THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – Friday, January 3, 2020 Page 3 Privatization sparks public outrage and a purge of School Committee Replacement of school custodians was the top Saugus news story of 2019 By Mark E. Vogler T he decision to replace 21 school custodians with a private maintenance company didn’t get much public discussion at School Committee meetings last year. It was a secretive process that remains the subject of multiple Open Meeting Law complaints still under review more than six months later by the state Attorney General’s Division of Open Government. After emerging from a threehour Executive Session meeting on June 26, the School Committee took its official 3-2 vote to privatize custodial services. But the decision was already a done deal, made behind closed doors. The committee’s vote to get rid of the custodians came 16 days after the town had signed the contract with the Lynn company. School Committee Members Lisa Morgante and Elizabeth Marchese called the committee’s decision to replace school custodians “illegal” and said they didn’t support the vote taken in Executive Session. Copies of committee members’ emails raise questions about the process of considering private companies for custodial services. The unpopular decision – and the way it was done – drew public outrage and eventually led to the purge of the entire School Committee in last November’s town elections. “From a political standpoint, the laying off of our custodians turned out to be the most significant event in 2019 in my opinion,” Board of Selectmen Chair Anthony W. Cogliano Sr. told The Saugus Advocate this were angered by the treatment of the custodians,” Board of Selectmen Vice Chair Corinne R. Riley said. PUBLIC OUTRAGE | SEE PAGE 5 A RAT AT THE ROBY: Jim Durkin, the legislative director of Council 93 of the American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME), stands by an inflatable rat that guards the Main Street of the Roby School Administration Building to show union support for 21 school custodians who were replaced by a private maintenance company. Privatization of school custodial services was the top Saugus news story for 2019. (Saugus Advocate file photo by Mark E. Vogler) week. “The public hearings on the subject were nothing short of embarrassing, and because of it the citizens of Saugus spoke and replaced the entire School Committee,” he said. Saugus school custodians losing their jobs and the fallout that followed was easily the most-talked-about story in Saugus over the past year. It generated more letters to the editor, was the subject of more stories and drew more front page headlines than any other news event covered by The Saugus Advocate. Other major stories for 2019 Rounding out the newspaper’s list of top 10 stories for 2019: Payback at the polls An anti-incumbent climate prevailed in the fall town elections. And many candidates and political observers said the custodians issue appeared to resonate strongly with the voters. “Walking door-to-door, listening to the voters, it was crystal clear to me that the voters We Now Offer For Your Eating Pleasure “UBER EATS” Convenient Delivery Service Bianchi’s Pizza and Renzo’s Full Menu To Go ~ Renzo’s Entertainment Schedule ~ * Thursday: Smokin Joe * Friday: Joey Canzano Saturday: Tommy Bahama * Sunday, 3 p.m. : DJ George Entertainment Wed. Thru Sat. 7:30 p.m. 381 Revere Beach Blvd., Revere 781-284-5600
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