THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – WEDnESDAy, DECEmbEr 24, 2025 Page 9 State Fire Marshal Issues Lithium-Ion Battery Safety Reminder Choose and Use Devices Safely This Gift-Giving Season S TOW—With the holiday gift-giving season in full swing, State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine is reminding residents to use caution when choosing and using devices powered by lithium-ion batteries. “Many of this year’s Christmas and Hanukkah presents will be use lithium-ion batteries,” said State Fire MarCOVER STORIES | FROM PAGE 2 JUNE Members voted 35-2 at a Special Town Meeting in support of the multifamily overlay district article to comply with state law requiring communities served by the MBTA to have at least one reasonably sized zoning district where multifamily housing can be built. Representatives from Sanctuary Medicinals, one of two companies licensed to run an adult-use marijuana business in Saugus, scheduled a community meeting so the public can ask the company questions about its proposed retail marijuana business. Precinct 7 Town Meeting Member Frank Federico launched an early campaign for a Board of Selectmen seat – weeks before the Sept. 16 deadline for filing nomination papers to be on the Nov. 4 town election ballot. Shutting off the Peabody jughandle light during rush hour topped the selectmen’s wish list in a special discussion with the three state legislators who represent Saugus. JULY Just as the 2025 Fiscal Year ended, Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree announced that the town had changed its solid waste and recycling hauling services from Republic Services to Capitol Waste Services, Inc. The switch was timely and beneficial to the town, as Republic Services employees went on strike. Saugus Town Meeting Member Robert Palleschi passed away at age 79, leaving several vacant seats in Saugus Town government. The man once credited shal Davine. “These devices pack a lot of power into a small device, so it’s important to choose and use them safely.” · Buy only listed products. When buying a product that uses a lithium-ion battery, look for a certification mark from an independent testing lab such as UL or Intertek/ETL. This means the dewith helping to keep the Saugus Public Library open during a town budget crisis was finishing up his fourth two-year term representing residents of Precinct 7. He also served on the Saugus Housing Authority and the Council on Aging. Precinct 1 Town Meeting Member Stacey Herman-Dorant declared her candidacy for a seat on the Board of Selectmen in announcing an early campaign. Former Selectman Jennifer E. D’Eon announced her plans to run for the Board of Selectmen six years after she lost her seat. AUGUST Saugus Sachems Track Camp, led by Coach Chris Tarantino, celebrated the team finishing third among 15 teams competing in the Fifth Annual CLCF Summer Showdown in Cranston, R.I. For the second time in 18 months, the Saugus Housing Authority approved the hiring of a candidate to succeed longtime veteran Housing Authority Executive Director Laura Glynn. The authority voted 4-0 to approve the contract of Joseph A. Hart – a public housing professional with more than a decade of administrative experience working for three different housing authorities, including nearly eight years as the executive director of the Haverhill Housing Authority, In addition, he worked more than 13 years for the state Department of Housing and Urban Development. Belmonte STEAM Academy’s new Principal, Christopher Blair, began his new job with small town administration and teaching experience across the country. Saugus Public Schools revised its admission policy on the legal advice of the state Attorney Genvice meets important safety standards. · Charge devices safely. Always use the cords that came with the product to charge. Follow the instructions from the manufacturer. Buy new chargers from the manufacturer or one that the manufacturer has approved. Charge your device on a hard surface. Don’t eral’s Office over the concerns that some students were being denied an education. The Developer of Essex Landing – owner of the iconic 20-foot-tall orange dinosaur on Route 1 – filed a $25 million federal lawsuit against the Town of Saugus and Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree. SEPTEMBER New Executive Director Joseph A. Hart arrived to oversee 300-plus public housing homes in Saugus. School Committee Chair Vincent Serino plans to run for the Board of Selectmen as candidates get their final chance to pull nomination papers to get on the ballot for the Nov. 4 town election. Saugus veterans call for the reinstatement of former Veterans Services Officer Paul J. Cancelliere in an emotionally charged selectmen’s meeting. A group of residents from Saugus, Revere and Lynn who oppose any expansion of the ash landfill at the WIN Waste Innovations trash-to-energy plant on Route 107 bolstered their stand by including a new weapon known as Environmental Justice in their fight. Current state environmental regulations do not allow expansion of the ash landfill at the plant. OCTOBER Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree offered high praise for SueAnn Cheung, the woman Marine Corps veteran he hired to become Saugus’s first full-time Veterans’ Service Officer (VSO). This marked the first time in a decade since the town had a woman VSO – Alicia Marie Reddin worked part-time while serving Saugus and Wakefield. Candiovercharge your device. Unplug it or remove the battery when it’s fully charged. · Keep doorways, stairways, and windows clear. A fire involving a large device such as an e-bike can trap residents if left in an escape route like a doorway, stairwell, or window. Store e-bikes and electric scooters outdoors if possible. dates learned their places on the Nov. 4 Town Election ballot after their names were drawn from a wooden hexagonal cylinder. Candidates running for the Board of Selectmen shared their environmental vision at a forum sponsored by Saugus Action Volunteers for the Environment (SAVE). Four of nine candidates running for the Board of Selectmen – including three incumbent selectmen – cited in their environmental vision statements their opposition to expansion of WIN’s ash landfill. Saugus voters are invited to watch a candidates’ forum for the Board of Selectmen, organized by a group of Saugus citizens and The Saugus Advocate. Saugus prepares for its biennial election, offering each voter a chance to choose up to 16 candidates – 11 of them in townwide races. NOVEMBER Town Election Day in Saugus turned out to be a mixed bag: The voter turnout was terrible – only 18.5 percent of registered voters. But there were a lot of new faces participating in the election – and they did well. Fourteen newcomers got elected to the 50-member Town Meeting. Three newcomers got elected to the School Committee. One newcomer was elected to join four incumbents on the Board of Selectmen. One newcomer was elected to fill the vacant seat on the Saugus Housing Authority. Selectmen and School Committee members elected their chairs and vice chairs for the next two years. The Town Clerk’s Office scheduled a recount of the Nov. 4 Town Election for the Precinct 5 Town Meeting race. Former Town · Recycle batteries responsibly. When it’s time to dispose of the device or replace the battery, don’t throw it in the trash or regular recycling bins. Physical damage in a compactor truck or transfer station is a common cause of lithium-ion battery fires. Instead, bring them to REMINDER | SEE PAGE 20 Meeting Member Karli McConaghy Brazis requested the recount after losing by just two votes to veteran Town Meeting Member Ronald M. Wallace for the fifth and final seat in Precinct 5. The recount confirmed results of the Precinct 5 Town Meeting race: Wallace was reelected by two votes over Brazis for the fifth seat. DECEMBER The owner of an average single-family home in Saugus valued at $683,849 will pay $7,126 in taxes next year – $279 more than this year. Meanwhile, the tax bill for an average commercial property, valued at $2,201,281, will be $46,843 – a decrease of $572 over this year. Those scenarios will take effect as a result of the new tax rates for the 2026 fiscal year approved unanimously by the Board of Selectmen, pending approval by the state Department of Revenue (DOR). Saugus town, school and public safety officials launched a community campaign to protect kids and the general public from the dangers of electric bikes and their unsafe use on town streets and the bike trail. The state Office on Disability has awarded the Town of Saugus $167,750 through the Municipal Americans with Disabilities Act Improvement Grant Program for capital improvements to modify sidewalks and entrances to public buildings. The award is actually four grants, which will support construction and installation of new ADA-compliant curb ramps and targeted sidewalk repairs and replacements in and around the Saugus Public Library and along Taylor Street near Town Hall.
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