THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2021 Page 3 ~ THE ADVOCATE ASKS ~ Here’s what selectmen say they would give as Christmas gifts to Saugus – if they could Board of Selectmen Vice-Chair Debra Panetta We need to complete our SEASONS GREETINGS FROM SAUGUS: Members of the town’s Board of Selectmen stand in front of the Christmas tree set up on the first floor of Saugus Town Hall. Sharing their holiday hopes and best wishes to town residents, are, left to right, Selectman Corinne Riley, Board of Selectmen Vice-Chair Debra Panetta, Board of Selectmen Chair Anthony Cogliano and Selectmen Jeffrey Cicolini and Mike Serino. (Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. Vogler) For this week’s column, we reached out to each of the members of the Board of Selectmen and asked them if they would like to send a holiday message to our readers. All five selectmen responded. Their individual holiday wishes to the residents of Saugus follow. Q: Please share your thoughts on your Christmas gift for the town this year – something you hope to work for. One gift you want to give the town if it’s in your power as a public official. Board of Selectmen Chair Anthony Cogliano I would love to give the Town a much needed West Side Fire Station and cleaner air for all to breathe....something I’ve been working on for the past two years. There are those that continue to attack and bash Wheelabrator every step of the way. Not me. Increasing the height of the monofill is the least of my concerns. Lowering the emissions, updating the exterior, controlling the noise and finalizing a host community agreement that will bring millions in much needed revenue to Town are the most important issues. Let me present the plan to the Town before condemning it. If the residents don’t think it’s in our best interest, and the Board of Health doesn’t endorse it, we move on. It’s time we move away from the obstructionists and develop a better path to our future. Aside from that, I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy, safe and healthy New Year. God bless. Town’s Master Plan. This process started in 2020 where our Town Manager hired a project consultant, the Metropolitan Area Planning Commission (MAPC), to coordinate this project. The MAPC conducted a kick-off vision forum in September 2020 and asked Saugus residents to fill out an online survey. They received approximately 700 responses over the several weeks the survey was open to the public. This survey was consolidated and presented to the Town as a base to move forward. The Master Plan coordinates the community’s goals & vision by incorporating strategies and actions to move our Town into 2035 (and longer). It will be used as a guide for managing future growth and change in Saugus and create a framework for future policy decisions. Land use and zoning, housing, economic development, transportation, open space and recreation, arts/historic/cultural services, climate resiliency, community facilities and services, and clean energy and sustainability are all part of the Master Plan. Several public meetings were held, and everyone’s concerns and ideas were incorporated into the plan. The Advisory Committee, where I am a member, met this month to review the draft plan. This plan is to be rolled out during a public meeting in early 2022. I want to sincerely thank everyone who participated in the survey and in the public meetings that were held. I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, CHRISTMAS | SEE PAGE 18
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