Page 4 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, JUnE 23, 2023 ~ Letter to the Editor ~ Why You Will Pay for Wakefield’s Hockey Rink A lthough the Wakefield Conservation Commission has denied the permit to build a new Vocational school on the hilltop forest, the Northeast Metro Tech (NEMT) School Building Committee continues to spend public funds to pursue this plan. This forest was once part of Gerry D’Ambrosio Attorney-at-Law Is Your Estate in Order? Do you have an update Will, Health Care Proxy or Power of Attorney? If Not, Please Call for a Free Consultation. 14 Proctor Avenue, Revere (781) 284-5657 Dan - 1972 Breakheart Reservation and many thought it was protected. It is designated as core forest habitat, an ecosystem with pools, streams, endangered species and species of greatest conservation need or concern. It is bordered by Wakefield’s article 97 public land. Why does NEMT plan to deOur 50th Anniversary stroy a mature forest ecosystem to build a new school, costing over $320 million, when they have 30 acres of already developed land that could better accommodate the new school building, parking and athletic fields? Maybe the question is – who benefits? This is a tale of two parcels – one too risky and expensive for private developers to bid on, covered in forest and ledge, and another cleared and nearly ready to build. Wakefield has collaborated with NEMT to get a hockey rink and road in the forested hilltop since 2014. RFPs (request for proposals) were requested by the Town Administrator, Stephen Maio, and approved by the Town Selectmen over the years. The developer was to pay Wakefield and NEMT fees as the lessors. “The (owners) are interested in developing the site to include two sheets of ice … and a second means of egress onto Farm Street is required”. There were no bids. Why? What could it be except the expense and difficulty of a project requiring clear cutting, blasting and the possibility of consequences to abutters? In February 2016, a pre-feasiWe Sell Cigars & Accessories! Chris 2023 * Travel Humidors * Desk Top Humidors * Many Types of Lighters * Ash Trays * Juuls * Vapes * Glass Pipes * Rewards Program * CBD Infused Products * GIFTS UNDER $30 - GIFT CERTIFICATES ALL MAJOR BRANDS Singles * Tins * Bundles * Boxes FOURTH OF JULY SPECIALS! Packs of 4 or 5 Premium Cigars or Buy the Box - All at Discount Prices! NEW STORE HOURS: Mon. - Sat.: 9AM - 7PM Sunday & Holidays: 9AM - 6PM R.Y.O. TOBACCO & TUBES ON SALE! SPECIAL SALE! TRAVEL HUMIDORS & ALL BONGS! A.B.C. CIGAR 170 REVERE ST., REVERE (781) 289-4959 --------HUMIDORS ON SALE! STARTING AT $99. COMPLETE! --------bility study for a new school rejected the forested hilltop location as too difficult, expensive and with poor access. In August 2016, Mr. Maio received approval from the selectmen to issue a Request for Qualifications to “determine if an ice hockey rink would be feasible in the proposed location”. When NEMT was invited to the feasibility stage for a new school the school committee members formed the School Building Committee (SBC). Mr. Maio attended the SBC meeting in Jan 2019 and was a member by May 2019. The SBC hired PMA Consultants as project manager and DRA Associates as architects. The SBC were told that the MSBA (MA School Building Authority) would not reimburse for a hockey rink, aquatic center or other facilities but the future hockey rink continued to be discussed in SBC meetings and shown in presentations. Early preferred options for the school were on the practice field behind the school (a site called “C.1”) and the current football field (“C.2”). By 2020, presentations to the SBC show the school on the site option called C.3. That plan puts the school on the forested hilltop and the rink on the current football field. With this plan the sites for the rink (in the forest) and the school (on current campus) were flipped. The highest site cost and the new road cost now belong to the public. The C.3 plan requires clearing acres of trees and blasting down 30-35 feet of ledge for a building platform that will result in a 650 ft cliff along one side of the school. The new road requires blasting by Farm St for a road that will rise to 15-20 ft. The road from the school to Hemlock Rd will be too steep for a sidewalk. Those who park in the student lot will need to climb 1100 ft of ramps and stairs to get to the to the school daily. The cost to destroy the forested hilltop is approximately $40M. According to the signed budget agreement, MSBA will only reimburse up to $8.3 M for site work. Why would the SBC want the district taxpayers (Chelsea, Malden, Melrose, North Reading, Reading, Revere, Saugus, Stoneham, Wakefield, Winchester, Winthrop, and Woburn) to pay so much for site costs, not educational costs, when there is no need to do it? This will be a punishing cost for some towns, especially Chelsea, Revere, Malden and Saugus. Project documentation submitted to the MSBA show there are 2 viable alternatives that meet the same educational requirements on the lower campus, site C.1 on the current practice field behind the school and C.2 on the current LETTER | SEE PAGE 9
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