Saugus prepares list of projects in hopes of receiving funding

SAUGUS – Town Manager Andrew Bisignani is working on putting together a “shovel ready” list of town projects in hopes that President-elect Barack Obama’s economic stimulus plan is put in motion.Bisignani said Lt. Gov. Tim Murray has asked cities and towns to send in a list of infrastructure projects that are ready to go on the off chance that the state receives funding for them.In December, President-elect Obama announced what some have called the biggest infrastructure investment plan since President Dwight Eisenhower created the U.S. highway system in the 1950s. Bisignani said the package would in part provide funding to cities and towns via the state for infrastructure projects. He is hoping, if the package is approved, the town would be able to cash in on that incentive plan.The projects on Bisignani’s list mostly include water and sewer projects and drainage, although he said there were a few smaller items as well.He said the goal is to choose projects that could be jumped on immediately if the funding was provided. That would exclude anything that needed a long term study, planning or design work.Public Works Superintendent Joseph Attubato said the projects include water and sewer projects that were designed but never funded, work planned for the main sewer station and several drainage projects that were also designed but never funded.Any of those projects, Attubato said, could be started on short notice if the money to pay for them came through.The list must be on Murray’s desk by Friday.Bisignani said he’s not pinning his hopes on the funding, but said he is hopeful.”If we could get even one funded it’ll be a bonus,” he said.