Town Meeting 2023

Members clear Special Meeting articles on first night; West Side Fire Station study, parks and playground improvements and protecting bond rating top priorities

  Town Meeting members on Monday night overwhelmingly approved an article to borrow $400,000 for a feasibility study for a third fire station – this one on the west side of town. Yet, Article 7 drew considerable discussion from members despite the 42-1 approval of the measure. Precinct 6 Town Meeting Member Jeanie cast the lone opposition vote against an article that would fund a study to determine the need for a fire station that has been sought for more than 40 years.

  The article was one of eight borrowing authorization measures totaling close to $9.3 million approved by Town Meeting on the opening night of this year’s Annual Town Meeting. Members decided to tackle articles on the Special Town Meeting warrant and begin consideration of the Annual Town Meeting when members reconvene at 7:30 p.m. next Monday (May 8) in the second floor auditorium in Saugus Town Hall.

  Precinct 9 Town Meeting Member Robert J. Long and others expressed frustration that it has taken so long for the town to address a public safety issue that has “gone on and on and on forever” despite a need which has been identified for decades. “The problem I have – we’re going to do another feasibility study,” Long said.

  “I sometimes have the feeling we talk a lot about it, but nothing is done about it,” he said. Long cited a 1965 report which declared “Action must be taken” on the third fire station.

  “Let’s get this off the ground, get moving with it … I think this is a priority,” Long said, adding that he hopes it wouldn’t cost as much as the $400,000 recommended for the study, and also questioned why nothing came of a previous feasibility study done a few years ago.

  “It was a shame if we didn’t use that information,” Long said.

  But Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree said the latest feasibility being sought “is more action-based than the previous study, which focused on response times.”

  Article 7 would be more comprehensive and obtain information to identify the potential site, a detailed design and other information that would be necessary to brief the public, according to Crabtree. “We want to make sure we do it right and get the right information,” Crabtree said.

  “You have to have the community support this. It’s not a political goal. It’s a public safety goal. This is something that can really benefit the town,” he said.

  Town Meeting members also passed these borrowing authorization measures:

• Article 8: $3.8 million for the design and construction of capital improvements to the town’s sewer system, including the payment of all costs incidental or related thereto; to determine whether this appropriation shall be raised by borrowing from the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust or by other means.
• Article 6: $2 million for designing, constructing, repairing and replacing parks and playgrounds in the town, including the payments of costs and how the funds will be raised.
• Article 5: $1.4 million for purchasing various equipment for town departments, including the payment of costs incidental or related thereto; and to determine whether this appropriation shall be raised by borrowing or other means.
• Article 9: $700,000 for the design and construction of capital improvements to the town’s sewer lift stations, including the payment of costs incidental or related thereto; and to determine whether this appropriation shall be raised by borrowing or other means.
• Article 11: $500,000 for the planning and construction of drainage capital improvements, including the payment of costs incidental or related thereto; to determine whether this appropriation shall be raised by borrowing or by other means.
• Article 12: $250,000 for the planning and construction costs associated with the enforcement of the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR), including the payment of costs incidental or related thereto; and to determine whether this appropriation shall be raised by borrowing or other means.
• Article 13: $200,000 for the purpose of repairing or replacing town water hydrants and valves, including payment of costs incidental or related thereto; to determine whether this appropriation shall be raised by borrowing or by other means.

  In addition, Town Meeting approved these measures:

• Article 2: The transfer of $1 million in certified free cash to the Stabilization Fund.
• Article 3: The transfer of $500,000 in free cash to the Other Post-Employment Benefits Trust) (OPEB Trust).
• Article 4: The transfer of $500,000 in free cash to the Stabilization Fund for the Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational School Construction Project.

  “We have significant costs coming our way that could affect our operating budget. We’re looking at $1.5 to $2 million for the next 30 years,” Crabtree told Town Meeting.

  Meanwhile, the average number of Saugus students going to The Voke went from 196 to 140 students in the new building.

  “If we don’t have the public behind this, it could be problematic,” Crabtree said.

  “We’re going to have a bill that’s going to be assessed and we don’t have a means to pay for that,” he said.

  Town Meeting members approved the Finance Committee recommendation for the indefinite postponement of Article 10 for the borrowing of money for the design and construction of capital improvements to Town of Saugus-owned bridges, including the payment of costs incidental or related thereto; to determine whether this appropriation shall be raised by borrowing or other means.