challenges and opportunities related to development.

As a newly elected Town Meeting Member, I have much to learn, and I look forward to it. I am preparing to show up ready and focused on the issues that matter to all of us. I will bring a balanced perspective to the conversation and focus on practical solutions with an eye toward our future.

Maureen Whitcomb: My top priority is the Northeast Regional School and how the town of Saugus plans on paying for their portion. This school is very important to the students of Saugus. This school helps kids determine their career paths and life choices. I would also like to know what is going to be done with the former elementary schools.

Question Two: What do you consider the top priority for residents in your precinct as you prepare for the opening of the 2024 Town Meeting session?

  Glen Davis: My colleague from Precinct 2 has been instrumental in keeping an eye on any activity with the Caddy Farms property. We need to make sure any development to that area does not include access to any local streets in Precinct 4 such as Norman Road, Hayden Road, and Hood Street, or any others in the adjoining precincts. It’s been a couple of years since there has been any discernible activity, but I’m confident we’ll be able to act if needed.

Road safety is a much-discussed topic in town, and we’ve addressed the issue by working together to manage the speed limits. Digital signs have been installed which let the driver know how fast they are going. This has been a major deterrent as I’ve witnessed with the sign down the street from my house. I have seen more brake lights than flashing red over the limit warnings.

Robert J. Long: Most of Precinct 4 is located on the west side of Route 1. A top priority should be dealing with the day traffic that goes through here.

Stephanie Shalkoski: I encourage any resident in Precinct Four to please share their concerns, ideas, and priorities with me. I am eager to hear from you and represent you at Town Meeting. Please contact me at stephaniefoursaugus@gmail.com so we can set up a call.

Maureen Whitcomb: A major concern with many residents in precinct 4 is the intersection at Vine and Essex St. I live near there, as do some other town meeting members and it seems to get more dangerous by the day. A priority in this precinct is the Oaklandvale School. The residents are concerned about the former school. What is going to happen with it? Is it going to be demolished and something new being built, is it going to be used for housing? Residents don’t want to see it just sit empty and be vandalized. Cliftondale Square is not in this precinct.

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.

Glen Davis: I’m currently not working on any articles.

Robert J. Long: I’ve had conversations with Selectman Mike Serino about possible articles that will be prepared that will affect building on Route 1. It won’t stop multi-use zoning, but could affect decisions that are made.

Stephanie Shalkoski: I am still learning about the process of introducing articles at Town Meeting and considering authoring one. More to come.

Maureen Whitcomb: I am not working on or with anyone to introduce new articles for town meetings. I am waiting to see what will be proposed through this year’s articles. I would like to see what is being presented and introduced.

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

  Glen Davis: There are several topics which have been hot button issues in town. First is the revitalization of Cliftondale Square. I sat on the committee which did a lengthy study of where the square stands today compared to where we were before and what can be done to improve it in the future. Steps have been taken to enhance Cliftondale such as the town manager purchasing properties to be used to remedy the parking problems. The Master Plan targets Cliftondale Square as an area ripe for growth.

We need to address the vacant schools in town. My grandfather, a former town meeting member, was instrumental in transforming closed neighborhood elementary schools in the 80’s into viable buildings that are still in use today. At last year’s town meeting, I was one of the supporters of my colleague from Precinct 10’s article to transform the Ballard School into the Ballard Gardens. We need creative thinking to best use these valuable pieces of town property for the betterment of our community.

Robert J. Long: I just want Saugus to be a good, liveable community. Hopefully, Town Meeting will take a look at whatever we can do to enhance the liveability of the community.

Stephanie Shalkoski: I appreciate the opportunity to serve as a Town Meeting Member and I am excited for my first Town Meeting. I am grateful to a trio of Town Meeting Members who organized educational seminars to help newbies like me better understand our role. Thanks to the many guest speakers who volunteered (yet another evening!) to help us learn and become a better representative for Saugus. The added benefit of these seminars is that they helped create connections and camaraderie among Town Meeting Members, and I know that will serve us well this May. Onward!

Maureen Whitcomb: I would like to express how informative and educational the town meeting information sessions were. Peter, Carla, and Steve did a wonderful job in organizing and hosting these events. With having lots of newcomers to town meetings not everyone understands and knows the process of how the budget gets constructed and how articles are put together. I would like to see this happen again or have a television production done. I believe Saugus residents need to know what the process takes.