Page 2 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, ApRil 24, 2026 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 four of the five Town Meeting Members in Precinct 9. For next week’s newspaper, we will reach out to the five Town Meeting Members from Precinct 10. TOWN MEETING | FROM PAGE 1 Meeting convenes at 7:30 p.m. on May 4 in the second floor auditorium at Town Hall. There are 46 warrant articles posted on the town website. Many of them involve the town budget for the 2027 Fiscal Year that begins July 1. In addition to Article 37, Precinct 2 Town Meeting Member Matthew Parlante has authored Article 41 – a new section to the Town Bylaws – which would establish a recurring Charter Review Committee every five years, beginning Question One: What do you consider the top priority for the town as you prepare for the opening of the 2026 Town Meeting session? Katrina Berube: I think that the key priorities on this year’s warrant include balancing appropriate funding for our schools with maintaining the town’s long-term fiscal stability. We need to support our students while ensuring responsible financial planning for the entire community. Another important item is the discussion around forming a Charter Review Commitin 2031. The Charter Review Committee, according to Parlante’s proposal, would consist of 11 Town Meeting members selected by a public lottery by those expressing an interest in serving a two-year term. The committee would present an initial report at the first Annual Town Meeting following its formation. The committee would submit a final report at the second annual Town Meeting following its formation. It would dissolve upon completion of its final report unless the Town Meeting voted to extend its term. Here are some of the hightee. This has been raised in recent years, and it may be time to take a comprehensive look at how our town government is structured and whether updates are needed. Finally, the proposed bylaw regulating e-bike usage is a timely measure focused on public safety as new forms of transportation become more common in our community. Jaime Lincoln: I feel the recent hot topic is the budget for the schools. I am in full support for a fully funded school budget. My belief is that the schools are the founlights of articles that are expected to draw debate at this year’s Annual Town Meeting. –Precinct 2 Town Meeting Member Peter A. Rossetti Jr. has authored Article 40, a measure to see if the town will establish a committee to study and review the Saugus Town Zoning Bylaws, to see if it’s necessary to have a complete zoning rewrite, using the assistance of a professional zoning consultant, urban planners and legal support. The committee would include five Town Meeting members who request membership from the Town Moderdation of a town and its reputation. Strong schools and youth sports are the heart of raising our next generation. I have been grateful for a wonderful experience thus far with my 2 children ages 10 and 7, but I know there are children whose needs can not be met and those who can’t reach their potential in a classroom of 29 kids. I do not want this to come at the expense of the taxpayers, seniors or other crucial departments in the town. I am hopeful continued discussion will develop other sources of revenue through town leaderator, the building inspector or a member of the Inspectional services Department, the Fire Chief and representatives of the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals. –Precinct 2 Town Meeting Member Matthew Parlante has authored Article 42, a measure that would create an 11-member Bylaw Review Committee. –Precinct 5 Town Meeting Member Ron Wallace has submitted Article 38, a resolution for the Town Manager’s Office to provide more options for the disposal of litter. –Precinct 6 Town Meeting ship to make this happen. With the right people continuing to push for other sources of revenue for the town it would be great for more large, successful businesses to be brought into Saugus to generate revenue but we need to seek them out or make it so that we are sought out! Nicole Parziale: My three top priorities are school funding, e-bike safety, and oversight of new town developments. After watching a budget meeting, I heard claims TOWN MEETING | SEE PAGE 3 Member Elizabeth Marchese has submitted Article 35, a resolution to encourage the town manager and other municipal officials to take all necessary administrative steps to improve compliance, accountability and public access to records. –Precinct 6 Town Meeting Member Elizabeth Marchese has authored Article 34, a nonbinding resolution regarding a Host Community Agreement with WIN Waste Innovations. –Article 33, submitted by Precinct 6 Town Meeting Member Elizabeth Marchese, would establish new regulations in the town Bylaws regulating the operation of electric bicycles and motorized micromobility devices. –Article 32, authored by Precinct 10 Town Meeting Member Jenna Nuzzo, would require the town manager to prepare a report to the Board of Selectmen and Town Meeting detailing the costs associated with vacant school buildings owned by the town. –Article 31, authored by Precinct 10 Town Meeting Member Jenna Nuzzo, would establish a Vacant School Facilities Assessment Committee to evaluate vacant school buildings owned by the town. –Article 30, authored by Precinct 10 Town Meeting Member Peter Manoogian, would request the Board of Selectmen to develop a policy that would outline procedures for speed tables and other traffic calming devices.
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