Page 2 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, SEpTEmbEr 19, 2025 SUPPORT | FROM PAGE 1 men went ahead and voted unanimously to support the Cogliano motion. Cancelliere learned he had lost his 18-an-hour-a-week part-time job on June 30 – the end of the 2025 Fiscal Year. Yet, the position has remained vacant for nearly three months, prompting local veterans to worry about their benefits being jeopardized. He also applied for the job when the town first advertised the position. But he never received an invitation to be interviewed. Castinetti sent an email to the Saugus veterans community Monday night, urging them to attend this week’s (Sept. 16) selectmen’s meeting “to show our concern and support for the reappointment of Paul Cancelliere as our VSO.” “He’s done a great job and has helped a lot of needy veterans and families. Saugus needs him back! Take the time to show your support for those who need his services!” More than three dozen local veterans and members of the Saugus Veterans Council responded in the show of support for Cancelliere – including former Saugus VSO Jay Pinette, who served the town for four years. “To me, there’s absolutely no excuse – zero – that this position is left unfilled,” Pinette told selectmen. “It’s been known since January that this was coming. And here we are in September, and we’re just talking about interviewing,” Pinette said. “I have heard nothing but ongoing 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 APPOINTMENT LONG OVERDUE: Former Saugus Veterans Service Officer Jay Pinette said “there’s absolutely no excuse” why it’s taken so long to fill the vacant VSO position in Saugus. (Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. Vogler) praise for the job that Paul has done since he’s been here. And it will be a credit to him and to the town and the veterans and their dependents in Saugus if he is fortunate enough to be reappointed.” U.S. Navy veteran Rick Fail called Cancelliere “a proven success.” “For the past few years, he’s done an exemplary job,” Fail said. “He knows the town. He knows the veterans. He knows what the job entails.” Bob O’Toole, executive officer of the Saugus Veterans Council, said, “We got a known quality. Stick with the known quality.” STILL WANTS THE JOB: Former Veterans Service Officer Paul J. Cancelliere said he would love to be reappointed as the Saugus Veterans Service Officer. (Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. Vogler) “a risk of falling out of compliance” At Tuesday’s meeting, Cancelliere stressed that continuing to proceed without a VSO could jeopardize the town’s reimbursement from the state on veterans benefits. “Without a VSO in place, it’s a little bit difficult. The Town of Saugus is running a risk of falling out of compliance,” Cancelliere said. “What does that mean? That means the state’s Executive Office of Veterans Services can cut back on what the town is reimbursed. It can go to 50. It can go to 25. It can go to zero,” he said. Cancelliere shared statistics with selectmen related to the overall impact of Saugus “SAUGUS NEEDS HIM BACK”: Saugus Veterans Council Commander Stephen L. Castinetti told selectmen that it’s important for the town to have Former Veterans Service Officer Paul J. Cancelliere reappointed. (Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. Vogler) veterans on the community. He noted that there are 1,059 veterans in Saugus, including 412 (39 percent) who are currently working, 43 (three percent) who are currently unemployed and 604 (57 percent) who are retired. Saugus veterans contribute $16,353,028 a year to the community, while the annual cost of veterans is $3,789,017, according to Cancelliere. “For every dollar the town spends on a veteran returns five dollars to the community,” he said. “I’m absolutely available to be chosen as your veterans service officer. It’s a job I love. It’s a passion of mine. And it’s my way of giving back to thousands of veterans who supported me throughout my military career,” he said. Castinetti, a former selectman who has been commander of the Saugus Veterans Council for 15 years, said Saugus “had a great VSO until the coalition broke up between Saugus, Melrose and Wakefield” earlier this year. Melrose and Wakefield went on to hire full-time VSOs while Saugus did nothing, Castinetti said. “We don’t understand why Paul Cancelliere wasn’t reappointed the day they broke up. Paul has been one of the best VSOs,” he said. Meanwhile, Selectman Corinne Riley asked Crabtree at a selectmen’s meeting nearly a month ago (Aug. 19) what SUPPORT | SEE PAGE 16
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