THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 2022 Page 3 ~ THE ADVOCATE ASKS ~ Joe Vecchione talks about the potential impact of the “Final Report of the Cliftondale Revitalization Committee” Editor’s Note: The Cliftondale Revitalization Committee is scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. Monday via Zoom teleconferencing to consider whether to adopt the “Final Report of the Cliftondale Revitalization Committee” as the committee’s official deliverable to Saugus Town Meeting. For this week’s column, we interviewed Joseph John Vecchione IV, the Precinct 2 Town Meeting member who chaired the committee. He is also a member of the town’s Planning Board. It was Vecchione, a lifelong Cliftondale resident, who authored the Town Meeting article which established a study committee to focus on the revitalization of Cliftondale Square. Vecchione is a third-generation Saugus resident – and fourth-generation Joe (IV). His great-grandfather – Giuseppi/Joe Sr., immigrated here from Italy. Joe IV is a member of the Saugus High School Class of 2009. After graduation, he attended Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Architecture (2013) and a Master of Architecture degree (2014).He is a licensed architect. After growing up in the Cliftondale neighborhood, he bought his first home with his wife, Katie, in 2015 on Baker Hill, just above Cliftondale Square. They are the parents of a daughter, Amelia, 2. Highlights of this week’s interview follow. Q: I see you are scheduled for a Zoom meeting on Monday night, which is Martin Luther King’s Day. Is that still on even though it’s a federal holiday? A: Yes, the plan is to hold the meeting on Monday on Zoom to close out committee busia sign to clarify how it differentiates from public art to leave less grey area in what is considered a mural and what is considered ASKS | SEE PAGE 4 OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE FUTURE OF CLIFTONDALE SQUARE: With the Cliftondale Revitalization Committee nearing completion of its work, its chair – Precinct 2 Town Meeting Member Joe Vecchione – is optimistic “that more will be accomplished this time around” after more than four decades of not acting on previous reports. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate) A STARTING POINT: During an interview last March, Precinct 2 Town Meeting Member Joe Vecchione said a good way to begin the revitalization of Cliftondale Square would be to replace the diseased evergreen tree show in the left side of the rotary behind him. Last November, the town removed the dying tree and replaced it with a smaller evergreen tree that was decorated for the holidays. (Saugus Advocate file photo by Mark E. Vogler) ness. As this is a Zoom meeting, there is no need for a government building for this meeting and it is accessible to the public who would like to be present though there is no discussion planned beyond the vote to adopt the report as our deliverable and approve previous minutes. Q: Do you plan on introducing any articles at this year’s annual town meeting or special town meeting having to do with proposed zoning for Cliftondale? A: I may submit minor articles into the warrant to help Cliftondale short term; slighting amending the definition of
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