THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – Friday, June 7, 2019 Page 9 Town Meeting passes budget that features three police officers for new traffic safety enforcement unit By Mark E. Vogler T he details of a new traffic enforcement unit in the Police Department are still undetermined, pending the results of a town-wide traffic study that’s been delayed. But Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree didn’t get much resistance during the final night of this year’s Annual Town Meeting on Wednesday as members approved a $90 million budget for the 2020 Fiscal Year that provides funding for three additional police officers who will be the nucleus of the new unit aimed at traffic safety. “We’re doing an operational study and assessment of the Police Department,” Crabtree told Town Meeting members, explaining the uncertainty of how the new officers will be deployed. Tentatively, Crabtree said, the plans call for the three new officers to be assigned and dedicated to the new unit. A special consultant hired by the town will determine how best to structure the traffic safety unit. The Engineering Corp (TEC) of Andover was supposed to have completed a speed limit analysis in time for public meetings targeted for April, enabling the town manager to make some kind of presentation at this year’s Town Meeting. “They did run into some delays because of the snow,” Crabtree said. “We had a lot of speed limit signs that were not the right speed” which had to be removed, he said. The public meetings that should have taken place back in April will probably begin in two weeks, Crabtree told Town Meeting members. Funds to hire three officers for the new traffic enforcement unit and the study that will eventually determine what speed limits should be posted at heavily traveled locations throughout the town came in response to several well-publicized traffic accidents and safety concerns from residents over the past year. Crabtree said the speed limit analysis is part of a continued effort to improve roadway safety and create a safer, more secure environment for walkers and riders. TEC has been working closely with Town officials and community representatives to identify and study areas where traffic volumes and speeds are a concern, and take a comprehensive look at suggested speed limits for Town streets and identify the best placement for accompanying signage, Crabtree said. TEC is exWorld Series Park and Saugus High host State Tournament game tomorrow W orld Series Park in Saugus will host a state tournament game tomorrow (June 8) at 4pm.Saugus High will play will play the winner of the Essex Tech/Watertown game. Saugus High qualified for the state tournament with a 14 and 6 record. This also qualified them for home-field-advantage. “We are truly honored to host a state tournament game,” World Series Park superintendent Bob Davis said in a press release issued this week. “This has never happened in the 15 years World Series Park has been in existence. We hope Saugus will come out to cheeron the Saugus High team.” pected to present its findings at the upcoming public meeting. Crabtree and the Board of Selectmen have continuously encouraged the public to share any input and concerns regarding traffic safety with the Town. Many residents and stakeholders have expressed their opinions at meetings and through phone calls and correspondence to the Town, which have all been presented to TEC and will be taken into consideration as part of their global analysis, according to the town manager. Another key public safety component of the operating budget for the 2020 fiscal year approved Wednesday night were funds for two additional firefighters. S&B ROOFING Over 15 Years Experience * Free Estimates * Great Prices * Great Service * Licensed & Insured Please call 857-247-8594 for your FREE ESTIMATE! ATTENTION REVERE!! Three tributes all on one stage on Friday, June 14th at The Oceanside Events Center, 1290 North Shore Rd. Revere. Onsite and adjacent parking for hundreds of cars. Show moved to larger 600 capacity Ballroom due to overwhelming demand. Don’t miss this Scorpions, AC/DC, Judas Priest tribute. Doors open at 8 PM, show starts at 9 PM sharp. SITE OF TOURNAMENT GAME: The Saugus High School baseball team will be the host team tomorrow at 4 p.m. in a state tournament game to be played at World Series Park. (Courtesy Photo to The Saugus Advocate)
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