THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2020 Page 15 “The Board breached this contract …” An interested buyer files lawsuit challenging selectmen’s refusal to vacate a foreclosure on Biscayne Avenue home that was set to be auctioned By Mark E. Vogler S electmen had planned to discuss scheduling an auction for the sale of a house at 4 Biscayne Ave. when they convened for a meeting Tuesday (Oct. 27) night. Or, the board could also reconsider the vote they took at their Oct. 13 meeting to deny a request by the former Saugus homeowner to vacate the foreclosure decree. But the discussion was quietly passed over after Board of Selectmen Chair Anthony Cogliano remarked that the matter was under litigation. The chair was referring to a lawsuit filed Oct. 19 which al leged that selec tmen “breached this contract” the town had with Middleton resident Charles Lightbody when they voted 4-1 to retain title to the house and refused to allow Richard Phelan to buy his house back. Lightbody based complaint on a deal he understood he had with the town after obtaining a certified check worth $67,977.77 payable to the Town of Saugus. Finance Director and Treasurer/Collector Wendy Hatch had recommended that the town vacate the foreclosure decree in return for close to $68,000 that was being held in escrow as paying for back taxes and other town costs. The compiled filed Revere attorney Jarrod M. Hochman cites an email written by Hatch before the vote was taken. It quotes her as saying “(A)s I have explained to Mr. Lightbody previously, once I receive the payment, I hold in for deposit until I attend the Board of Selectmen’s meeting where they are required to vote to transfer the title back to Mr. Phelan. Once they vote in the affirmative, I deposit the funds, notify our Attorney and they will file the necessary paperwork in the Land Court to vacate the foreclosure decree.” The email was written to Attorney Joseph V. Cattoggio, Jr., who Lightbody hired to represent him in the acquisition of the property, according to the court complaint. “The redemption period prescribed by statute, overlapped the current COVID-19 pandemic, executive orders of Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker and Acts of the Massachusetts legislature prohibiting action on the part of property owners to pursue judicial remedies and to otherwise stay actions and the time standards available to parties to actions involving title to real property,” the complaint alleged. When the board voted on Hatch’s recommendation to vacate the foreclosure decree, only Board Chair Cogliano voted to approve the recommendation. Hatch told Cattoggio and Lightbody “that she had never seen the board reject a redemption under the circumstances (when the entire amount of money owed to SauBOARD | SEE PAGE 20 State temporarily paused all indoor ice rinks for two weeks D ue to rising cases of COVID-19 connected to indoor ice hockey, on October 22 the state Department of Public Health issued a new public health order prohibiting indoor ice rinks and ice skating facilities from operating from October 23 to November 7. This order was in response to multiple COVID-19 clusters occurring at rinks throughout the state following games, practices and tournaments. There have been at least 30 clusters of COVID-19 associated with organized ice hockey activities involving residents from more than 60 municipalities in Massachusetts. Each of these includes two or more confirmed or probable COVID-19 cases, totaling 108 confirmed cases. This pause will allow for the development of stronger COVID-19 protocols to further protect players, families, coaches, arena staff and other participants, as well as communities surrounding hockey rinks. Current protocols include limitations on the number of people allowed in an arena, social distancing and other precautions. This order includes all indoor ice rinks and ice skating facilities in Massachusetts. These rinks and facilities may not operate during this temporary two-week pause. It is effective between 5 p.m. on October 23 and 12:01 a.m. on November 7. College and professional programs are exempt from this order. Neighboring states, including New Hampshire, have enacted similar temporary restrictions regarding indoor ice hockey. In Celebration of Democracy in Action, Showcase Cinemas Offers Free Election-Day Screenings of Fan-Favorite Film ‘The American President’ In All of Its U.S. Locations N ORWOOD–Showcase Cinemas, a world leader in the motion picture exhibition industry, announced today that it will offer free Election Day screenings of the classic film “The American President” in all of its opened U.S. locations in Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island and Ohio. The complimentary screenings of the iconic film will be offered at all theaters on Tuesday, November 3 at 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Tickets for “The American President” are available for advance reservation online, and food and beverage pre-order items can be reserved via showcasecinemas. com and Showcase’s app. “Released 25 years ago this November, ’The American President’ is a film that depicts America’s democracy and the office of the President under the guise of rom-com in a way that’s dramatic, truthful, celebratory and ultimately moving,” said Mark Malinowski, Vice President of Global Marketing for Showcase Cinemas. “While we know Election Day can be stressful, we invite Americans to head to the movie theater after casting their ballot, and enjoy a pleasant distraction with this muchloved, iconic film while waiting for the votes to be counted.” “The American President” is a 1995 American romantic comedy-drama directed by Rob Reiner and written by Aaron Sorkin. The film stars Michael Douglas, Annette Bening, Martin Sheen, Michael J. Fox and Richard Dreyfuss. In the film, President Andrew Shepherd (Douglas) is a widower who pursues a relationship with environmental lobbyist Sydney Ellen Wade (Bening) – who has just moved to Washington, D.C. – while at the same time attempting to win the passage of a crime control bill during a re-election year. Visitors to Showcase Cinemas locations to enjoy the free screening on Election Day can rest assured that the health and safety of patrons is the company’s first priority. Showcase has instituted the “Be Showcase Safe” program at all open theater locations, which includes employee health screenings before starting work and food and beverage manager ServSafeTM Food Safety Certification under the National Restaurant Association’s ServSafe food and safety training and certification program. Additional new procedures include installation of air-purifying systems for all US theaters; private screenings; reduced auditorium seating capacity; automatic seating social distancing; increased/enhanced auditorium cleaning between shows and in high-touch surface areas; employee and patron protective mask requirements; social distancing markers; and the availability of hand-sanitizing stations. For more information on Showcase Cinemas’ reopening programming and the Be Showcase Safe program please visit https://www. showcasecinemas.com/beshowcase-safe. Can’t make it on Election Day? Showcase Cinemas is also offering private screenings for family and friends. For only $99, customers can book their own auditorium for up to 20 guests and choose from a catalogue of our Bring Backs films to screen, including Halloween classics and films like “The American President”. For just $199, customers can book their own auditorium for new films such as “Tenet,” “The Empty Man,” “Honest Thief,” “The War With Grandpa” and “Unhinged.”
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