Saugus grandfather pushes for Belmonte renovations

SAUGUS-When George Moriello’s granddaughter came home from her first day at the Belmonte Middle School and announced the place looked like a jail, he decided he needed to do something.Moriello sent out word to Building Committee member Robert Hoffman, Building Maintenance Supervisor Ralph Mattarese, School Committee Chairman Joseph Malone, Superintendent Keith Manville, Principal Charlie Naso and Rep. Mark Falzone, all whom met last week to discuss the issue.”The problems are not insurmountable,” Moriello said. “The building is cement, it’s not going anywhere.”But it does need work.Moriello said the biggest issue he can see are windows, which, in his words, are “a horror.”Manville agreed the windows leak, are scratched and are in general disrepair.Moriello said if the entire building was painted white, rather than just half, that would also go a long way in sprucing up the appearance.”It would make a big difference as to its curb appeal,” he said.Inside, Moriello said he would like to see the more than 30-year-old drapes replaced, new ventilation ducts in each classroom and the fuel switched from oil to gas.The underground oil tanks should also be removed, Moriello said, but added that could be opening a can of worms.”You don’t know what you might find,” he added.Moriello said he was frankly surprised when everyone came together for the meeting last Wednesday.”I had no authority to call this meeting,” said the former Town Meeting member. “This building is not going to go away. It is our Middle School and we have to live with it, use it, and like it.”Moriello said a number of teachers and parents have told him they actually like the school but they would just like to see it fixed up.”As you know, 830-plus students that call it their school and depend on us to keep it on line for them,” he said. “I saw them all in person at the Veteran’s Day exercise that I took part in.”Moriello said he realizes there are other issues within the School Department that need financial attention, but he feels the most important issue is a roof over students’ heads.Besides, he added, “any time you can make your worst thing your best thing, you are running right out front.”Manville said he appreciated Moriello’s enthusiasm, but admitted it all comes down to money, which the School Department is short on.”I wanted to get things started,” Moriello said. “We left it that Dr. Manville will go to the Town Manager with Joe (Malone) and set up an article for Town Meeting for capital improvements to the building. That might sit better than funding the teachers’ contract.”