Page 6 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JULY 15, 2022 Ryann Moloney Receives the Saugus Stephen Wing Memorial Scholarship Special to Th e Advocate S augus selectmen say they continue to receive calls and emails from residents who are upset about recent incidents involving kids on bicycles who have been terrorizing motorists and pedestrians on town streets. “If the parents know about it, shame on them for not doing anything to stop it,” Board of Selectmen Chair Anthony Cogliano said this week. Selectman Jeffrey Cicolini said he’s had recent talks with Police Chief Michael Ricciardelli about the situation and steps that his department will be taking to address the problem. “There have been two interventions and the kids have been spoken to,” Cicolini said. “The kids were from out of town. The police are very Ryann Moloney receives the 2022 Wing Scholarship plaque from Dan Wing. (Courtesy photos) well-versed on the situation,” he said. Cicolini said he thinks the problem may be worse than last year. Cicolini said the kids seem to be more aggressive. As far as confiscating the bikes of kids involved in egreThe Wing and Moloney Family with Ryann Moloney: (l-r) Mike Moloney, Colin Moloney, Jonelle Moloney, Ryann Moloney, Kristin Cicolini, Dan Wing, Stephanie Wing and Nicolas Cicolini. gious incidents, Cicolini said, he likes the idea of tow companies being called in to impound the bicycles rather than having bikes stored at the police station. “Public education is key and it starts at home,” Board of Selectmen Vice-Chair Debra Panetta said. “Hopefully, parents will talk to their children about this dangerous behavior. They’re playing chicken and swerving in and out of traffi c,” Panetta said. Panetta said she’s observed the behavior fi rsthand at Saugus Center and has been sworn at by some of the kids. “These young people on their bicycles are just exacerbating an awful situation,” Panetta said. “It’s terrifying. It’s scary,” she said. No Shortage of Candidates for ZBA Vacancy Selectmen will get to choose from fi eld of three contenders at Aug. 9 meeting By Mark E. Vogler A A t a time when the town is having trouble getting volunteers to serve on local government boards, three candidates are competing for a chance to fi ll the empty seat on the Zoning Board of Appeals. And the two candidates who don’t get appointed won’t be losers because they will have the chance to serve as alternates. Former ZBA Chair Ben Sturniolo, a 25-year veteran of the board who resigned several months ago for family-related reasons before expressing an interest to return, would have been reappointed by selectmen to fi ll his seat had he not stepped down earlier this year. But selectmen began advertising to fill the vacancy before Sturniolo applied for it. So, there’s no guarantee he will receive the appointment when selectmen vote on fi lling the vacancy at their next meeting, which is set for 7 p.m. Aug. 9. Support for Sturniolo among board members is currently split. Selectman Michael Serino and Board of Selectmen Vice Chair Debra Panetta each sup10 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!” www.everettaluminum.com ported a motion to reappoint Sturniolo at a previous meeting. But Board of Selectmen Chair Anthony Cogliano sided with Selectman Jeff rey Cicolini on a motion to fi ll the vacancy with ZBA alternate Robert Northrop, who is interested in becoming a full-time member of the board. Two motions — one to appoint Northrop and the other to reappoint Sturniolo – failed on 2-2 votes by selectmen earlier this year. Selectman Corinne Riley would have cast the potential tie-breaking vote. But she abstained from both votes to avoid a confl ict of interests. Her husband, Precinct 2 Town Meeting Member Christopher P. Riley, is a candidate for the ZBA vacancy. “If we go back four or five months, we’ve had a shortage of people volunteering,” Riley said during his interview this week before selectmen in the fi rst-fl oor conference room at Town Hall. His wife did not attend the meeting. “We saw the Planning Board meeting canceled the other night for the lack of a quorum. Riley received a strong endorsement from ZBA Chair Thomas Traverse. “Chris is not afraid to talk. On the Board of Appeals, it’s really tough to say ‘no’,” Traverse said. Sometimes ZBA members feel uncomfortable arguing against a popular position. But Riley would speak and vote his mind, according to Traverse. ZBA VACANCY | SEE PAGE 7 Summer is Here!
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