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Page 12 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – Friday, January 3, 2020 YEAR IN REVIEW | from page 11 nies for custodial services. Former School Committee Member Arthur Grabowski says voters should replace the committee members who support privatization of custodians. The state Inspector General’s Office says the School Department’s custodial service bid documents should have become public once the decision was made. Saugus school custodians’ jobs were eliminated to provide funding for the superintendent’s new educational plan. The School Committee’s vote to replace school custodians violated the state’s Open Meeting Law, The Saugus Advocate alleges. At a Special Town Meeting, members vote overwhelmingly for a nonbinding resolution to oppose privatization; members also vote unanimously to set up procedures for initiating future nonbinding resolutions. The School Committee ignores public support for the custodians, confirms secret vote to privatize with little public discussion. The Town of Saugus signs a one-year contract with a Lynn company to replace the Saugus Public Schools custodians. A Saugus High School student shows custodians they are appreciated and loved by many – more than 3,500 – on her online website. A car hits a pedestrian on Main Street, causing life-threatening injuries. At Saugus High School’s 148th Commencement Exercises, 95-year-old World War II Navy veteran Peter J. Decareau is assisted up to the stage in his wheelchair to get his diploma and then tips his cap after getting a standing ovation from the Saugus High School Class of 2019. The Annual Town Meeting approves a budget that features three police officers for the new traffic safety enforcement unit. World Series Park and Saugus High School host a state tournament game – a first in the park’s 15-year history. School Committee Member Lisa Morgante celebrates at Saugus High School graduation as her twins – daughter Jana and son Jake – are among the graduates. Kelly’s Roast Beef draws rave reviews from the Board of Health on the way management responded to a health issue. The Saugus Lions Club celebrates its 90th birthday. State Representative RoseLee Vincent (D-Revere) is honored for “her unswerving commitment to environmental issues and the health and safety of her constituents” during the 46th Annual Meeting of Saugus Action Volunteers for the Environment (SAVE). The healthcare workers of Saugus Care and Rehabilitation Center rescind their strike notice originally planned for June 20 and 21. Wheelabrator Technologies, Inc. shuts down its trash-toenergy plant on Route 107 to make repairs to solve noise problems which have bothered residents in Saugus and Revere over the past two weeks. The Citizens for a Safer Saugus leader sounds off on pending traffic safety concerns that the group wants addressed. July Successful Saint – Saugusbred and owned by Anthony Zizza of Saugus – is one of the winners on the last day of horse racing at Suffolk Downs. Selectmen give an ultimatum to National Grid, which owes the town more than $47,000 for public safety details at its work sites. Healthcare workers and Saugus Care and Rehabilitation settle on a new contract. A businessman who seeks an auto dealer’s license to go with an auto repair shop on Hamilton Street faces a new obstacle in his dealings with the town. Privatization should have been discussed publicly, The Saugus Advocate alleges in a second Open Meeting Law complaint. The 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, The Saugus Advocate reports. School Committee Members Elizabeth Marchese and Lisa Morgante say the minutes from the May 8 Executive Session meeting, in which a vote was taken to replace 21 custodians with a private company, are filled with inaccuracies. There is no basis for speed limit reduction on major Saugus streets, a consultant hired by the town concludes in a town-wide speed limit study; The Engineering Corp. (TEC) of Andover makes preliminary recommendations for six streets. Neighborhood opposition grows for proposed doggy daycare on Lincoln Avenue. Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree announces he has launched a comprehensive organizational needs and staffing analysis of the Saugus Police Department. The Board of Health votes to hold Wheelabrator accountable for alleged noise violations; stiff fines and revocation are possible. The Evans School Playground reconstruction project is underway. Saugus Fire Chief Michael Newbury stresses that a water loop is necessary to make the Saugus Ridge housing project safe. A Suffolk County grand jury indicts Saugus Selectman Mark Mitchell on 18 counts; the prosecutor says Mitchell allegedly embezzled close to $1.3 million from the Boston Center for Adult Education during his eight years as controller of the Boston-based nonprofit. Mitchell is also charged with the alleged embezzlement of funds from his own political campaign. Town Manager Crabtree says Stackpole Field improvements will benefit Saugus youngsters. A Lynn man crashes his SUV into the rotary of Saugus Center early Sunday morning, toppling the town’s tall Christmas tree that has been used for many years in the town’s annual tree lighting ceremony. The former owner of Giovanni’s Roast Beef & Pizza pleads guilty to tax fraud for failing to report $800,000 in corporate and personal income to the IRS. August All four of his colleagues on the Saugus Board of Selectmen say Mark Mitchell should resign from the board. They say Mitchell has lost the public’s trust and become a distraction after being indicted for his alleged embezzlement of nearly $1.3 million from the Boston Center for Adult Education while he served as its controller. Interim Police Chief Ronald Giorgetti recognizes several members of the Saugus Police Department for exemplary service. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission awards Saugus and Revere an additional $425,000 for a Route 1 improvement project. A Suffolk Superior Court judge concludes that the state Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) made the right decision in approving Wheelabrator Technologies, Inc.’s plans to expand the ash landfill at its trash-to-energy plant on Route 107. Area citizens rally on the front lawn at Town Hall to protest recent noise from Wheelabrator. During a show cause hearing held by the Board of Health, a Wheelabrator official apologizes for the noise, but insists the company kept the state and Board of Health informed of its response to problems. A Wheelabrator attorney disagrees with the “violations” cited by the Board of Health. The School Committee FACING CRIMINAL CHARGES: Saugus Selectman Mark Mitchell outside the courtroom in Suffolk Superior Court after pleading not guilty to charges that he embezzled close to $1.3 million during an eight-year period as controller of the nonprofit organization Boston Center for Adult Education. (Saugus Advocate file photos by Mark E. Vogler) grades Saugus Public Schools Superintendent Dr. David DeRuosi, Jr. “proficient” in most performance standards. Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree touts completion of historic Saugus Town Hall renovations and sidewalk repaving. The Board of Selectmen vote to lower the Central Street speed limit to 30 mph. Saugus Firefighter Robert Johnson finishes tops in his class among those graduating from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy. School Committee members cite areas where Supt. DeRuosi needs improvement. A former Saugus Chamber of Commerce executive director says he is on a six-month mission to revive it. A classic grand piano is donated to the Saugus Senior Center. Officials reflect on the passing of Joseph Attubato, who worked 50-plus years for the Town of Saugus – mostly as DPW director. Retired K9 Officer Tim Fawcett and his beloved dog – the late K9 Bruin – get a Boston Bruins salute at a fundraising car show. Supt. DeRuosi welcomes new teachers to the ground level of Saugus Public Schools “total revamp” as the new school year begins. The town hires Todd Baldwin as the Engineering Department’s full-time engineer, filling a long-vacant position in town government. School Committee Chair Jeannie Meredith hails the future opening of the future Saugus MiddleHigh School in 2020 as a highlight of the new 2019-20 academic school year. Town Accountant Donna Matarazzo lands a job as finance director of Lawrence Public Schools. September Due to an impending storm, town officials decide to postpone this year’s Founder’s Day Celebration a week. Two die from injuries in a head-on crash involving a wrong-way driver on Route 1. Saugus receives a $33,000 state grant to help assist climate change actions. Selectmen won’t back down from “pay up or no pole” ultimatum to National Grid. The state Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) issued a draft approval to Wheelabrator Saugus, Inc. on its pending application to update its existing Emission Control Plan (ECP). Saugus remembers the 9/11 tragedy in a Fire Station Ceremony. Wheelabrator Technologies, Inc. accuses the town’s Board of Health of violating the Open Meeting Law during the show cause hearing the board held in response to noise complaints against the company. Saugus honors Vietnam War veteran Randy P. Briand and Debra Dion-Faust, a retired educator who has been active in the town’s community affairs, with the 2019 “Person of the Year Award” at the 39th Annual Saugus Founders Day Celebration. The Town of Saugus receives a FEMA grant totaling $884,883 to hire five new firefighters. The Town receives $135,565 in Green Communities Competitive Grant funds. The Town Manager touts a $3.5 million savings, crediting it to less expensive bond borrowing, the Town’s “solid financial YEAR IN REVIEW| SEE PAGE 13

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