SAUGUS State Presidential Primary set for Tuesday Vol. 23, No. 9 -FREE- www.advocatenews.net Published Every Friday Revere City Councilor-at-Revere City Councilor-atLarge Jessica GianninoLarge Jessica Giannino announces candidacy for announces candidacy for State Representative State Representative 781-233-4446 Sta e Presidential Primary set for Tuesday – see page see page 5 Friday, February 28, 2020 Town manager unveils his spending plan with caution “There are challenges to preparing the estimates of expenditures in this budget” By Mark E. Vogler I n a budget briefi ng session this week with the Board of Selectmen, Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree reassured members that the town’s financial team has done its best to craft the operating budget for the 2021 Fiscal Year, which begins July 1. “We’ve done a good job of spending within our means,” Crabtree told selectmen as he began a threehour session. Selectmen voted to approve the town manager’s plan that includes a general fund operating budget of $64,126,162 and $30,075,250 for the School Fund Operating Budget. But in a three-page memo that accompanied the proposed budget that Crabtree made public this week, he outlined some challenges related to fi xed cost increases the town faces as he prepares for the Annual Town Meeting in May: Health Insurance – the rates have not been fi nalized by the provider. The town can expect that the rate will be set within the next few weeks. We have made conservative estimates based on the current enrollment. We will have to revisit our estimate later in the budget cycle. BUDGET | SEE PAGE 18 For a better Saugus West side fi re station at the top of “to do” list selectmen receive from citizens input By Mark E. Vogler S Jessica GianninoJessica Giannino Candidate for State RepresentativeCandidate for State Representative ~ Home of the Week ~ SAUGUS......AMAZING Two Family has been completely gutted, newly framed and plastered, NEW second NEW full baths, NEW, gourmet kitchen with quartz counters, stainless steel appliances, oversized center island, perfect for seating, slider to deck, convenient farmers porch, maintenance-free vinyl siding, NEW windows, oversized, detached garage and newly paved driveway. Convenient side street location. BEAUTIFUL TWO FAMILY - you will be impressed! , View the interior of this home right on your smartphone. SEE PAGE 9 augus Fire Department Lt. William E. Cross III was on duty Tuesday night when selectmen held their “citizen input session.” But he thought it important enough to get somebody to fi ll in for him while he went to Town Hall to address them on what he dubbed “priority number one.” “I’m here for a third fi re station,” said Cross, a 25-year veteran of the Fire Department and a newly elected Town Meeting Member, to selectmen. “As of right now, the town of Saugus has outgrown its Fire Department. There’s no doubt about that,” said Cross as he led off a two-hour session that drew more than 50 residents to the second fl oor auditorium at Town Hall. Cross was one of 25 speakers – many of them Town Meeting members – who went to the microphone to advocate items they think should be on the Board of Selectmen’s “to do” list. “The manager [Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree] has done FIRE | SEE PAGE 16 ANGELO’S FULL SERVICE "42 Years of Excellence!" 1978-2020 Regular Unleaded $2.279 Mid Unleaded $2.839 Super $2.899 Diesel Fuel $2.759 KERO $4.759 Diesel $2.619 HEATING OIL 24-Hour Burner Service Call for Current Price! (125—gallon minimum) DEF Available by Pump! Open an account and order online at: www.angelosoil.com (781) 231-3500 (781) 231-3003 367 LINCOLN AVE • SAUGUS • OPEN 7 DAYS Prices subject to change Winter Diesel Available FLEET
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