Saugus looking to attract more businesses to the area

SAUGUS-The Board of Selectmen is working to take a proactive stand in what kind of businesses move into town, at least in East Saugus.Board members sat down with Peter Milano from the state’s Office of Business Development to discuss steps the town could take to attract higher end businesses rather than trucking companies, car lots and trash-related industries to the overworked, yet picturesque 10th Precinct.The meeting was prompted by a neighborhood meeting last spring that occurred when word leaked out that Greater Lynn Senior Services had inquired about using the defunct Eastern Tool site on Ballard Street as a terminal for its vans. At the time, board members asked residents what kind of business they would like to see come into the area.While most said they didn’t know what they wanted, they had very definite ideas on what they didn’t want – heavy traffic, noise or anything with long hours of operation.The neighborhood is already home to Wheelabrator, the trash-to-energy corporation.When some residents mentioned the biotech industry, Selectman Peter Rossetti said he decided to contact Sen. Anthony Galluccio’s office for a little direction.Rossetti said Milano offered some advice on things the town could be doing that would put it in a positive position for economic development, but it is a commitment of sorts. Rossetti said the board essentially has to pick a set of criteria that would describe what the community is looking for in terms of attracting business. There are also economic grants the town could shoot for, one large enough that it could fund a town planner, which is seen as a largely coveted need among most town officials. However, Rossetti said to possibly win at this game, the town would have to be willing to give things up like possible tax revenues.”It was a really good discussion, there were a lot of things we didn’t know,” he said. “We’re waiting for additional information.”Precinct 10 meeting member Peter Manoogian said he was pleased to see the meeting happen, but wished it had been more accessible to the general public. While it was an open and posted meeting, it was not on the board’s regularly scheduled meeting night so it was not televised.He said he was encouraged that Milano, a former resident, seemed to be up on the issues of the neighborhood. Manoogian said he thought the area, particularly lower Ballard Street would be attractive to any number of business due to it’s proximity to the airport. The problem, he said, is that the zoning and infrastructure won’t support most industries.”It’s going in the direction of car lots and warehouses,” he said adding the town could do better.He said he was also disappointed that Town Manager Andrew Bisignani did not attend the meeting because any new proposal must go through his office first. Selectman Stephen Horlick also pointed out that fact and asked Bisignani to attend the next such meeting. Bisignani said he would, and Rossetti said the board is hoping to meet with a biotech council next.