SAUGUS Your Local News & Sports Online. Subscribe Here! CAT D Vol. 25, No.49 CAT LIGHTING UP SAUGUS CENTER I TE -FREE- www.advocatenews.net Published Every Friday 781-233-4446 Friday, December 8, 2023 The challenge of Consensus Locating any marijuana establishments in Saugus will take a unanimous vote when hearings resume next Tuesday night By Mark E. Vogler t’s been two months since the hearings of seven companies seeking to obtain a special permit to open a retail pot shop in Saugus ended acrimoniously. The failure to notify the abutters of each of the businesses involved prompted the Board of Selectmen to continue their Oct. 7 hearings until after the Nov. 7 town election. Instead of hearing more testimony and voting on the issuance of up to three S-2 permits, then-Board of Selectmen Chair Anthony Cogliano engaged in 15 minutes of bitter discourse with then-Vice Chair Debra Panetta. They accused each other of unethical conduct in a divisive argument that may have contributed to a major power shift in the board’s leadership. Voters reelected all fi ve incumbent selectmen for a third consecutive two-year term. But Panetta – not Cogliano – will be presiding as chair when the board resumes the hearings for the S-2 permit at 7 p.m. Tuesday (Dec. 12) in the second fl oor auditorium at Saugus Town Hall. Cogliano lost the chairmanship position he’s held for the previous two terms when he fi nished fourth in a fi eld of seven candidates – 759 votes beCHALLENGE| SEE PAGE 2 Pitching in for the environment Youth & Recreation Department Director Crystal Cakounes was decked out with reindeer antlers festooned with bright portable Christmas lights as she gathered with a crowd of Saugonians last Friday (Dec. 1) despite the rainy weather to celebrate the town’s annual Tree Lighting and Festivities. Please see inside for the story and more photos. (Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. Vogler) Selectman Anthony Cogliano joined the cleanup crew organized last Saturday at Crescent Marsh by WIN Waste Innovations, which removed more than 10,000 pounds of waste. Please see inside for more photos and story. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate) MARCHETTI CORP. 5 3 On behalf of the Marchetti Family, have a Safe and Blessed Christmas and Prosperous New Year! DIESEL TRUCK STOP
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