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SAUGUS Vol. 22, No. 9 -FREESHS Basketball Tourney Coverage pages 8-9 ADVOCATE www.advocatenews.net ~ THE ADVOCATE ASKS ~ Saugus Fire Dept. Deputy Chief Thomas D’Eon Jr. discusses electrical fires and how residents can protect their property Published Every Friday 781-233-4446 Friday, March 1, 2019 State denies town’s request to lower speed limits By Mark E. Vogler T he Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) has denied the town’s request to reduce the speed limit to 25 miles per hour on three major town roads. “Unfortunately, revising the existing speed zones as requested on Lincoln Ave., Main Street and Essex Street would not conform to the current speed regulations,” MassDOT’s District 4 Highway Director, Paul D. Stedman, wrote in a letter last month to the town. “For MassDOT to consider modifying these regulations, the Town of Saugus would have to submit to the district the proper documentation and data for the roadways under their jurisdiction,” StedSECOND MAN IN CHARGE: Saugus Fire Department Deputy Chief Thomas D’Eon Jr. during an interview at his office this week at the Public Safety Building on Hamilton Street. D’Eon has been a member of the local fire service for nearly 15 years. (Saugus Advocate Photo by Mark E. Vogler) Editor’s Note: For this week, we sat down with Saugus Fire Department Deputy Chief Thomas D’Eon Jr. to get some advice on what town residents should do to prevent and protect themselves from electrical fires. D’Eon, a Malden native, is a 15-year veteran of the town’s fire service and the husband of Selectman Jennifer D’Eon. He’s a 1993 graduate of Malden High, where he began dating Jennifer. After he graduated, D’Eon served four years in the U.S. Navy, including duty as a hospital corpsman in Groton, Conn. He was also assigned to the First Battalion 8th Marine Regiment. He was discharged as a petty officer third class in 1997. For several years, D’Eon worked as a licensed plumber before his appointment to the Fire Department in 2004. He went to North Shore Community College and graduated in 2007 with his associate’s degree. He’s currently completing his bachelor’s degree and hopes to go on to get a graduate degree. He and Jennifer have been married nearly 23 years. They have two children: 16-year-old daughter Ally and 12-year-old son Jake. D’Eon has been active as an adult leader in Boy Scouts. He is also a member of William Sutton Masonic Lodge and has been a Mason for 15 years. Some highlights of the interview follow. Q: About how many electrical fires do you get in Saugus a ASKS| SEE PAGE 3 ~ Home of the Week ~ SAUGUS....AMAZING, NEW Construction man said. “At the request of the town, the district may perform speed studies on the state-owned sections of Main Street and Essex Street. Please be advised that speed studies could result in increasing speed limits based on the 85th percentile speeds observed,” he wrote. In his letter to the Board of built with quality craftsmanship. 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View all our listings at: CarpenitoRealEstate.com Selectmen, Stedman also addressed the board’s decision to request 25 MPH speed zones on Bisbee Road, Hanson Road, Iron Works Way, Vinegar Hill Drive and Hitching Hill Road. “Since these roadways are considered private ways, speed limits may be established on them according to the provisions (the second paragraph of) MGL Chapter 90, Section 18,” he wrote. “Please be aware that, should these roads become public ways, a speed study would need to be performed as referenced in the Procedures for Speed Zoning on State Highways and Municipal Roads or the town may opt-in to MGL Chapter 90, Section 17C.” Reaction to the state’s decision was split among two Town Meeting members interviewed yesterday by The Saugus Advocate. Precinct 4 Town Meeting Member Albert J. DiNardo said he believes a small faction of Saugus politicians influenced the selectmen to request the lowering of the speed limit without doing a proper study of the need. “This small political group is wasting people’s time because there is a policy and process to this that needs to be followed,” DiNardo said, referring to a grassroots group called “Citizens For A Safer Saugus,” which has been lobbying for a town-wide 25 MPH speed limit. “I’ve been trying to tell them this for five months – that this has been a waste of time. And this letter proves that I was right,” DiNardo said. No action should be taken on lowering of speed limits until a town-wide study has been conducted, DiNardo suggested. “I’m sure we’ll have a Town Meeting, where we will have some discussion. I hope it’s a Special Town meeting so it’s dedicated to this issue for one evening,” he said. Precinct 6 Town Meeting Member William S. Brown – one of the organizers and leaders of “Citizens For A Safer Saugus” – took umbrage at DiNardo’s remarks. “I don’t think we’re wastLIMITS | SEE PAGE 12 ANGELO’S "Over 40 Years of Excellence!" 1978-2019 Regular Unleaded $2.279 Mid Unleaded $2.639 Super $2.699 Diesel Fuel $2.839 KERO $4.759 Diesel $2.699 FULL SERVE HEATING OIL 24-Hour Burner Service Call for Current Price! (125—gallon minimum) 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 FLEET

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