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(Editor’s Note: Today, in the second of a four-part series leading into the Nov. 4 Town Election, we asked each of the Board of Selectmen candidates the following questions: What do you consider the biggest challenge facing the next Saugus Board of Selectmen? If elected, how should you and your fellow selectmen address that challenge? Please answer in 300 words or less. Here are the responses from the candidates who will be on the ballot seeking a two-year term in one of the five seats. We have listed the candidates alphabetically.)
Jeffrey Cicolini, incumbent Saugus selectman:
One of the biggest challenges facing our town is balancing the need for significant capital projects such as a west side fire station with the overall financial burden it will have on our residents.
A west side fire station is an absolute need for Saugus however with many of our residents living on a fixed income and struggling to get by each day, it is very important to be cognizant of the overall impact it will have on them. We also have to take into consideration the pending impact the VOKE school will have.
We need to work together with the town manager to make certain all sources of funding are explored including Federal and State appropriations as well as Corporate Grants. I have heard of communities offering naming opportunities as a way to generate revenue to put towards the project. We need to see if that would be an option we can choose to lower the overall tax impact to our residents. Engaging a grant writer specifically for this purpose would be appropriate.
Fortunately, Saugus remains an affordable, full service community. It is our job to make sure that it stays that way.
The traffic throughout town is another major issue, unfortunately it is omnipresent on the North Shore and only getting worse. We need to continue to meet with our state delegation to explore avenues to alleviate the congestion on route 1 and surrounding roads. Recently, we asked that they explore removing the light at the jug handle as a way to smooth the flow of traffic. We also need to encourage development on route 1 other than apartments. Commercial space such as medical and lab space would be ideal. Our recently amended zoning bylaw should help promote more suitable development on Route 1.
Anthony Cogliano, incumbent Saugus selectman:
Development and Traffic: The Challenges Facing Saugus
There are many issues facing Saugus today, but development and traffic remain at the forefront. I hear it constantly from residents—no one in town wants to see more apartments, whether along Route 1 or elsewhere.
Unfortunately, Saugus currently stands at just 6.8% affordable housing, while the state requires 10%. I raised this concern two years ago, but was told my calculations were wrong and that we had already met the threshold. As it turns out, we had not. With the new 40B project at 961 Broadway approved, we should finally meet compliance.
Back in 2016, the town adopted major rezoning to stimulate growth. It worked—but mostly for residential development, which far outpaced commercial expansion. To slow the surge, the town enacted a two-year moratorium on residential projects, yet during that pause failed to revise zoning or create meaningful solutions. That was when I decided to return to public service after a 16-year break, running again for a seat on the Board in 2019.
Now, with the Kowloon redevelopment and the Blue Star site project moving forward, Saugus is entering a new era. But this progress raises serious questions: What will it mean for our already strained traffic patterns? Were our new schools built to handle the influx of students? And why do we still lack a town planner and economic development coordinator?
The next Board of Selectmen must work closely with the town manager to reset our course. We must also engage our state delegation and the Department of Transportation to address long-overdue traffic issues.
Eliminating the jug handle in Peabody, for example, would provide much-needed relief.
I love this town deeply, and I’m committed to helping us find balanced, thoughtful solutions for the people of Saugus.
Jennifer D’Eon, a former Saugus selectman:
The biggest challenge facing Saugus is the influx of traffic that is strangling our town. Traffic is overflowing from Route 1, Route 129, and Route 107 into town. Those who have lived in Saugus for over ten years will remember it was not like this in the past. There are many potential causes; it could be related to changes in traffic patterns following the shutdown in 2020, the rapid residential and commercial development on Route 1, and in neighboring communities’ both north and south of Saugus. Development has brought an increase in population, putting pressure on our existing infrastructure, schools, police, and fire resources.
Traffic is affecting not only our residents’ ability to move around their own town, but the ability of our public safety departments, both police and fire to effectively protect the town, particularly the west and northern parts of Saugus. Response times are not optimum based on the location of our current public safety buildings and the west side of town. Route 1 effectively cuts the town in half north to south with access at Essex St., Main St., Lynn Fells Parkway, and Walnut St. Some areas require our police and fire departments to respond via the Lynnfield turnaround to get to some addresses.
To meet this challenge as a Board, we need to move forward with any initiatives necessary, along with educating our residents, and promoting the vital need for a third public safety building for the west side of town. This will require the growth of the fire department to meet the increasing calls for service and improve response times due to daily traffic impacts. The police must also be expanded to address their response times and the added workload related to the increased traffic like crashes, and enforcement duties, calls at the new developments and businesses along Route 1, and the inevitable crime that comes along with it. Equal growth of both public safety departments is a major challenge that must be a top priority for Saugus.
Frank Federico, a Precinct 7 Town Meeting member:
In my view, the biggest issue facing the Board of Selectmen and the Town of Saugus is our reputation for being unresponsive and difficult to work with when it comes to new businesses. As we’ve seen with the Essex Landing lawsuit, this perception can have real financial consequences. When businesses feel disrespected or ignored, we lose opportunities for investment and risk costly legal disputes that ultimately fall on taxpayers.
Many residents, especially seniors, have shared concerns about rising taxes and the fear of being priced out of their homes. My goal is to do more without asking residents to pay more. That means pursuing responsible business partnerships, smart development, and efficient use of resources while preventing the overbuilding of apartments that strain our infrastructure and change the character of our community.
By strengthening relationships with the business community and fostering a fair, transparent, and genuinely business-friendly environment, we can attract growth that benefits everyone. A stronger commercial base means more local revenue to reinvest in essential priorities, such as a much-needed third fire station, improved schools, and well-maintained public facilities, without increasing the tax burden on residents.
If elected, I will focus on collaboration, accountability, and innovation to rebuild trust with residents, local businesses, and the community as a whole. I’ll work closely with my fellow Selectmen to set clear priorities, create consistent standards for how we engage with businesses, and ensure decisions are transparent and grounded in what’s best for residents. By listening to different perspectives, finding common ground, and building consensus, we can move Saugus forward together, welcoming progress while protecting what makes this town home.
Stacey Herman-Dorant, a Precinct 1 Town Meeting member:
For towns and cities, keeping their financial well-being and strong bond rating is key to success and smart growth. Saugus is no different.
One of the biggest challenges I see for the next Saugus Board of Selectmen is making sure we stay financially strong while dealing with the pressures that come with a growing town.
Our AA bond rating, which helps us save millions on borrowing costs, indicates a positive outlook and financial stability. This was not always the case.
Rising costs including funding for the vocational school, a potential west side emergency services building, infrastructure improvements and development are real, and we need to stay ahead of them through careful planning and responsible budgeting.
Selectmen play a critical role in setting priorities and ensuring the Town Manager is focused on responsible and strategic investments. For example, I believe we must prioritize hiring the full-time Senior Town Planner to guide master planning efforts, evaluate land use, and support smart economic development. This position is essential for addressing challenges like traffic
congestion, development pressures, and long-term infrastructure needs.
When our fiscal house is in order, we have choices. Just like in our personal finances, we must plan, build reserves, and avoid overspending. If elected, I will work collaboratively with the Finance Committee, Town Meeting Members, and my fellow Selectmen to ensure we continue making smart, sustainable financial decisions. A proactive approach today will protect our financial strength and ensure that Saugus thrives in the future.
Debra Panetta, an incumbent Saugus selectman and the board’s chair:
Maintaining Fiscal Responsibility and Full-Service Levels
The upcoming Board of Selectmen will confront the important task of balancing the expectations of a full-service community with the financial obligations associated with the West Side Public Safety facility and the community’s recent commitment to supporting the new Vocational School. Unlike many surrounding communities that are pursuing operational overrides to maintain their services, Saugus homeowners continue to benefit from one of the lowest residential tax bills on the North Shore without being asked to pay operational tax overrides. This is one feature that sets Saugus apart from many North Shore communities.
Commitment to Sound Financial Practices
This favorable financial position is the direct result of consistent and prudent financial management by the Board of Selectmen, Finance Committee, Town Meeting, and the Town Manager. In any public setting, there will always be unlimited needs and desires that arise. However, it is the responsibility of the elected leaders to carefully balance these needs and wants with the community’s willingness to provide the necessary financial resources.
Leadership and Future Goals
I am proud to have served as a member of the Board of Selectmen for 14 years, including 7 years as Chairman. During this time, Saugus has achieved the strongest financial position in its history. If re-elected, I am committed to not only maintaining this robust financial standing but also guiding a process that ensures Saugus continues to offer comprehensive services to its residents. Additionally, I aim to support the advancement of funding for both the new vocational school and the West Side Public Safety complex.
Michael Serino, an incumbent Saugus selectman:
I believe the biggest challenge facing the next Board of Selectmen will be some financial challenges. The first challenge is the construction of the North East Vocational School. Unfortunately, the Town of Saugus has little control over this project. All decisions regarding the construction of the new school are made by the Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational School District Building Committee. The committee is comprised of one representative from the 12 surrounding communities who use the school, and as the host community, all members of the Wakefield School Committee and the Town Manager. Unfortunately, Saugus has only one vote. The projected construction cost of the new school is estimated at $ 317 million. The projected grant money from the State is estimated to be $ 177 million. The estimated projected cost to the Town of Saugus is approximately $ 1.5 million a year. This cost does not include tuition costs per student. The current school capacity is 1,200 students. However, the new school capacity will increase by 400 students to a total of 1,600 students. Therefore, if Saugus’s enrollment increases, then Saugus’s cost will increase.
The second challenge is the construction of a West-side Public Safety building to include a Fire station, EMS station/ambulance and a Police sub-station for the patrol officer covering the west-side section of town. Currently, a study is being conducted as to the location of the public safety building, which might include land taking. No cost estimates have been associated with this project yet.
Vincent Serino, the current School Committee chair:
As a town, Saugus faces several important challenges ahead. As we continue to grow and progress, we must be thoughtful and deliberate in how we approach that growth. Development will continue to be a major focus — but it must be smart growth, growth that benefits both the town and our residents.
As our community expands, our resources are being stretched — our schools, public safety, water, and sewer systems all feel the impact. That’s why planning, development, and growth must work hand in hand. With every new project or addition, we need to consider how it will affect Saugus not just next year, but five, ten, and even twenty years down the line.
Sustainability must also guide our decisions. We need to protect our open spaces, keep our air clean, and ensure that all businesses follow our environmental and zoning regulations. At the same time, we must preserve what makes Saugus special — our small-town character and strong sense of community.
One of our most pressing challenges is traffic. Our roads were not designed to handle the volume we see today, let alone what’s coming. We need to work closely with the state to expand and improve Route One so it can better handle the growing flow of vehicles from Saugus and neighboring communities. Doing so will help reduce congestion on our local roads and make travel safer and more efficient for everyone.
Another key focus area is our school district. We’ve made a major investment in our new school complex, and we should be maximizing its potential. Let’s strengthen the connection between our schools and the community — by hosting more evening and summer events, educational programs, and town gatherings. Our schools should not only educate our children but also serve as a vibrant hub for the entire community.
By planning carefully, protecting what matters, and working together, we can ensure that Saugus grows in a way that strengthens our town for generations to come.
Sandro Pansini Souza, former candidate for Selectman:
One of the most significant challenges facing the next Saugus Board of Selectmen is managing sustainable growth and development while preserving our town’s character. As our region continues to grow, there is pressure to approve new housing, commercial projects, and infrastructure expansion. If done without thought, this growth can overburden roads, strain municipal services, worsen traffic, and erode the small-town feel that residents value. Many residents and past candidates have already flagged development and traffic as recurring concerns in Saugus.
To address this challenge, if elected I would advocate for a three-pronged approach:
1. Comprehensive planning with community input
We should revisit and strengthen our Master Plan, zoning ordinances, and overlay districts. Before approving major development, require rigorous impact analyses (traffic, utility load, environmental) and mandate substantial public engagement (neighborhood hearings, design review). This ensures new projects contribute positively, rather than simply maximizing density.
2. Infrastructure modernization and strategic investment
Growth must be matched by upgrades—roads, drainage, sewer, public transportation, and green spaces. I will push to phase capital improvements in coordination with development approvals, so new residents don’t arrive before the infrastructure is ready. I’ll also explore grant opportunities and creative public-private partnerships to fund these upgrades without overly burdening taxpayers.
3. Inter-board coordination and oversight
The Selectmen must lead with oversight: working closely with the Planning & Economic Development staff, the Town Manager, and other boards (e.g. Conservation, Traffic). I recognize that Saugus has struggled to hire and retain planning staff. I will prioritize supporting staff retention and institutional capacity, so our planning efforts stay strong and consistent.
In short: growth is inevitable, but it must be managed, not reactive. As a selectman, I will strive to balance progress with preservation, ensuring Saugus remains a safe, livable, and vibrant community for all.
I am Sandro Pansini Souza, # 3 in the Ballot for Saugus Selectman and I approve this message!
