Saugus selectmen to debate RESCO truck traffic routes

SAUGUS – The Selectmen have hit Wheelabrator Saugus with a detour before the company has to deal with a physical detour when the Belden Bly Bridge is closed for repairs.The bridge will be closed for approximately five months after construction begins in December. During those months, Wheelabrator asked selectmen for temporary relief on truck routes and permission to use Ballard Street, but the board seemed reluctant to even entertain the idea.The trash to energy plant is restricted from using town roads and must stick to Routes 107, 60 and other major roadways.Plant Manager John O’Rourke said several municipalities including Lynn use RESCO (Refuse Energy System Corp.) and with the closure of Route 107, he needs to seek an alternative route for the trucks.Selectman Stephen Castinetti said he wanted to seek an opinion from the state highway department, as well as town counsel to see if the town has the authority to restrict the traffic in the first place.Town Meeting member and Ballard Street resident Peter Manoogian urged Castinetti to leave the state out of the discussions. Manoogian said there is a unique relationship between RESCO and the neighborhood he fears the state won’t understand or appreciate.He also pointed out that O’Rourke wasn’t questioning whether the town had the authority, in fact he was asking the town to use its authority.Initially Manoogian said if the town thought it necessary perhaps it could tailor the relief. However, later he said he believed it probably wasn’t necessary for RESCO to use Ballard Street at all, that other routes could be utilized.Selectman Michael Kelleher agreed. He said his greatest fear was that if they allowed one truck in they would have 100.Selectman Stephen Horlick also read a recommendation from the Board of Health that urged the company to seek alternate routes.O’Rourke said he was talking about possibly two dozen trucks per day.”For four or five months,” he added. “It’s not a five year process.”He said he would certainly cooperate with the neighbors.Kelleher said he would likely call for a neighborhood meeting to hear what residents think of the idea and O’Rourke said he would be glad to attend.Castinetti said he would still feel more comfortable with an opinion from town counsel. He agreed to leave the state out of the inquiry.”I’m not a proponent of increasing truck traffic,” he said. “I just feel more comfortable referring this to town counsel.”The board supported him 5-0.