THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, MArCH 28, 2025 Page 9 Finance Committee reviews the public safety budgets By Mark E. Vogler I t will cost about $1.5 million more to keep the town safe under Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree’s proposed budget for the 2026 Fiscal Year that begins July 1. There seemed to be no major concerns during the Finance Committee’s review of the Police and Fire Department spending plans at last week’s (March 19) meeting. The proposed Police Department budget for the 2026 Fiscal Year is $10.7 million, about a $1.1 million increase over the current fiscal year. Saugus Police Chief Michael Ricciardelli told the Finance Committee last week that a $622,000 increase in full-time salaries was due to contractual obligations. This reflected a two-year increase in salaries, one of those years retroactively after a settlement of the police contract last year. The department’s sick leave buy-back budget will increase from $71,000 to $297,000, according to the chief. “We have seven people in the department who plan on retiring next year in the next fiscal year,” Chief Ricciardelli said. Officers are allowed to buy back up to 100 sick days, Ricciardelli said. The budget for dispatchers reflected a $135,000 increase, according to the chief. “It’s one of those jobs that’s a stepping stone for police officers and firefighters,” the chief said, alluding to the high turnover in the position. Saugus Finance Committee Chair Kenneth DePatto noted that the town has made “significant investments” in the Police Department communications system and vehicles in recent years, which pays off for the town in the long run. Chief Ricciardelli said the switch from copper lines to fiber optics has vastly improved the department’s overall communications system. The proposed Police Department budget funds 10 lieutenants, eight sergeants and 51 patrolmen in addition to the chief, administrative assistant, general assistant, principal clerk and mechanic. The proposed Fire Department budget for the 2026 Fiscal Year is $7.3 million, about a $344,000 increase over the current budget. Saugus Fire Chief Michael Newbury will be observing his 10th year anniversary of being sworn in as fire chief this September. He told the Finance Committee that he’s also looking forward to the arrival of the new ladder truck sometime this summer, which will replace a vehicle that is more than 20 years old. An increase of more than $200,000 in full-time salaries and a $100,000 increase in the general overtime budget account form most of the increase in the Fire Department’s proposed spending plan. The proposed Fire Department budget includes funding for 12 captains, eight lieutenants and 36 firefighters in addition to the chief, the deputy chief and administrative assistant. “You have a revenue problem” Selectman Cicolini tells Saugus Cable TV’s Board of Directors and staff that their budget isn’t sustainable and staff at Tuesday’s (March By Mark E. Vogler W ith projected revenue of $360,000 – about $76,000 less than its total expenses – Saugus Cable TV lacks the financial means to support its proposed budget for the 2026 Fiscal Year that begins July 1, according to Board of Selectmen Vice Chair Jeff Cicolini. “You don’t have an expense problem. You have a revenue problem,” Cicolini told the SCTV Board of Directors 18) selectmen’s meeting. “There’s not enough revenue in the station to support this budget. That’s the problem that has been coming for two or three years,” Cicolini said. Selectmen voted unanimously to continue their consideration of the SCTV budget until their April 1 meeting. Meanwhile, selectmen urged SCTV Treasurer Sandro Pansini Souza to make adjustments in its spending plan. “It’s fantastic what the station does with fairly limited resourcTOWN MEETING | FROM PAGE 8 School is tops then Traffic on Walnut St is number 2 and keeps getting worse. Trash all over the place making Saugus look bad. This is actually a town wide issue. 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. Pamela J. Goodwin: Precinct 5 Town Meeting members have a strong history of collaboration and working well together to achieve the best possible outcomes for the precinct we represent. Although we are not currently working on a specific article as a group right now, we would not hesitate to do so in the future. Jaclyn Hickman: At the current time, I am not working on any articles. Brenton Spencer: I’m not working on any articles for this year’s town meeting. After the town warrant is finalized, there could be some amendments to some of the articles. Ronald Wallace: I am not currently working on any articles. es that you get,” Cicolini said. “We just don’t have the revenue to support that anymore,” he said. Total salary expenses account for $333,675, according to Souza. Four of the five employees at the cable station work full-time, Souza said. Saugus is making a lot less than the towns around us,” he said of the employee salaries. “Any employee of this town can leave and make more money,” Cicolini said. “You’re budgeting an ongoing deficit that’s only going to Question Four: Please feel free to share any other views about the upcoming Town Meeting. Pamela J. Goodwin: I’m extremely grateful to continue to represent the residents of Precinct 5. It has always been my honor, and I appreciate your confidence in me by allowing me to once again represent you at Town Meeting. I’m also excited and eagerly looking forward to working with all the Town Meeting members to continue to make Saugus the best that it can be! Jaclyn Hickman: I look forward to working with the other Town Meeting Members to help move Saugus forward in a positive and get worse,” he warned. In other action on Tuesday night, selectmen: · Approved a request by Donaldo’s Catering, LLC for a Common Victualer’s License to operate K-Trina’s Taqueria at 44 Hamilton St. The restaurant will have 14 seats and be open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. · Approved a request by Aggregate Industries, Inc. to extend a Special Permit (S-2) to allow the removal of earth and rock and for the operation of a quarry for an additional six months. · Approved the appointment of Town Meeting Members Stacey Herman-Dorant and Frank V. Federico to be alternate members of the Board of Appeals and Chris Riley to be a full-time member of the board. · Announced that the Board of Selectmen will close the warrant for the May 5 Annual Town Meeting at the April 15 Board of Selectmen’s meeting. All warrant articles must be submitted to selectmen by that date. productive manner. Brenton Spencer: I would TOWN MEETING | SEE PAGE 11 Gerry D’Ambrosio Attorney-at-Law Is Your Estate in Order? Do you have an update Will, Health Care Proxy or Power of Attorney? If Not, Please Call for a Free Consultation. 14 Proctor Avenue, Revere (781) 284-5657
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