THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, MArCH 22, 2024 Page 3 Countdown Till Town Meeting 425r Broadway, Saugus Located adjacent to Kohls Plaza Route 1 South in Saugus at the intersection of Walnut Street We are on MBTA Bus Route 429 781-231-1111 Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree addressed Town Meeting members during the opening session of last year’s Annual Town Meeting. (Saugus Advocate file photo by Mark E. Vogler) Editor’s Note: The 2024 Annual Town Meeting convenes on Monday, May 6. As a special service to our readers and the registered voters of Saugus, we will reach out to the 50 Town Meeting members, focusing on one precinct each week, in the weeks leading up to the start of Town Meeting, asking members about their expectations for the upcoming Town Meeting. This week, we received four responses from the five Town Meeting Members in Precinct 4. For next week’s newspaper, we will reach out to the five Town Meeting members from Precinct 5. Question One: What do you consider the top priority for the town as you prepare for the opening of the 2024 Town Meeting session? Glen Davis:High on the list of critical topics is the third fire station and the cost associated with the new Northeast Vocational School. A study has already been done to determine the best course of action for moving forward with a third fire station in town. We should be seeing some action soon on this which will increase the safety of our citizens. A new Northeast Vocational School was needed, and construction is underway. With that comes the cost associated with it and Saugus will need to contribute its share. The total amount hasn’t been determined yet, but projections put it in the two-million-dollar range per year. Both items may need to be funded outside of the budget as they come with significant costs, but town meeting will work together with the town manager to fund these top priorities. Robert J. Long: I don’t necessarily have one top priority. I have a strong conviction that we need to make decisions that keep Saugus a strong residential community. We need to do something about the traffic situation. Traffic is literally choking Saugus at certain hours of the day. We can’t undo the past. But we can certainly do something about controlling it in the future. Even with our new Middle-High School, more students are going outside the district to get an education. The Town Meeting, the administration and the School Committee should do whatever needs to be done to reverse that trend so that our young people can stay in the community. So, we need to strengthen the School Department to make this a place where we are totally focused on our school system. Stephanie Shalkoski: As we prepare for Town Meeting, our highest priority is to have productive dialogue and thoughtful decision-making among the body of 50 elected representative members. Together we share a great responsibility to ensure that Saugus residents continue to feel proud to call this community home. Neighbors are concerned about a variety of items including the continued financial stability of our town and tax base, investment in our schools, parks, roads, public safety, and more, while we navigate the challenges and opportunities related to development. As a newly elected Town Meeting Member, I have much to learn, and I look forward to it. I am preparing to show up ready and focused on the issues that matter to all of us. I will bring a balanced perspective to the conversation and focus on practical solutions with an eye toward our future. Maureen Whitcomb: My top priority is the Northeast Regional School and how the town of Saugus plans on paying for their portion. This school is very important to the students of Saugus. This school helps kids determine their career paths and life choices. I would also like to know what is going to be done with the former elementary schools. Question Two: What do you consider the top priority for residents in your precinct as you prepare for the opening of the 2024 Town Meeting session? Glen Davis: My colleague from Precinct 2 has been instrumental in keeping an eye on any activity with the Caddy Farms property. We need to make sure any development to that area does not include access to any local streets in Precinct 4 such as Norman Road, Hayden Road, and Hood Street, or any others in the adjoining precincts. It’s been a couple of years since there has been any discernible activity, but I’m confident we’ll be able to act if needed. Road safety is a much-discussed topic in town, and we’ve addressed the issue by working together to manage the speed limits. Digital signs have been installed which let the driver know how fast they are going. 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