Page 2 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, SEpTEmbEr 30, 2022 PERMITTABLE | FROM PAGE 1 introductory remarks to the audience. He said it would be doubtful that state Attorney General Maura Healey, a Democrat who is heavily favored to be elected governor in November, would support changing laws that would allow an expansion of the landfill. Passionate citizens – both for and against expansion of WIN Waste Innovations’ ash landfill – spent much of the meeting arguing the merits of any plans to expand the ash landfill. Several people talked about cancer deaths in their families and neighborhoods, suspecting the WIN plant was to blame. Others praised WIN for being a good citizen. Eugene Decareau, 92, said that if it MassDEP Officials Eric Worrall and Mark Fairbrother were on hand at Saugus Town Hall on Wednesday night to listen to citizen concerns about WIN Waste Innovations’ ash landfill and answer questions. (Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. Vogler) were up to him, he’d give the company more burners and let them produce all of the town’s electricity. ~ Legal Notice ~ 2022 FINANCIAL RECORDS The 2022 financial records of the Belmonte Upper Elementary School PTO, INC., are available at the address noted below., for inspection during normal business hours. Any citizen can request these documents within 180 days after publication of this notice of its availability, The Belmonte Upper Elementary PTO, Inc., 39 Hurd Ave. Saugus, MA. 01906 ~ Legal Notice ~ 2022 FINANCIAL RECORDS The 2022 financial records of the Veterans Lower Elementary School PTO, INC., are available at the address noted below., for inspection during normal business hours. Any citizen can request these documents within 180 days after publication of this notice of its availability, The Veterans Early Learning Center PTO, Inc., 39 Hurd Ave. Saugus, MA. 01906 Those who attended the forum also got an opportunity to ask Worrall and another MassDEP official – Mark Fairbrother – questions related to the ash landfill and WIN’s incineration and waste disposal operations. The community meeting was held just eight days after Saugus selectmen approved a tentative deal with WIN Waste Innovations that would eliminate tipping fees for waste disposal in return for 20 more years of ash landfill. WIN had proposed a Host Community Agreement (HCA) to pay the town up to $18 million in return for permission to extend the life of its ash landfill 25 years. The adoption of any HCA would be contingent upon approval by MassDEP and the town’s Board of Health. WIN continues with its plans The two MassDEP officials confirmed that WIN has not submitted any proposal to expand the ash landfill. WIN issued a brief statement to The Saugus Advocate late Wednesday night in response to the forum. “Working with the Landfill Committee and Board of Selectmen, we have advanced the concept of continuing to use our landfill and set a path to a Host Community Agreement on how to share the resulting environmental and economic benefits with the Town,” WIN Waste Innovations Vice President of Environment Jim Connolly said. “Once we finalize the agreement, we will develop the concept and begin a permitting process to advance the project. We look forward to making the environmental case for the project and engaging in a thorough, transparent and fact-based evaluation by the DEP,” Connolly said. Board of Selectmen Chair Anthony Cogliano, one of the three selectmen who voted by a slim 3-2 margin to support a deal that would extend the ash landfill 20 more years, went to the lectern to argue in WIN’s behalf. “The burden of proof is on WIN Waste” to prove to MassDEP and the town Board of Health that there are no environmental or health problems resulting from an expansion of the ash landfill. “I trust DEP to oversee the permitting process,” Cogliano said. “This is a good thing for Saugus. Let the process move forward. I have 60 letters in support of the ash landfill,” he said before taking a folder full of letters and presenting them to the MassDEP officials. Revere Council - lor-at-Large Anthony Zambuto, who has been to several recent Saugus meetings to support WIN, said he isn’t advocating for a change in current laws. Instead, he stressed, he is confident that WIN would receive “an objective evaluation” from MassDEP on its proposal. A key MassDEP document A chief obstacle to WIN’s plans is a letter that MassDEP Commissioner Martin Suuberg wrote last November to state Rep. TurPERMITTABLE | SEE PAGE 4 State Rep. Jessica Giannino (D-Revere), pictured at right, said it’s time to consider alternatives to expansion of the ash landfill at WIN Waste Innovations’ trash-to-energy plant as Saugus Board of Selectmen Vice Chair Debra Panetta listened. (Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. Vogler)
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