Page 2 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – Friday, June 21, 2019 Special Town Meeting Monday Members will consider nonbinding resolution opposing privatization of custodians, new rules for resolutions By Mark E. Vogler he 21 Saugus Public School custodians who will lose their jobs at the end of the month – and their supporters – may consider Monday’s Special Town Meeting too late to influence the school officials who decided to replace them a private company. But for Corinne Riley, a forT mer School Committee member who introduced an article providing for a nonbinding resolution to oppose privatization, protecting freedom of speech on the floor of Town Meeting is what Monday night is primarily about. She spearheaded the signature drive for the two articles that Town Meeting members will consider when they convene at 7:30 p.m. on Monday in the second floor auditorium of Saugus Town Hall: Provided there’s a quorum of 26 of the 50 members, Town Meeting will vote on “A Resolution Opposing the Privatization of Saugus School Maintenance and Custodians.” The second article that Town Meeting members will consider seeks to add a new section to the Town of Saugus Bylaws that would provide a procedure for Town Meeting members to introduce nonbinding resolutions. “These petitions came about We Carry... * Lifetime Waterproof Warranty * 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 Lawrence A. Simeone Jr. Attorney-at-Law ~ Since 1989 ~ * Corporate Litigation * Criminal/Civil * MCAD * Zoning/Land Court * Wetlands Litigation * Workmen’s Compensation * Landlord/Tenant Litigation * Real Estate Law * Construction Litigation * Tax Lein * Personal Injury * Bankruptcy * Wrongful Death * Zoning/Permitting Litigation 300 Broadway, Suite 1, Revere * 781-286-1560 Lsimeonejr@simeonelaw.net Pictured in the photo, in the front row, left to right, are Deacon Frank Gaffney, Bernie Wilkerson, Gloria Johnson, Fr. Tim Kelleher, Michael DiChiara, Kathy Sullivan and Tom Swanson; in the back row, left to right, are Joe Johnson, Fr. Tom Corcoran, Jeannie Meredith and Peter Culhane. T he Saugus Catholics Collaborative announced that the long-awaited construction to make St. Margaret’s Church handicapped-accessible begins this week. The project, which is called Give-A-Lift-toSt. Margaret’s, is the result of over two years of community involvement and fundraising. Fr. Tim Kelleher, the pastor of $3.39 $2.45 GALLON GALLON We accept: MasterCard * Visa * & Discover Price Subject to Change without notice 100 Gal. Min. 24 Hr. Service 781-286-2602 Saugus Catholics Collaborative, expressed gratitude to the parishioners and also to the community, saying, “This lift was a dream for so many years, and now, thanks to the parishioners of both of our churches, and also the support we received from many other Saugonians and local businesses, it is becoming a reality.” St. Margaret’s will be closed during the week for the duration of the construction, but will be open for weekend liturgies on Saturdays at 4 p.m. and Sundays at 9:30 a.m. Saugus Catholics Collaborative is made up of Blessed Sacrament Parish and St. Margaret Parish. Both parishes are in Saugus. after Town Meeting member Ron Wallace (of Precinct 5) was silenced by the Town Moderator at the May 20 meeting,” Riley told The Saugus Advocate in an interview last month. “Mr. Wallace attempted to present a nonbinding resolution in support of the school custodians, but was informed he could not present his resolution because it was not on the Warrant,” she said. Here are the two articles to be considered: • Whereas the Representatives in Town Meeting, here assembled, are the appropriating body in Saugus Town Government and are ultimately responsible for the expenditures of taxpayers monies; Whereas the Saugus School Committee is considering the privatization of custodial services in Saugus Public Schools and such an action would remove tax payer control and governmental accountability over the cleaning and maintenance of the town’s school buildings; Whereas eliminating the current custodial positions and replacing them with a private company would make our schools more susceptible to theft, reduce the quality of services delivered to our students, and replace loyal, hardworking, and dedicated employees with transient workers being paid at the poverty level; Whereas seventeen of the aforementioned custodians, currently working in Saugus Public Schools, are residents of the town of Saugus and the average term of service of the custodial staff is equal to or greater than 17 years and; Whereas there is overwhelming public support for the custodians from parents, community leaders, school personnel, taxpayers, and residents; now, therefore, be it Resolved, the Representatives in Town Meeting, here assembled, encourage the members of the Saugus School Committee to reject the idea of privatization of the custodial services in Saugus Public Schools and negotiate with our custodial staff with a fair contract that is in the best interest of the students and taxpayers of Saugus. • To add a new section 214.00 MEETING | SEE PAGE 3 The LIFT is underway at St. Margaret’s Church
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