Page 2 LEGAL NOTICE THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, MAY 27, 2022 VOTE | FROM PAGE 1 SAUGUS BOARD OF SELECTMEN PUBLIC HEARING Notice is hereby given that the Saugus Board of Selectmen will conduct a public hearing on the request of The Lab Spa, Raymond Bradley Lima Da Silva, proprietor, for a Special Permit (S2) to operate Massage and Cupping Therapy, Skin Care, and Beauty Services, at 999 Broadway, Saugus, MA 01906. This Public Hearing will be held in the Saugus Street, Saugus, MA, 01906 on June 14, 2022 at 7:15 PM. Anthony Cogliano, Chairman Janice K. Jarosz, Temp. Clerk May 20, 27, 2022 with a video he made which documented “deplorable conditions” at Saugus parks, including Golden Hills Park, Saugus Elks Park, Oaklandvale Park, Lynnhurst Park, Stocker Park, Anna Parker Playground, Waybright Elementary School and Stackpole Field. “We should not have our parks and playgrounds that our children play on be looking like this,” Cogliano said. Conditions at several of these parks violated local safety codes in addition to being unkempt and in need of repairs. It’s a recipe for disaster. There’s no need of this,” Cogliano said. Cogliano acknowledged that the town doesn’t have the money or manpower to address the abundance of defi - ciencies at the parks. And any money generated by recreational marijuana sales would go into the general fund. Furthermore, it’s the prerogative of the town manager and his staff to determine how to address the widespread park defi ciencies. Cogliano cited the substandard parks as an example of unmet town needs that could be addressed with the revenue generated from recreational marijuana sales. Provisions to protect the public The following conditions apply for marijuana establishments within the Business Highway Sustainable Development Zoning District (BHSD). The amended version of the approved regulations state that marijuana establishments: May not be located within 1,000 feet of a pre-existing public or private school providing education in kindergarten or any grades 1 through 12. The buff er zone distance shall be measured along the shortest publicly accessible pedestrian travel path from the Marijuana Establishment entrance to the school entrance. May not be located within 1,000 feet of a park or playground. The buff er zone distance shall be measured along the shortest publicly accessible pedestrian travel path from the Marijuana Establishment entrance to the park or playground. May not be located within 1,000 feet of each other. May not be located in buildings that contain any residential units, including transitional housing, such as hotels, motels and dormitories. For Advertising with Results, call The Advocate Newspapers at 781-233-4446 or info@advocatenews.net Opponents make their case About a third of the members expressed opposition to allowing recreational pot shops to locate in Saugus. Those voting against Article 36 include Mark J. Bell, Susan C. Dunn and Susan Paloma of Precinct 1; Christine M. Moreschi of Precinct 2; Rick A. Smith of Precinct 3; William Leuci and Robert C. Northrup of Precinct 4; Pamela J. Goodwin, Jaclyn A. Hickman and Brenton H. Spencer of Precinct 5; Jeanie Bartolo of Precinct 6; Robert A. Palleschi of Precinct 7; and Peter Manoogian, Sr. of Precinct 10. “I’m not really buying it,” Precinct 7 Town Meeting Member Robert A. Palleschi said, disputing the argument that the recreational pot sales would be in the community’s best interests. “What does it really add to the community … We shouldn’t have it because we don’t need it and we don’t want it,” he said. Precinct 10 Town Meeting Member Peter Manoogian offered an amendment to refer the article to the Board of Selectmen so they could put the measure on the ballot for residents to vote on. Manoogian cited statistics showing that seven of the town’s 10 precincts voted against the legalization of marijuana back in November of 2016 and that the town voted 7,652 to 6,710 — 53 percent — against the measure. Meanwhile, voters statewide approved Question 4 by a 54 percent margin, allowing the possession, use, distribution and cultivation of limited amounts of marijuana by persons age 21 and older. Manoogian noted that two precincts — 9 (318 more opposed) and 7 (220 more opposed) — have the greatest margin of opposition to Question 4 and happened to be located near Route 1. That would be the location set aside for future marijuana establishments. “I think the numbers are compelling, particularly in those precincts surrounding Route 1,” Manoogian said. “I see this as an issue of democracy,” Manoogian said. “Refer this back to the entire Board of Selectmen to place on the ballot,” he said. But School Committee Member John Hatch took umbrage to Manoogian’s “democracy” argument. “I disagree with the speaker,” Hatch said. “We have an elected Town Meeting. This is a democracy,” he said. He noted “the structural defi - cit” in the town’s fi scal situation, which he said has made it diffi cult for the School Department to put its budget together this year. Board of Selectmen ViceChair Debra Panetta said she is sensitive to the public vote that was taken in 2016, showing that 53 percent of Saugus residents opposed the legalization of marijuana. “All in all, it comes down to what the residents want,” Panetta said. “I don’t see an issue with putting this on the ballot,” she said. Manoogian’s motion failed 16 to 28. Panetta pointed out that the neighboring communities of Lynn, Malden and Melrose already have marijuana facilities in their communities. Yet, several other communities located near Saugus — Lynnfi eld, Revere and Wakefi eld — have not adopted regulations allowing for the sale of recreational marijuana. Sacrificing Celtics playoff tickets Precinct 8 Town Meeting Member William E. Cross III, THE FINAL TALLY: A scoresheet projected on a screen over the stage area in the second fl oor auditorium at Saugus Town Hall shows how members voted on Article 36 — 3113 supporting it — an amendment to the town’s Zoning Bylaws to allow for marijuana establishments in town. (Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. Vogler)
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