THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, MArCH 7, 2025 Page 7 TOWN MEETING | FROM PAGE 6 seeing the new school’s higher capacity of 400+ more students, the bill will fl uctuate with more or less students that actually attend from the Saugus community every school year. I think not knowing this information cost is going to put Saugus into a very diffi cult fi nancial situation at the last minute which will need to trigger a town override vote. The other large cost associated with this project is the higher yearly operating cost for this new school project compared to the old school’s operating cost. It jumped up from the old $29 million a year to a new $44+ million a year, so communities need to fi nd an additional 15+ million dollars more yearly to what we pay now (Divided by each yearly student enrollment number per the 12 communities involved). Not knowing each year’s cost and seeing it’s a 30-year payback provided by Saugus taxpayers with a higher operating cost is a large total sum of money for any community to fi nd. I’m looking to see any progress on updated information on allocated funding and the impact to Saugus fi nancial stability it will have. Residents are already paying higher utilities, groceries, cable and Internet fees etc. Nothing is cheap today! understand. So, this is my point. This will have a substantial impact on taxpayers. Also, how this will impact any future Saugus upgrades or needs and how to be able to fund them responsibly is a great question to ask. I don’t consider myself a spender by any means, so I ask every resident to pay attention when any updated information is provided on this to know what we should expect. Matthew Parlante: One of the town’s top priorities should be moving forward with plans for our third fi re station. Ensuring public safety by being as prepared and well-equipped as possible is essential, especially as our population continues to grow. The residents have already voiced their support, and Town Meeting has allocated funding for a feasibility study—now it’s time to take action and get this project underway. Another key priority is making sure our children have access to essential resources by utilizing the Opiate Abatement Funds the town has received from the state. These funds have been sitting for years when they could be used for proactive and preventive measures to support the youth in our community. It’s time to put them to work. Additionally, I believe we need to establish a legitimate Chamber of Commerce—one that actively works to revitalize Route 1 and make it something we can truly be proud of. Enhancing the town’s social media presence and improving communication with residents should also be a priority, ensuring people stay informed and engaged when it matters most. Peter A. Rossetti Jr.: I think there are two priorities for Town Meeting. One is housing and the other is education. On the housing side, there are many Saugus residents that are looking for housing; seniors in large homes that wish to downsize, however, there are limited places they can go. Most senior housing is controlled by the state and federal governments, however there is a shortage of available spaces. Saugus is presently looking at a new 40B project, however that will only bring a limited number of aff ordable units. The State is presently attempting to increase the number of housing units by changing the rules for accessory units, however that has its own issues. This is an area where Town Meeting may have a role. Zoning is a key issue with housing and the Town Meeting controls that for Saugus, subject to State rules. Education is another key issue. Housing is related to the school system. The better the school system the more desirable the community is to live in and the more expensive the housing. This impacts the tax base, and fi nances of the town. Town Meeting controls the town budgets, and can impact the school budget, but not allocate it. Support for the school system can impact housing. Town Meeting is a forum for open discussion of issues that concern the Town, however, in recent years it doesn’t seem to want to tackle some of the more diffi cult issues. Maybe that will be diff erent this year. Question Two: What do you consider the top priority for residents in your precinct as you prepare for the opening of the 2025 Town Meeting session? Robert J. Camuso Sr.: We know there’s a rodent problem throughout Saugus and Precinct Two is seeing it also. Property management and responsible trash control will absolutely help the ongoing situation. So, if possible, help your neighbors if they can’t effi ciently maintain their property or take their trash for them to the curbside on trash day if possible. If you see a neighborhood issue report it to the town. If they don’t know about it they can’t help you to resolve it. Matthew Parlante: One of the biggest concerns in my precinct is the increasing use of our neighborhood as a cutthrough for daily commuters, creating safety risks for residents. There are viable solutions to address this issue, and I am committed to conTOWN MEETING | SEE PAGE 9 If We Happen To Meet By Accident ... You’ll Be Glad You Found Us! There is a difference between the rest and the BEST! Celebrating 46 Years In Business! TONY’S AUTO BODY Call or Visit 781-321-0032 34 Sharon Street Malden, MA 02148 TONYSAUTOBODYLLC.COM COME VISIT OUR STATE OF THE ART BODY SHOP • Computerized Paint Matching (State of the Art Spray Booth) • Computerized Frame Machines • P.P.G. 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