THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – Friday, January 3, 2020 Page 11 YEAR IN REVIEW | from page 10 more than half of $840,000 in projects Crabtree will be requesting at the upcoming special town meeting. The town manager credits security cameras with protecting the town’s capital improvement projects from vandals. April Michelle Branciforte begins work as town’s new deputy assessor, replacing Ronald J. Keohan, Jr., who will retire in late June; Keohan will stay on as a consultant to assist the transition. Two veteran Fire Department members are promoted: Lt. Damian Drella and Acting Lieutenant Paul Eaves. Aison Cooper and Jean Carlos Giraldo begin careers as Saugus police officers. Saugus Action Volunteers for the Environment (SAVE) wants to greatly reduce the use of plastic checkout bags and polystyrene food containers – with the submission of two articles for next month’s Annual Town Meeting. A twoyear moratorium on building multifamily homes of three units or more passes at special town meeting; members also pass $840,000 in funding – including $500,000 for recreational improvements and additions at Evans Park. Former Saugonian Ed Fallon discusses his book and mission to enlighten Americans about climate change. Saugus Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree estimates the town could be paying $25 million as its share for building a new Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational School. The Boston Center for Adult Education alleges in a court complaint that Saugus Selectman Mark Mitchell “misappropriated” at least $515,000 during his time as controller of the Boston-based nonprofit school. Saugus native Peter Decareau receives an honorary diploma 77 years after dropping out of Saugus High School to join the Navy and serve his country during World War II. The Stop & Shop strike enters a second week as employees picket outside the Main Street store in Saugus. The community gathers for a “topping off” ceremony at the site of the new Saugus MiddleHigh School where the final piece of steel is installed in the building, marking a new milestone in the project. Saugus is paying less in Northeast Metro Tech assessments this year, but still $1 million more than anyone else. Brenda Harris tops a field of 17 Saugus runners in the Boston Marathon. The Saugus Faith Community invites the town to join in National Day of Prayer observances to help heal and unify the country. The Saugus Public Schools custodians speak out on school administration efforts to eliminate their jobs by privatizing custodial services. Corinne Riley, a political challenger who lost by a narrow margin to Selectman Mark Mitchell in the 2017 town elections, says Mitchell should resign in the wake of allegations that he misappropriated more than a half million dollars while working as controller for a Boston-based nonprofit organization. During Mitchell’s days as controller, the Boston Center for Adult ing privatization of the Saugus Public Schools maintenance department. Two Saugus High School seniors say replacing the custodians is a mistake. A state trooper says a dead TACKLING TRAFFIC SAFETY CONCERNS: More than a dozen of these solar radar speed signs have been installed around town in an effort to get drivers to slow down. Education didn’t file timely reports with the IRS or Attorney General, The Saugus Advocate reports. The Finance Committee isn’t supporting two environmental articles introduced by SAVE on the warrant for the Annual Town Meeting; the articles would greatly reduce the use of checkout bags and foam polystyrene food containers in Saugus. The town is one of 27 communities receiving climate change grants from the state. Kowloon owners hope to draw customers away from the casino with new outdoor dining and entertainment. An Easter Sunrise Service is celebrated indoors because of rainy weather. May A Special Town Meeting will spotlight the town manager’s request to fund capital needs/ master plan. Saugus challenges a Lynn zoning decision to allow a pot shop on the town line. Residents of many communities clean up Saugus’s portion of the Northern Strand Community Trail. The Plastic Bag Reduction Bylaw of the Saugus Action Volunteers for the Environment (SAVE) passes without Finance Committee endorsement; the committee maintained it is best to allow the state to adopt regulations that would apply to all communities. A Special Town Meeting approves eight articles totaling several million dollars, including $150,000 for upgrading and completion of a townwide Master Plan. Town Meeting Member RonWHEELABRATOR ISSUES: Saugus Town Meeting Member Martin Costello of Precinct 10 wears a respirator to dramatize the plight of Saugus residents affected by the Wheelabrator trash-toenergy plant and also shows his support for the Saugus Board of Health during a rally on the front lawn of Town Hall just before the board held a show cause hearing asking Wheelabrator to explain the plant problems that led to a spate of resident complaints about noise during June and July. ald M. Wallace is blocked from introducing a nonbinding resolution supporting school custodians. Saugus High School students show support for the school custodians, who could lose their jobs. The Town Meeting Moderator silences Town Meeting Member Ronald Wallace on another attempt to read a nonbinding resolution supporting school custodians. Citizen support grows for the school custodians. Former School Committee Member Corinne Riley instigates a petition drive seeking a special town meeting for a nonbinding resolution to support the school custodians while opposSaugus man’s license was being used in “fraudulent” auto purchases and sales. The annual sewer bill for the average residential user will increase by $22 to $328 – a 7 percent increase, according to new rates approved by selectmen; the average commercial user will pay $3,050 – an increase of $200 a year. A car crashes into a Central Street home. Selectmen on 3-2 vote schedule a site plan visit to a Hamilton Street auto dealership that appears to lack board support. Another SAVE victory: Town Meeting votes to support an article that would reduce the use of food container products made of polystyrene; the Finance Committee had recommended the article be postponed indefinitely because members preferred to see the state Legislature adopt comprehensive regulations for Massachusetts instead of the town adopting local regulations that might conflict with state policies. Workers vote to organize a strike at the Saugus Care and Rehabilitation Center. Massachusetts Department of Veterans Services Secretary Francisco Ureña participates in Saugus’s annual Memorial Day Parade. Town officials visit Saugus Auto Repairs, Inc. to view the business, which is plagued by problems. A 38-year-old Saugus man suffers life-threatening injuries in a head-on collision between his car and a tow truck. Five area fire departments assist Saugus in the knockdown of a two-alarm Memorial Day fire at Riverside Court that resulted in $100,000 in property damage and damaged contents within the house. June The Annual Town Meeting passes a budget, but the superintendent sends mixed messages on $1 million–plus in funds for custodians for the 2020 fiscal year that begins in July. Saugus Public Schools Superintendent Dr. David DeRuosi, Jr. won’t say whether the money for custodial services will be used to balance the $188,000 shortfall between what he requested and what Saugus Public Schools will receive. School Committee Members Lisa Morgante and Elizabeth Marchese call the School Committee’s decision to replace the school custodians “illegal.” Copies of committee members’ emails raise questions about the process of considering private compaYEAR IN REVIEW| SEE PAGE 12
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