THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FrIDAy, AprIl 17, 2026 Page 3 Countdown Till Saugus Town Meeting Editor’s Note: The 2026 Annual Town Meeting convenes on Monday, May 4. As a special service to our readers and the registered voters of Saugus, we are reaching out to all 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 responses from three of the five Town Meeting Members in Precinct 8. For next week’s newspaper, we will reach out to the five Town Meeting Members from Precinct 9. The 2026 Annual Town Meeting convenes two weeks from Monday. Question One: What do you consider the top priority for the town as you prepare for the opening of the 2026 Town Meeting session? William E. Cross III: The top priorities for me are a 3rd fire station and to keep the town in good financial shape to tackle this station. We see across the state, cities and towns conducting overrides for operational cost. I am thankful this is not Saugus. We lived those dark days of station closures, the library shutting down, layoffs, early retirements and not filling in for members that retired. I don’t want to go back to those days. Arthur Grabowski: The absolute top priority for the Town at this next Town Meeting is to maintain a sound and sustainable financial footing. Many of the surrounding cities and towns are in the process of voting for millions of dollars in tax overrides. Many have predicted drastic cuts in personnel and curtailment or closing of town departments, such as libraries or senior citizen activities. Taxpayers in many of these communities have voted down tax overrides. The hard-pressed taxpayers are saying NO to governments requesting any increases in their tax burdens. They are demanding that their government do more with less. Saugus has clawed back from the brink of receivership when the Essex Street fire station was intermittently closed, the library was on the verge of closing and there was the threat of a One-Million-dollar trash fee not to mention that the town had a junk bond rating and had to borrow money by utilizing the state bond rating. This was accomplished not by a sleight of hand nor a Proposition 2 ½ override but rather a new administration that developed a conservative approach to government spending. Our stabilization account was slowly increased to where it is toTOWN MEETING | SEE PAGE 5 Lawrence A. Simeone Jr. Attorney-at-Law ~ Since 1989 ~ THE SEAT OF SAUGUS TOWN GOVERNMENT: The 50-member Town Meeting is the legislative branch of Saugus Town Government and convenes on the first Monday in May each year for a series of meetings to approve zoning articles and resolutions and to pass the town’s municipal budget. (Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. Vogler) * Corporate Litigation * Criminal/Civil * MCAD * Zoning/Land Court * Wetlands Litigation * Workmen’s Compensation * Landlord/Tenant Litigation * Real Estate Law * Construction Litigation * Tax Lien * Personal Injury * Bankruptcy * Wrongful Death * Zoning/Permitting Litigation 300 Broadway, Suite 1, Revere * 781-286-1560 lsimeonejr@simeonelaw.net SABATINO/MASTROCOLA INSURANCE AGENCY 519 BROADWAY EVERETT, MA 02149 Auto * Home * Boat * Renter * Condo * Life * Multi-Policy Discounts * Commercial 10% Discounts * Registry Service Also Available PHONE: (617) 387-7466 FAX: (617) 381-9186 Visit us online at: WWW.SABATINO-INS.COM
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