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Page 4 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 2023 ~ The Advocate Asks ~ Town Meeting Member Mark J. Bell shares his views on what makes Precinct 1 special and the top issues facing the people he represents Editor’s Note: For this week’s column, we sat down with Town Meeting Member Mark J. Bell to ask him what makes Precinct 1 so special and what he sees as the top issues in the Saugus neighborhoods he represents. Bell is a Stoneham native who graduatGerry D’Ambrosio Attorney-at-Law Is Your Estate in Order? Do you have an update Will, Health Care Proxy or Power of Attorney? IfNot, Please Call for a Free Consultation. 14 Proctor Avenue, Revere (781) 284-5657 Dan - 1972 ed from Stoneham High School (1999). He received his bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Merrimack College (2003) and his Public Administration Master’s from UMass Boston (2009). Bell’s wife, Andrea, is a 2000 graduate of Saugus High School. They have been married since 2009 and have two sons — Matthew, a fi fth grader, and Jonathan, a second grader — both students at Belmonte STEAM Academy. Andrea is an elementary school teacher in Medford. Bell works as a whistleblower investigator for the U.S. Department of Occupational Safety and Health. Bell and his wife bought their fi rst home in Saugus on Foster Street in Precinct 8. In April 2021, they bought their current house on Pleasant Street from Precinct 1 Town Meeting Member Ann Devlin. Later that year, Bell ran for her seat and was elected to his fi rst two-year term on the Saugus Annual Town Meeting. He said he plans to run for at least one more term later this year in the town elections. Bell’s community activities include coaching basketball and baseball as a volunteer for the town’s Department of Youth & Recreation. He is also an assistant adult leader of Saugus Cub Scout Pack 62. Bell said We Sell Cigars & Accessories! Chris 2023 * Travel Humidors * Desk Top Humidors * Many Types of Lighters * Ash Trays * Juuls * Vapes * Glass Pipes * Rewards Program * CBD Infused Products * GIFTS UNDER $30 - GIFT CERTIFICATES R.Y.O. TOBACCO ---------TUBES ON SALE! NEW STORE HOURS: Mon. - Sat.: 9AM - 6PM Sunday & Holidays: 9AM - 5PM * ASHTONS * ARTURO FUENTE * PADRON * PERDOMO * OTHER MAJOR BRANDS PRICED RIGHT! WINTER WARM-UP SPECIALS CIGAR SMOKER’S DELIGHT! 15 Handmade Cigars - Long Leaf Filler - Four Year Old Tobacco Wrapped including a Cohiba...ONLY$43.95 A.B.C. CIGAR 170 REVERE ST., REVERE (781) 289-4959 Post [Scott J. Procopio Saugus American Legion Post 210]. And you have another historic building — what used to be the Roby School. Q: Do you have any pet peeves or pressing projects in Precinct 1? In your mind, what are the top issues or challenges facing Precinct 1? A: Just talking with people in Precinct 1 Town Meeting Member Mark J. Bell said he considers the Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site as a unique feature that makes Precinct 1 special to the people he represents. (Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. Vogler) he plans to attend the fi rst in a series of “Saugus Over Coff ee” forums set for 6:30 p.m. Monday in the Community Room of the Saugus Public Library. He is interested in meeting residents of Precinct 1 and encourages them to attend the forum, which is co-sponsored by The Saugus Advocate and the Saugus Public Library. Highlights of this week’s interview follow. Q: What makes Precinct 1 special as far as history, features, landmarks and businesses? Please tell me a little bit about Precinct 1. A: Precinct 1, I think, is special just because, fi rst of all, we have a national historic site: the Saugus Iron Works. And I think that’s pretty unique for the town to have it in the precinct. It’s a beautiful, open space where people can go. There’s a lot of history to it. And it’s really an area where I still walk around and learn something new each time that I’m there. And another thing with Precinct 1 — another nice area it has — is Prankers Pond and Stackpole Field; it’s a good area where I sometimes take my kids if they have to work on their hit and swing [baseball]. And if I want to throw the frisbee around, my dog is right there. Also, Precinct 1 has some very important buildings, such as several churches — the Town Hall. There’s also a small historic site on Appleton Street called Appleton’s Pulpit that goes all the way back to the Colonial days. And it also has the Saugus Public Library as well — that’s really convenient, as a parent, if I want to get something to read to my kids. It’s right there within walking distance. And Precinct 1 also has the Procopio Precinct 1, what I hear them talk a lot about is how to preserve what’s left of Prankers Pond, once the Saugus Ridge Development is completed. That is a massive project. I believe it’s going to be around 300 units, and it’s going to be a massive project. I think you’re going to have a lot of foot traffi c at Prankers Pond. Obviously, everyone is entitled to use Prankers Pond any time. But I think now the main concern for residents is just preservation of what’s left at Prankers because people still walk their dogs, play ice hockey, go fi shing and things of that nature. The question is how as a precinct do we move forward with preserving what’s left. I think people in the precinct are also interested in seeing what becomes of what’s left of development by the Central Street Mills. And I think that Prankers is interrelated with that because I don’t think people are anti-development. I just think they want to make sure that no more green space or the river keeps getting aff ected. Other than those two things, I think there are general things like sidewalks, trees, speeding and things of that nature. Q: And the potential reuse of the Roby School is a matter of concern to people in your precinct, too? A: Yes. But the Roby is going to be a question of what the town is going to do with that, because the Roby — in regards to the schools — all the other schools have open, green space, where the Roby does not. It’s in a congested area. That’s what makes the Roby unique from the other schools that are closed. People have mentioned that they are curious as to what the town is going to do with the Roby. Q: Do you have a preference as to what they would do with the Roby School? A: One thing that was mentioned to me — because you have the American Legion post right there — would be a place for veterans housing; just because that post is right there. Another idea is if the town

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