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Page 2 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, JUly 19, 2024 ON THE MOVE | FROM PAGE 1 six new pickleball courts. (See related story inside.) The next day (Tuesday, July 16), Crabtree spent close to 90 minutes in the fi rst fl oor conference room briefi ng selectmen on major projects the town has already completed in recent weeks and others he expects to complete – including the start of a campaign to win the town’s support of a third fi re station that would be located on the west side of town. Much of the discussion focused on goals and objectives of interest to selectmen and the town manager and the progress that has been made. The last goals and Lawrence A. Simeone Jr. Attorney-at-Law ~ Since 1989 ~ * Corporate Litigation * Criminal/Civil * MCAD * Zoning/Land Court * Wetlands Litigation * Workmen’s Compensation * Landlord/Tenant Litigation * Real Estate Law * Construction Litigation * Tax Lien * Personal Injury * Bankruptcy * Wrongful Death * Zoning/Permitting Litigation 300 Broadway, Suite 1, Revere * 781-286-1560 lsimeonejr@simeonelaw.net objectives session took place in September of last year – less than two months before the Nov. 7 town elections. Public session on fi re station planned for fall Crabtree told selectmen during Tuesday’s briefi ng that he is considering holding a public meeting during the fi rst week of September to address the fi ndings of the ongoing Third Fire Station Study, which is in the feasibility and schematic design phases. “The Public Safety and Communication architects, engineer and town committee have been busy conducting a thorough investigation of the existing Fire Department response time and incident coverage to help determine the viability of a new third Fire Station and its location to better serve the Town residents,” Crabtree said. “The new study picks up on 425r Broadway, Saugus Located adjacent to Kohls Plaza Route 1 South in Saugus at the intersection of Walnut Street We are on MBTA Bus Route 429 781-231-1111 We are a Skating Rink with Bowling Alleys, Arcade and two TV’s where the ball games are always on! PUBLIC SKATING SCHEDULE 12-7 p.m. Sunday Monday Tuesday $9.00 Price includes Roller Skates Rollerblades/inline skates $3.00 additional cost Private Parties 7:30-11 p.m. Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday $10.00 Price includes Roller Skates Adult Night 18+ Only Private Parties Private Parties 4-8 p.m. $10.00 8:30-11 p.m. $11. 18+ Adults Only After 7 PM 12-9 p.m. $9.00 Everyone must pay admission after 6 p.m. Sorry No Checks - ATM on site Roller skate rentals included in all prices Inline Skate Rentals $3.00 additional BIRTHDAY & PRIVATE PARTIES AVAILABLE www.roller-world.com a recently completed report issued on operations and future demands of Public Safety throughout the Town. A major goal of the project is an assessment of the Town’s fi re and related risks as it related to coverage and response times as our town has grown and evolved over the past decades,” Crabtree said. “The assessment was meant to provide the team with the most complete view of the Saugus community, its physical makeup, and the unique challenges faced when managing and operating fi re and rescue programs and services.” Six locations that consisted of Town-owned and private lots were investigated, and five run time analyses were conducted to help determine location viability, according to the town manager. The analysis included data on current deployment and demand analysis and existing station locations and future growth, he said. Crabtree told selectmen that he thought the study would be completed within the next month, perhaps after Labor Day. “I was blown away with what the study has actually started to develop,” Crabtree said. “When you start doing statistical stuff , it’s eye-opening,” he said. It will be a big challenge to focus on a location to build the third fi re station. But Crabtree cited the greatest challenge in selling the project to the public once town offi cials have been able to document the public safety need for putting a fi re station on the west side of town. Crabtree stressed that it’s important for selectmen as community leaders “to get the public on board.” Once town offi cials have been able to analyze the feasibility study, a Special Town Meeting would probably be scheduled to consider a plan. “Part of this has been sold the wrong way for 30 years,” Crabtree said. “This is about getting the Fire Department to your house,” he said. “We sort of locked ourselves into ‘this is about the Fire Department.’” Crabtree stressed that it’s crucial to make sure the public understands that the real issue is a serious public safety matter – one that involves making emergency medical services accessible to all parts of town. “It’s a team eff ort and people should understand about the whole community,” Crabtree said. Capital improvement update Crabtree highlighted the progress of several other projects that were high on the list of selectmen’s goals and objectives: • The town manager said he is focusing on improvements at four town playgrounds: Anna Parker Playground, Golden Hills, Stackpole Field and Stocker Field. But at the moment, he said, Anna Parker is the priority project, which is estimated to cost up to $1.6 million, with the main attractions being the street hockey rink and the six pickleball courts. • Belmonte STEAM Academy Courtyard Improvements: After a competitive bidding and construction process, the Belmonte Steam Academy (BSA) Courtyard Improvements project is substantially complete; the project scope included improvements to water accumulation and drainage along with the installation of parktype benches, concrete walkways and low maintenance plantings. The project also includes removal and replacement of a walkway adjacent to the courtyard to improve access to persons with a handicap or disability to the front entries of the building. The project team scheduled work to maximize effi ciency in coordination with the Town Manager’s Offi ce, School Administration and operations. The contractor scheduled the concrete placements, which would have been the most disruptive activity to the school, over April vacation while the students were out of school. The town had budgeted $329,000 for the Belmonte project, which wound up costing under $249,000. • The Saugus American Legion Project: After a competitive bidding and construction process, the American Legion Building Painting and Improvement Project (Taylor Street) is substantially complete. The project scope was originally to paint the building; however, after proper planning, investigation and testing, it was found that the existing building surfaces contained lead paint. The lead had to be removed under a controlled process to protect workers, residents and the surrounding area. After the paint removal process, elements of the building exterior were inspected to identify rotted wood siding, sheathing and trim. It was also found that some attic louvers and exterior doors were rotted, along with the Scott Procopio Legion sign. About 1,200 linear feet of rotted wood was repaired and replaced before the building received a prime and two coats of paint. Two exterior doors are on order and expected to be replaced by the end of August. The original contract bid was $236,000. The construction cost is expected to be about $309,000. • Public Safety Communications improvements, which are expected to cost up to $1.6 million. The scope of the projects includes a comprehensive study of the Town’s existing communication, dispatch and 911 radio systems. Originally installed as part of the construction of the existing Public Safety Complex, the communications systems and equipment are based on older equipment approaches that have long since been surpassed by superior technology and reliable systems that help provide a safety net for the men and women of our public safety department and citizens of the town. Progress: Systems Engineers have completed an extensive survey of all existing communications equipment in the Public Safety Complex and at six remote sites that transmit or receive radio communications throughout the town, such as the radio room at Tower Hill. A study has also been conducted on street communication reliability (hand and car/ fi re apparatus radios for frontline and dispatch equipment. Next, a survey of the existing radio room and dispatch was conducted to determine the optimal layout for new dispatch furniture and equipment locations. Currently, the project team is assessing available space behind the existON THE MOVE | SEE PAGE 4

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