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Page 8 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – Friday, May 24, 2019 CITIZEN | from page 1 verify the signatures on the two petitions, Panetta added. Riley explains reasons for petitions “These petitions came about after Town Meeting member Ron Wallace [of Precinct 5] was silenced by the Town Moderator at the May 20 meeting,” Riley told The Saugus Advocate Wednesday night. “Mr. Wallace attempted to present a nonbinding resolution in support of the school custodians, but was informed he could not present his resolution because it was not on the warrant,” she said. Saugus Town Meeting has considered many nonbinding resolutions over the years without requiring that they be included on the Town Meeting warrant. But for the second time since Annual Town Meeting began this year’s session, Doherty denied Wallace an opportunity to read his resolution. (See related story.) “The fi rst petition attempts to clarify when Town Meeting members may present nonbinding resolutions,” Riley said in a statement to The Saugus Advocate Wednesday night. “This clarifi cation is needed because there is clearly ambiguity given that one Town Meeting member was allowed to present a resolution that was not on the agenda, but the second member was not allowed the same opportunity,” she said. “One important issue here is that the jobs of 21 custodians are in imminent danger of being privatized by the School Committee. Since the School Committee has not put the privatization of these jobs on an agenda, they have not had the opportunity to hear from their constituents,” she said. “One reason that the Town Meeting resolution is so important is so that the public S&B ROOFING Over 15 Years Experience * Free Estimates * Great Prices * Great Service * Licensed & Insured Please call 857-247-8594 for your FREE ESTIMATE! and Town Meeting body can make the will of the people perfectly clear to the School Committee, who will ultimately decide this issue very shortly.” Among the signatures gathered by volunteers are two School Committee members – Vice Chair Elizabeth Marchese and Lisa Morgante – and Board of Selectmen Vice Chair Jeff rey Cicolini, according to Riley. “Petition signatures were gathered by a number of volunteers, including several Town Meeting members, within less than 24 hours,” Riley said. “In my opinion, this indicates strong public support for keeping our school custodians, most of whom are longtime Saugus residents, in place,” she said. Window for saving custodians is narrowing The contract for the custodians is set to expire on June 30, the end of the current fi scal year. Supporters of the custodians are worried that the window is narrowing and there is speculation that Saugus Public Schools Superintendent Dr. David DeRuosi, Jr. wants a private company ready to replace the custodians on July 1, the start of the 2020 fi scal year. Members of AFSCME local 262 issued a brief statement Wednesday, thanking all the town residents involved in the recent signature drive calling for a Special Town Meeting. “We feel it is of great importance that the issue of potential privatization of the school custodial services be given the forum it deserves in public session,” the statement said. “With the taxpayer investment for the new school 505 Broadway Everett, MA 02149 Tel: 617-387-1120 www.gkdental.com • Family Dentistry • Crowns • Bridges • Veneers/Lumineers • Dental Implants • All on 4 Dental Implants • Emergency Dentist • Kid Friendly Dentist • Root Canals • Dentures • Invisalign Braces • Snap On Smile • Teeth Whitening We are the smile care experts for your entire family complex moving forward we strongly believe we are the best and most invested group to maintain the new and all schools in Saugus,” the union continued. “We as always are willing to meet in negotiation with the school committee on a successor agreement to accomplish this, again our deepest thanks to all of our supporters.” Riley requested that selectmen add an additional meeting early next week to vote the two articles onto a Special Town Meeting warrant. But Panetta said selectmen would have to check their calendars before anything could be scheduled. Riley suggested they could be doing more to address the concerns of the citizens who signed the petitions. “It's in their hands now,” Riley said. “However, given that privatized custodians would start work on July 1, the issue must be decided well ahead of June 30th, which makes this a time-sensitive matter, particularly given the minimum 14day lead time before a Special Town Meeting could be held,” Riley said. “Later in the [Board of Selectmen’s] meeting on an unrelated matter, the BOS checked their calendars without delay to agree on a date for a site visit to an auto repair shop on Hamilton Street – Tuesday, May 28 at 6 p.m. I have suggested to the Board of Selectmen that Tuesday evening would be an ideal time to hold a brief meeting to move these articles onto Town Meeting in a timely manner.” Here are the two petitions submitted at Wednesday night’s meeting to the Board of Selectmen. PETITION TO CALL A SPECIAL TOWN MEETING (MAY 21, 2019) We the undersigned registered voters of the Town of Saugus hereby petition the Saugus Board of Selectmen to call a Special Town Meeting and to insert the following article: A Resolution Opposing the Privatization of Saugus School Maintenance and Custodians. Whereas the Representatives in Town Meeting, here assembled, are the appropriating body in Saugus Town Government and are ultimately responsible for the expenditures of taxpayers monies; Whereas the Saugus School In House Dental Plan for $399 (Cleanings, X-Rays, Exams twice a year and 20% OFF Dental work) Schedule your FREE Consultations today Committee is considering the privatization of custodial services in Saugus Public Schools and such an action would remove tax payer control and governmental accountability over the cleaning and maintenance of the town’s school buildings; Whereas eliminating the current custodial positions and replacing them with a private company would make our schools more susceptible to theft, reduce the quality of services delivered to our students, and replace loyal, hardworking, and dedicated employees with transient workers being paid at the poverty level; Whereas seventeen of the aforementioned custodians, currently working in Saugus Public Schools, are residents of the town of Saugus and the average term of service of the custodial staff is equal to or greater than 17 years and; Whereas there is overwhelming public support for the custodians from parents, community leaders, school personnel, taxpayers, and residents; now, therefore, be it Resolved, the Representatives in Town Meeting, here assembled, encourage the members of the Saugus School Committee to reject the idea of privatization of the custodial services in Saugus Public Schools and negotiate with our custodial staff with a fair contract that is in the best interest of the students and taxpayers of Saugus. PETITION TO ADOPT A BYLAW We the undersigned registered voters of the Town of Saugus hereby petition the Saugus Board of Selectmen to insert the following bylaw proposal into the next Special Town Meeting: To add a new section 214.00 to the Town of Saugus Bylaws in subcategory 200 of “Government of Town Meeting” that will be titled ‘Resolutions.” Any Town Meeting member may propose a non-binding resolution, with 48 hours written or electronic notice to the Saugus Town Clerk not counting weekends and holidays. The Saugus Town Clerk will promptly notify the Moderator upon receipt of said resolution and forward said resolution to Town Meeting Members. Resolutions may not seek to appropriate funds, propose zoning or general bylaw changes or have any binding eff ect on the operation of town government. Resolutions will not be considered as actions of the Town Meeting as defined by MGL C h. 39 S10 but rather statements of opinion in accordance with past practice. Resolutions will be acted upon during the next Town Meeting or within a Town Meeting that is temporarily adjourned, whichever comes first. A majority vote of the quorum will be required to adopt a resolution.

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