Town Meeting 2026 – Members approve the creation of a committee to evaluate vacant school buildings owned by the town

By Mark E. Vogler

What is the town going to do with its vacant school buildings?

That’s a question that has concerned Town Meeting members for several years. Some members have expressed frustration over a lack of information about the buildings.

Precinct 10 Town Meeting Member Jenna Nuzzo may have given her colleagues hope of getting some answers Monday night during the first session of this year’s Annual Town Meeting. Members voted 48-0 in support of her article (31) creating a Vacant School Facilities Assessment Committee to evaluate vacant school buildings owned by the town. The committee’s focus will be the former Lynnhurst, Waybright, Oaklandvale, Ballard and Roby Schools and any other vacant school properties owned by the town.

“If our Master Plan has been telling us to do this for years, why haven’t we?” Nuzzo asked in explaining the need for the committee. “The committee is being formed so we can get an accurate assessment of these buildings. Can they be reused or do they need to be demolished? We’ve been sitting on these buildings for years. So, when is the right time to do this? If we don’t do it now, when are we going to do it?”

Precinct 10 Town Meeting Member Peter Manoogian noted that the town manager has responsibility for determining the future use of municipal buildings. Manoogian introduced an amendment to include the town manager or his selected designee on the committee, which was approved. The committee will also include five Town Meeting Members (the article’s sponsor and four others chosen by lottery), two selectmen, a Finance Committee member, the town planner and a citizen with building and planning experience chosen by the sponsor.

The committee would assess the structural conditions of vacant school buildings, identify environmental hazards, determine the town’s annual costs for each building (maintenance, utilities, insurance, security and related expenses), estimated costs for demolition or rehabilitation, potential uses and other opportunities and the availability of state and federal funds for cleanup, redevelopment or other projects related to the buildings.

“As Town Meeting members, one of our most fundamental responsibilities is ensuring the town is being a responsible steward of public assets,” Precinct 4 Town Meeting Member Joseph DiFilippo said.

“These vacant school buildings represent a real cost to Saugus taxpayers. And frankly, any of us who drive by knows that they are eyesores that do nothing for our neighborhoods or our community’s image,” he said. “These properties don’t have to be a liability. They have real potential to become something that generally benefits the people of Saugus. We just need the information and the plan to get there. I believe that Article 31 gives us that picture and that’s not bureaucracy. That’s accountability. And that’s exactly what the residents of Saugus deserve.”

Manoogian said Nuzzo’s proposal would involve “a ton of work,” but added he was impressed with the level of passion she has shown. “The type of enthusiasm that I hear will carry this forward,” Manoogian said.

“I think she will do the right thing. I think she will include the town manager in the process, and I’m looking forward to the work being done,” he said.

A related measure authored by Nuzzo did not prevail. Article 32 would have required the town manager to prepare a report for selectmen and Town Meeting, detailing the costs associated with vacant school buildings owned by the town.

Town Counsel John Vasapolli advised Town Clerk Ellen Schena in a recent legal opinion that the article was improper and should not be voted on by Town Meeting because it “contradicts the powers and duties of the town manager” under the Town Charter. The town manager has jurisdiction over the rental and use of all town properties, according to Vasapolli, who concluded that Town Meeting “has no authority to require or direct the town manager to take any action.”

At the request of Precinct 2 Town Meeting Member Matthew Parlante, Town Meeting voted to return Article 32 to its maker (Nuzzo) rather than indefinitely postpone the measure.