SAUGUS Vol. 22, No. 27 -FREE~ THE ADVOCATE ASKS ~ Town Meeting Member Ron Wallace reflects on his battle to speak on a resolution supporting school custodians Editor’s Note: For this week, we sat down with Precinct 5 Town Meeting Member Ron Wallace, who talked about the challenges of introducing his nonbinding resolution to oppose privatization of custodial services. Wallace, 50, is a 1978 Saugus High School graduate and a lifelong resident of the town. He is in the final year of his second two-year term on the Saugus Town Meeting. For 32 years he has been a low voltage electrical technician. He and his wife, Amy, a Lynn native, have been married for 19 years. They have three children: Alex, 12, who will be entering the seventh grade at the Belmonte Middle School in the fall; Abigail, 15, who will be a sophomore at Saugus High School; and Andrew, 17, who will be a senior at Bishop Fenwick High School in Peabody. Amy Wallace has worked 25 years as a Special Education teacher in Lynn Public Schools. Following his graduation from Saugus High School, Wallace spent four years in the Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee (JACT) program run by I.B.E.W. Local 103. In Have a Safe & Happy July 4th Weekend! ADVOCATE www.advocatenews.net Published Every Friday 781-233-4446 Friday, July 5, 2019 Last race run at Suffolk Downs SPEAKING HIS MIND: Saugus Precinct 5 Town Meeting Member Ron Wallace says he believed that the School Committee would reverse its secret vote to privatize custodial services after a Special Town Meeting gave overwhelming support to his nonbinding resolution opposing privatization. (Saugus Advocate Photo by Mark E. Vogler) ASKS | SEE PAGE 16 ANGELO’S FULL "Over 40 Years of Excellence!" 1978-2019 Regular Unleaded $2.579 Mid Unleaded $2.799 Super $2.859 Diesel Fuel $2.839 KERO $4.759 Diesel $2.699 SERVICE HEATING OIL 24-Hour Burner Service Call for Current Price! (125—gallon minimum) DEF Available by Pump! Open an account and order online at: www.angelosoil.com (781) 231-3500 (781) 231-3003 367 LINCOLN AVE • SAUGUS • OPEN 7 DAYS T he School Committee voted to privatize custodial services 16 days after the town signed a contract with the company that will replace the 21 school custodians. Saugus Public Schools Superintendent Dr. David DeRuosi, Jr. decided to award the contract MAKING LAST DAY COUNT: Successful Saint – Saugus-bred and owned by Anthony Zizza of Saugus – was one of the winners on the last day of racing at Suffolk Downs. Ridden by Jose Baez and trained by Dylan Clarke, the three-year-old gelded son of Successful Appeal won its fourth consecutive race in four starts in the one-mile race as Suffolk Downs closed after 84 years. See other photos and stories inside. (Courtesy Photo to The Saugus Advocate by Suffolk Downs/ Chip Bott Photography). Public still in the dark on rush to privatize School Superintendent withholds Executive Session minutes of meetings By Mark E. Vogler to Complete Cleaning, Inc. 11 days after the May 8 meeting when the School Committee took a secret vote to privatize. Thanks to the superintendent and the majority of the School Committee, it’s hard for the public to understand how decisions unfolded. The choice wasn’t ever discussed in a public forum until after the contract was signed, and very little information has been made available since. This week, even after the decision to replace the custodians with a private company was final, Superintendent DeRuosi declined to release documents that could shed some light on PRIVATIZE | SEE PAGE 6 ~ Home of the Week ~ SAUGUS Welcome to this immaculate craftsman style bungalow featuring 6 rooms and 1 1/2 bath. Enter into the enclosed front porch leading into a large foyer, french door to the fireplace living room, hardwood floorings, double wide entrance leading to the formal dining room with hard wood floors and double wide, built in china cabinet, lovely window seat, oak cabinet kitchen with quaint breakfast nook and built in wall ironing board, 3 bedrooms with hardwood flooring, full bath with tiled walk-in shower, full basement with 1/2 bath, oversized workshop from a converted 2 car garage under, gorgeous yard with shed. Updates within the last 15 years include vinyl siding, windows, roof, heating system, hot water, kitchen, bath, half bath and blown in insulation. Admire the glass door knobs, original lighting fixtures and plant holders. Great side street location, just move in! Offered at 419,900 335 Central Street, Saugus, MA 01906 (781) 233-7300 View the interior of this home right on your smartphone. View all our listings at: CarpenitoRealEstate.com Prices subject to change FLEET
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