THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, MArCH 22, 2024 Page 7 MEETING | FROM PAGE 3 This has been a major deterrent as I’ve witnessed with the sign down the street from my house. I have seen more brake lights than fl ashing red over the limit warnings. Robert J. Long: Most of Precinct 4 is located on the west side of Route 1. A top priority should be dealing with the day traffi c that goes through here. Stephanie Shalkoski: I encourage any resident in Precinct Four to please share their concerns, ideas, and priorities with me. I am eager to hear from you and represent you at Town Meeting. Please contact me at stephaniefoursaugus@gmail.com so we can set up a call. Maureen Whitcomb: A major concern with many residents in precinct 4 is the intersection at Vine and Essex St. I live near there, as do some other town meeting members and it seems to get more dangerous by the day. A priority in this precinct is the Oaklandvale School. The residents are concerned about the former school. What is going to happen with it? Is it going to be demolished and something new being built, is it going to be used for housing? Residents don’t want to see it just sit empty and be vandalized. Cliftondale Square is not in this precinct. Question Three: Are you working independently or in collaboration with other members on articles to be introduced for this year’s Town Meeting? Could you please elaborate? Summarize your article and what you hope to accomplish. Glen Davis: I’m currently not working on any articles. Robert J. Long: I’ve had conversations with Selectman Mike Serino about possible articles that will be prepared that will aff ect building on Route 1. It won’t stop multi-use zoning, but could aff ect decisions that are made. Stephanie Shalkoski: I am still learning about the process of introducing articles at Town Meeting and considering authoring one. More to come. Maureen Whitcomb: I am not working on or with anyone to introduce new articles for town meetings. I am waiting to see what will be proposed through this year’s articles. I would like to see what is being presented and introduced. Question Four: Please feel free to share any other views about the upcoming Town Meeting. Glen Davis: There are several topics which have been hot button issues in town. First is the revitalization of Cliftondale Square. I sat on the committee which did a lengthy study of where the square stands today compared to where we were before and what can be done to improve it in the future. Steps have been taken to enhance Cliftondale such as the town manager purchasing properties to be used to remedy the parking problems. The Master Plan targets Cliftondale Square as an area ripe for growth. We need to address the vacant schools in town. My grandfather, a former town meeting member, was instrumental in transforming closed neighborhood elementary schools in the 80’s into viable buildings that are still in use today. At last year’s town meeting, I was one of the supporters of my colleague from Precinct 10’s article to transform the Ballard School into the Ballard Gardens. We need creative thinking to best use these valuable pieces of town property for the betterment of our community. Robert J. Long: I just want Saugus to be a good, liveable community. Hopefully, Town Meeting will take a look at whatever we can do to enhance the liveability of the community. Stephanie Shalkoski: I appreciate the opportunity to serve as a Town Meeting Member and I am excited for my fi rst Town Meeting. I am grateful to a trio of Town Meeting Members who organized educational seminars to help newbies like me better understand our role. Thanks to the many guest speakers who volunteered (yet another evening!) to help us learn and become a better representative for Saugus. The added benefi t of these seminars is that they helped create connections and camaraderie among Town Meeting Members, and I know that will serve us well this May. Onward! Maureen Whitcomb: I would like to express how informative and educational the town meeting information sessions were. Peter, Carla, and Steve did a wonderful job in organizing and hosting these events. With having lots of newcomers to town meetings not everyone understands and knows the process of how the budget gets constructed and how articles are put together. I would like to see this happen again or have a television production done. I believe Saugus residents need to know what the process takes. RON’S OIL Call For PRICE MELROSE, MA 02176 NEW CUSTOMER’S WELCOME ACCEPTING VISA, MASTERCARD & DISCOVER (781) 397-1930 OR (781) 662-8884 100 GALLON MINIMUM
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