Page 8 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – Friday, November 15, 2019 COGLIANO | FROM PAGE 1 with The Saugus Advocate last week (“The Advocate Asks”), Cogliano cited the construction of a west side fire station “Number One” on his personal list of priorities. “We’ve got to get a west side fire station. We need to straighten that issue out. Aside from the capital improvement plan, that needs to be resolved,” Cogliano said. Growing support in Town Meeting During the fall political campaign for selectmen, several selectman candidates cited a west side fire station as a major project that the next Board of Selectmen should undertake. Former longtime Town Moderator Robert J. Long decided to get back into local government this year running as a candidate for Town Meeting in Precinct 9 – primarily because he wants to see the construction of a west side fire station. “Twice – in 1995 and 2003 – the voters passed town-wide debt exclusions to pay for the building, but for various reasons nothing happened,” Long told The Saugus Advocate earlier this month. “But public safety is a must-do necessity. We are building a new school, and our playgrounds have been renovated, and now it’s time for the West Side Station because lives will depend on it.” Town voters passed a debt exclusion back in 1995 that included $500,000 set aside for the fire station as part of a $20 million capital projects package. Then, three years later, money from another $500,000 was used to buy the house at 270 Main St., according to Long. The fire house project stalled when funds weren’t approved to staff the building, according to some town officials. During Wednesday night’s wide-ranging discussion, Cicolini noted that town officials should proceed with the construction of a west side fire station “if the people want it.” But he also noted how the project fell apart. After approving money for a new building and the equipment, Town Meeting didn’t approve money later to adequately staff the new fire station. Long, who was the top votegetter in his return election to Town Meeting representing Precinct 9, said during the campaign that he believes the staffing is now adequate to provide coverage to a third fire station in town. A west side fire station could become a top issue when the Annual Town Meeting conSABATINO INSURANCE AGENCY Call for a Quote 617-387-7466 Or email Rocco@sabatino-ins.com We cover: * Auto * Home * Boat * Renter * Condo * Life * Multi-Policy Discounts * Commercial 10% Discounts * Registry Service Also Available venes in the spring to approve the budget for the 2021 fiscal year that begins in July. Two firefighters were among the new members joining Long on Town Meeting. Voters in Precinct 1 elected Firefighter Anthony Roger Arone as one of their new members. Fire Department Lt. William E. Cross III was the top vote-getter among candidates running for Town Meeting in Precinct 8. Cross has been a vocal advocate for a west side fire station for many years. In a March 2017 interview for “The Advocate Asks,” Cross said there is enough manpower to staff a third fire station in town. “We could do it, but it takes a commitment and it takes someone to go ahead and push it to get it done,” Cross said. “Back in 2002, we ran a campaign to get this stuff done, and we only missed by – maybe a little more than a hundred votes it failed by – to get the manning. It was close; it was close,” Cross said. In 2002, Saugus voters rejected a ballot question that would have allowed the town to assess an additional $780,000 in real estate and personal property taxes to pay the operational expenses required to man the West Side Fire Station in the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2003. The measure failed, 5,184 to 4,814, with 539 blank votes cast. Safety concerns persist During his 2017 interview with The Saugus Advocate – which was devoted entirely to the west side fire station – Cross opined on what he considers the Number One reason for the town to build and staff a west side fire station. “Well, it just comes down to this: For every minute that you don’t get water on a fire … For every minute that you don’t start CPR on a person …. It’s the difference between life and death, really,” Cross said. “A fire more than doubles http://www.sabatino-ins.com SABATINO 564 Broadway Everett, MA 02149 617-387-7466 Hours of Operation are: Mondays - Fridays 9am to 5pm Saturdays by appointment only in size every minute that you don’t put water on it. Just think about three o’clock today and we get a call to go to Golden Hills. You’ve got a far distance to go anyway. You’ve got all of these man-made obstacles that we have: The Charter School that’s getting out; you’ve got the high school and the residual from the elementary schools that are just let out,” he said. “Then, you’ve got to go over Route 1 and you’ve got the traffic. You’ve got the lights at several intersections – all the traffic – Saugus is one the biggest cutthrough towns around. We’ve got people cutting through to get to their other homes. Think about all of those things that COGLIANO | SEE PAGE 12 Revere resident Albert Nicholls competes in Ballroom Dance Competition At the Commonwealth Classic Dance Competition held on November 1 at the Marriott Hotel in Burlington, Revere resident Albert Nicholls competed in Ballroom Dance Competition. With his instructor, Saori DeSouza, as his partner, Nicholls entered 12 dance heats in the beginner, intermediate and full Silver categories in the over 65-year-old level. Nicholls placed first 12 times in Cha -Cha, Mambo, West Coast Swing and Rumba heats. In addition, Nicholls’ and DeSouza of The Dancesport Academy of New England continue to produce the best effort in his Ballroom Dancing. (Courtesy Photo) ~ Letters to the Editor ~ Town Meeting member thanks the voters Dear Editor: I would like to say thank you to all the voters of Precinct 6 who took the time out of their busy day to go to the polls yesterday to re-elect me as your Town Meeting representative. It is a privilege to serve you on Town Meeting and I am grateful to all of you for your continued faith and support in me. Sincerely, Jeanie Bartolo Town Meeting Member Precinct 6 Panetta thanks Saugus voters for support Dear Editor: I would sincerely like to thank the Saugus residents for voting for me as a Selectman for two more years. I have worked hard for our community as a Selectman over the last 8 years and will continue to do so. Thank you to everyone who supported my candidacy. Your support is greatly appreciated. Sincerely, Debra Panetta Saugus Selectman Call for Classified Advertising Rates 781-233-4446
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