THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, MAY 27, 2022 Page 9 Town Meeting 2022 Town manager gets fi nal authorization to buy Cliftondale property for possible parking By Mark E. Vogler S electmen gave Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree and his staff the green light to buy the vacant building at 481-483 Lincoln Ave. that was last used as a loan center. “Whatever plans we have, we’ll have some property that will allow parking to attract businesses,” Crabtree told selectmen following a unanimous vote at Tuesday’s meeting (May 24) of the Board of Selectmen. “We have a lot of options,” he said. The board’s vote was the latest procedural step, confi rming a May 2 Special Town Meeting vote to authorize selectmen to acquire title to the land and building. Selectman Jeffrey Cicolini hailed the board’s vote as “a huge step” to Cliftondale Revitalization efforts. “It’s nice to see the town’s commitment,” he said. “This is crucial to achieving a true revitalization,” Cicolini said. Selectman Debra Panetta said, “It’s clear” from reading the town’s updated Master Plan that “residents want to see the revitalization of Cliftondale.” Selectman Corinne Riley said she was grateful to Precinct 2 Town Meeting Member Joe Vecchione’s work as chair and architect of the Special Town Meeting Committee for revitalizing Cliftondale Square. “Being a lifelong resident in Cliftondale, knowing how busy it was and hoping that it could be again, I’m grateful that we worked together within the Cliftondale Revitalization Committee and shared ideas and visions,” Riley said after the meeting. “I personally would like to thank Town Meeting, Board of Selectmen and the Town Manager for supporting this purchase, which I know will help with one strong issue that has hindered Cliftondale in convenient parking,” Riley said. “This is a great fi rst step, but there is a lot more work to be done and I look forward to keeping the momentum going with enticing new businesses back to Cliftondale,” she said. During the May 2 Special Town Meeting, members unanimously approved two articles to pave the way for the land purchase. Article 11 authorizes the Board of Selectmen to acquire title to the land and building located at 481-483 Lincoln Ave. Article 12 seeks the appropriation of $775,000 to buy the property. “Even if we don’t use it right away, it will set the stage [for future revitalization of Cliftondale],” Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree said. Precinct 6 Town Meeting Member William Brown recalled how eff orts to revitalize Cliftondale over the years have failed. He recalled how his family owned a hardware store in the area back in the 70s and early 80s. “This is the fi rst time I’ve seen a positive step,” he said. Town Meeting members wholeheartedly supported the article for the purchase of the property, even though they didn’t think that parking is the best use. “In general, parking is not a problem,” said Precinct 2 Town Meeting Member Peter Rossetti, Jr., who has lived in Cliftondale for 70 years and whose family has owned an insurance business there for decades. “The reason parking is not a problem is there is not a lot to attract people to the square,” he said. Everett Aluminum 10 Everett Ave., Everett 617-389-3839 Owned & operated by the Conti Years! “Same name, phone number & address for over half a century. We must be doing something right!” f www.everettaluminum.com Spring is Here! T The COVID-19 Update Town reports 92 newly confi rmed cases over the past week; two new deaths By Mark E. Vogler Meanwhile, the number here were 92 newly confirmed COVID-19 cases over the past seven days through Wednesday (May 25), according to Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree. That’s seven fewer confi rmed COVID-19 cases than last week. This week’s positive COVID cases reported to the town by the state Department of Public Health (DPH) increased the overall total to 9,178 confi rmed cases, according to Crabtree. There have been more than 400 confi rmed cases over the past fi ve weeks, as the virus continues to hang around, causing some people to continue wearing masks at Town Hall even though they are optional of confirmed COVID-related deaths reported since the outbreak of the Coronavirus in March of 2020 increased to 92. Eleven weeks ago, total Saugus deaths related to COVID-19 were listed at 106. But that number was reduced to 88 because of a change in the guidelines used by health offi cials. “Our hearts and prayers go out to those families aff ected by this health pandemic,” Crabtree said.
10 Publizr Home