THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – Friday, May 10, 2019 Page 3 Special Town Meeting Eight articles passed include an updated Master Plan By Mark E. Vogler T here was very little disagreement at Monday night’s Special Town Meeting as members approved eight articles totaling several million dollars to replace outdated vehicles and equipment, upgrade street lighting, improve storm drains and continue setting aside money designed to bolster the town’s financial stability. Drawing considerable attention was the $150,000 appropriation from free cash to fund Article 5 for the upgrading and completion of a town-wide Master Plan – something that hasn’t been done in decades. “We need smart development that will keep the town viable,” Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree told Town Meeting members, who earlier this year voted for a moratorium on multifamily housing. “This will allow the town as a whole to have a conversation” about future development, keeping in mind its impact on future costs for police, fire, water and other municipal services, the town manager said. “The elements that may be included but not limited to are a statement of goals and policies, land use, housing, economic development, natural and cultural resources, open space and recreation, services and facilities, transportation and implementation,” according a synopsis of the article provided by Crabtree. The commitment to updating the town’s Master Plan was a significant development among the articles approved this week, according to town officials. Planning Board Chair Peter A. Rossetti, Jr., who is also a Town Meeting member in Precinct 2, hailed it as “a great step forward.” “It’s something we’ve needed for a long time,” Rossetti said. He added that the town’s zoning needs to be looked at in light of the tremendous development pressures during recent years. “I can assure you this one will not be put on a shelf … it will be implemented,” he said. Crabtree said the town will hire a technical consultant to work on the updated Master Plan Other articles approved MonTOWN MEETING | from page 2 Member Steven C. DiVirgilio told colleagues that he considers plastic bags to be “very convenient” and said he didn’t believe passage of the article would improve his quality of life. “I guarantee that you are going to go to the store one day and be upset that there are no plastic bags because you forgot to bring your own bag,” he said. “I don’t see a crisis with plastic bags in trees,” DiVirgilio said. Devlin said several people in the community approached her over the past year, expressing concerns about plastic bags “stuck in the trees.” “They end up in our streets, in our trees, in our parks and in our waterways,” Devlin said. She noted that residents of Massachusetts use more than two billion single use plastic bags per year. These are highlights of the article approved this week by the Annual Town Meeting and the proposal members will consider on May 20: Plastic Bag Reduction Bylaw Use Regulations: Thin-film single-use plastic bags shall not be distributed, used or sold for checkout or other purposes at any retail store or grocery store within the Town of Saugus. If a retail store provides or sells checkout bags to customers, the bags must be recyclable paper bags or reusable checkout bags. Thin-film plastic bags used to contain dry-cleaning, newspapers, produce, meat, bulk foods, wet items and other similar merchandise, typically without handles, are still permissible. Enforcement: The responsibility of the Board of Health, which shall determine the monitoring process, which may be limited to responding to citizen reports. Penalties: noncriminal disposition fines: first offense, warning; second offense, $50 per day; third and each subsequent offense, $100 per day. Effective Date: Six months after approval of the bylaw by the state Attorney General’s Office, or Jan. 1, 2020, whichever is later. The Board of Health could exempt a retail store from the requirements for a period of up to six months upon a finding of undue hardship or if a retail store needs additional time to draw down an inventory of checkout bags. Polystyrene Food Container Reduction Bylaw Use Regulations: Food establishments are prohibited from dispensing prepared food to customers in disposable food service containers. day include: Article 1. The transfer of $1.5 million from certified free cash to the Stabilization Fund. The current balance is $8.1 million. Article 2. The transfer of $150,000 from certified free cash to the Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB) Trust. The current balance is $720,000. Article 3. Borrowing $1 million for retrofitting street lighting to LED. Article 4. Borrowing $820,000 to buy four new police cruisers, several vehicles and pieces of equipment to replace equipment at the Department of Public Works that’s needed to be replaced for years. The Finance Committee cites this as the town’s commitment to capital improvement issues. Article 6. Using $90,000 unexpended from several completed projects to pay a portion of the costs of the drainage project at the Winter Street Cemetery. Article 7. The transfer of $10,000 from certified free cash to spend on promoting the growth and expansion of the Town of Saugus Tree Farm. Enforcement: The responsibility of the Board of Health, which shall determine the monitoring process, which may be limited to responding to citizen reports. Penalties: noncriminal disposition fines: first offense, warning; second offense, $50 per day; third and each subsequent Our 80th Year EDUCATION Next Classes DRIVER Friday, May 24 at 8 PM RADIO ROULETTE 2 Week Night Classes JUNE 3 One Week Day Class JULY 8 & JULY 22 CALL - ENROLL or Register Online 617-387-9121 HENRYSAUTOSCHOOL.COM EVERETT AUTO SCHOOL “Successful Key To Driving” Since 1938 Gift Certificates Available With 43 CHURCH STREET Friday, May 31 at 8 PM STONE GROOVE Every Tuesday Night OPEN MIC with BRIAN MAES Open to all ages! Registration 7:30 PM 221 Newbury Street, Danvers For Tickets call (978) 774-7270 or www.breakawaydanvers.com with guests: REVOLVER Saturday, May 25 at 8 PM WILDFIRE We Carry... * 100% Waterproof LVT Flooring * Ceramic, Porcelain & Stone Tile * Hardwood Prefinished and Unfinished, Do-it-Yourselfer Products! Drop by our Showroom and check out our 250 styles of area rugs and other products! 31 Osprey Rd., Saugus * 781-289-9676 Contact@Russoflooring.com dine drink gather enjoy THE NORTH SHORE'S HOTTEST NIGHTCLUB! Friday, May 10 Saturday, May 11 U2 Tribute Sensation JOSHUA TREE Article 8. The transfer of $120,000 from certified free cash to pay for the replacement of Town guardrails determined to be a priority. Town Meeting Member Steven C. DiVirgilio of Precinct 10 said he doubts Article 2 is sound financial strategy. “That plan is mathematically impossible to fully fund at the current tax levy,” DiVirgilio said. Eagles Musical Tribute Experience Friday, May 17 at 8 PM LAVISH with 80's REUNION BAND Saturday, May 18 Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute VYNTYGE SKYNYRD
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