SAUGUS Your Local News, Sports and Information Online. Scan & Subscribe! O C TE D E CAT CAT AT Vol. 28, No.12 -FREE- www.advocatenews.net Published Every Friday 781-233-4446 Friday, March 27, 2026 SAUGUS HONORS ITS DIVERSITY The Water Bill Blues Selectman Anthony Cogliano questions the accuracy of a potential $7,000 water bill he worries he may have to pay By Mark E. Vogler D uring the members’ motion period of Tuesday night’s Board of Selectmen’s meeting, Vice Chair Anthony Cogliano went on a rant about an astronomical water bill he said he just got hit with. “Seven thousand dollars for water,” Cogliano grumbled. Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree noted, “That’s a lot.” “And that’s insane,” Cogliano replied. “There’s no way in hell that my water bill is $7,000 for the year, but it’s going to prove to be that way,” “Cogliano told his colleagues. Complaints about excessive At the fi rst annual Saugus Community Festival last Saturday, Joseline Ramirez and her three young sons stood in front of a column of fl ags representing the native countries of immigrant citizens now residing in Saugus. The Guatemala native holds her son Jaed Mendez, 1, with JJ Mendez, 10, to her left and Jeremy Menez, 4, in front. Please see inside for more photos and the story. (Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. Vogler) Home of the Week Welcome Home to 43 Taylor Street Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Commonwealth Real Estate Formerly Carpenito Real Estate SAUGUS - Perfectly located & maintained 8 rm Colonial boasting 3 bedrms, 2 full baths, spac living room w/stunning gas fireplace surrounded by custom built-ins, entertainment-size dining room w/custom woodworking, den with built-ins, gorgeous, custom kitchen addition Silestone countertops, 14' center island w/seating, gas cooktop, double oven,open to sitting area & atrium doors to stamped concrete patio. 2nd flr offers 3 bedrms, spacious, primary bedrm offers large walkin closet, large family rm, updated roof, gar, concrete driveway. Desirable Iron Works neighborhood, located just outside of Saugus Center. MINT! Offered at $825,000 (781) 233-7300 335 Central St. Saugus commonmoves.com ©2024 BHH Affiliates, LLC, An independently owned and operated franchisee of BHH Affiliates, LLC, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices symbol are registered service marks of Columbia Insurance Company, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate. Equal Housing Opportunity. water bills surface periodically, as town property owners show up to register their complaints during a Citizens’ Comment period of the selectmen’s meetings. Board members are usually sympathetic, but are powerless to act on the citizens’ behalf. The residents wind up getting referred to Wendy Hatch, the town’s Finance Director & Treasurer / Collector. She or somebody in her offi ce briefs them on the process they must go through to appeal the bill or seek an abatement. So it is that Cogliano recently found himself in the same situation of frustrated Saugus residents who have shared their water bill blues stories with selectmen in recent years. Cogliano said a previous water bill he had came out to $1,900, prompted him to go see Wendy Hatch and also consult with the town’s Department of Public Works. He said he went ahead and did tablet tests in all of the toilets of his house and determined there would be no future problems. “Even though there were no leaks, I still replaced all of the internal parts on the toilets and this time my bill was $3,500,” Cogliano said, noting that the town sends out water bills twice a year, increasing the total bill to $7,000. “I have no idea what’s going on with the water bills,” Cogliano said. He said he feels the frustration not only for himself, but for several residents that called him on Tuesday (March 24) before the board’s meetWATER | SEE PAGE 2 Established 1978 Mid-grade Regular 3.55 4.24 5.24 $4.47 Full Service ULS $4.789 Order online at angelosoil.com Kerosene Now Available! FLEET CARD Check Out Our LOW PRICES!
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