Page 4 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2020 BOARD | FROM PAGE 1 there are still many planning and zoning related issues that need to be addressed including zoning amendments that need Planning Board recommendation prior to being put on the STM warrant,” Vecchione wrote in his Oct. 8 email in advance of the meeting. “The Planning Board’s hiatus prevents anyone from submitting any plans outside of multi-family housing as well as any additional zoning amendments proposed, sometime sensitive,” he said. “Checking with each town and city bordering Saugus and beyond, we are the only municipality that is not conducting Planning Board meetings. All have switched to a virtual format but have resumed business. This includes and is not limited to Melrose, Wakefield, Lynnfield, Lynn, Revere, Malden, Everett, Peabody,” he wrote. “...We simply cannot continue this hiatus as it adversely impacts planning and development outside of multi-family housing and also prevents making improvements to our zoning bylaws that will ultimately improve and protect the Town of Saugus.” Vecchione seeks Planning Board seat It is not up to selectmen to decide if and when the Planning Board should meet. That’s not in the purview of selectmen powers. Selectman Jeffrey Cicolini articulated that and other concerns in an email responding to Vecchione. “Bottom line is the Planning board runs as an autonomous group and is not overseen by the TM or the BOS, '' Cicolini said, referring to the town manager and selectmen. Cicolini said he fully supports “asking the town counsel what options exist for the town to pursue” in order for the Planning Board to resume its meetings. “...I’m just saying I don’t think we should have any discussions without having TC [Town Counsel] opine first,” he said. But the issue was discussed anyway, toward the end of last week’s selectmen’s meeting, at the urging of Board Vice Chair Corinne Riley and Chair Anthony Cogliano. In his email, Vecchione suggested that if the 50-member Town Meeting body is capable of meeting in a virtual meeting, a five-member board should be capable of meeting, too. “In my PRESSING FOR A MEETING: Planning Board Chair Peter A. Rossetti, Jr. says he agrees with issues raised by fellow Precinct 2 Town Meeting Member Joe Vecchione. Rossetti says he hopes his board finally meets next month, via “Zoom” video conferencing. He says it hasn’t met since February because of a legal opinion which recommends they not meet. (Saugus Advocate file photo by Mark E. Vogler) opinion, any further delay specific to Planning Board will begin to seem intentional,” he said. Vecchione also offered himself as a potential Planning Board candidate if any member’s term were expiring and/or somebody couldn’t fulfill their duties. He declared himself “eager to be considered as a Planning Board member given my expertise, enthusiasm and background.” “I’m always available for discussion,” he said. During a brief discussion, selectmen referred to Vecchione’s concerns. But they did not refer to him by name, only as a Town Meeting member who sent them several emails. Meanwhile, Vecchione watched the meeting via “Zoom” Teleconferencing. “If we have people on the Planning Board who refuse to meet, maybe they shouldn’t be on the Planning Board,” Board of Selectmen Chair Anthony Cogliano said. “There’s no reason in the world they can’t meet,” he said. A November meeting possible In an interview with The Saugus Advocate this week, Planning Board Chair Peter A. Rossetti, Jr. said he agrees with many of the issues raised by his fellow Precinct 2 Town Meeting member. “We need to have some kind of meeting soon,” Rossetti said. “It’s becoming an impediment to town business. I said I want to have a meeting in November. Tentatively, it’s being set for maybe Nov. 19. I am told that the powers that be are looking into it and will let me know,” he said. “We have a tremendous amount of work to do because we haven’t taken action on anything for months. In some cases, it’s going to have a significant impact on the town because it involves money – real estate taxes and fees that aren’t being collected,” Rossetti said. “There are places on Route 1 that need action or they go someplace else. Some of these [projects] haven’t hit the press or public knowledge yet. In some cases, they have been waiting months to get answers. Sooner or later, they will go find a place that answers their questions. That could cost the town tax revenue, development fees and other things.” Rossetti is also concerned about several proposed zoning articles that Town Meeting did not get to act on because of the Planning Board’s inactivity. They include three articles authored by Vecchione to improve the Business Highway Sustainable Development Zoning District (BHSD). Vecchione’s zoning articles and others were aimed BOARD | SEE PAGE 6
5 Publizr Home