Swampscott residents feel town showing favoritism

SWAMPSCOTT – It’s them versus us, according to some residents who live near Essex Street and the commuter rail station.”We’re treated like second-class citizens,” Cathy Dumais said. “We’re clearly designated by residents and town officials as being the other side of town and we are treated unfairly.”Dumais lives near the former Machon Elementary School, which was closed several years ago due to budget cuts.”We’re being treated unfairly over here,” she said. “They closed Machon School and they took Jackson Park away to build the new high school. “Essex Street resident Matthew McGrath, 26, agreed with Dumais.”I grew up on Essex Street,” he said. “I think the politicians make decisions that favor the other side of town. The high school was forced on us and we didn’t want it here.”Dumais said insult was added to injury recently when an announcement was made that some intersections in town would be revamped in an effort to make it safer for students to walk to school. The Stanley Elementary School received a $270,000 state Safe Routes to School grant to pay for the project.Dumais said her 13-year-old twins have to walk almost two miles to get to Swampscott Middle School and there is not a safe route for them.”That grant floored me,” Dumais said. “I don’t begrudge anyone getting the grant, but why wasn’t that information shared with us? The routes our kids walk from this side of town are more dangerous. My son was hit by a car a couple of years ago coming home from Clarke (Elementary) School ? “School Committee member Glenn Paster said the decision to improve walking routes in the vicinity of Stanley Elementary School was not a decision made by the School Committee.”I know the School Committee is always cognizant to the fact that we represent all areas of town,” Paster said. “We strive to do what is the best interest of all our students. Parents at Stanley School got the ball rolling on this grant and the selectmen voted to approve it.”Department of Public Works Director Gino Cresta pointed out the Stanley School PTA applied for and helped secure the grant.”It had nothing to do with the town,” Cresta said. “No town funds are being used for the project.”Cresta, who lives on the same side of town as Dumais, said he doesn’t believe there is any favoritism but Dumais, a Roy Street resident, vehemently disagreed with Cresta.Kevin Donaher, who lives on Burpee Road across from the former Machon School, said he has noticed an increase in support from town officials for residents in Precincts 1 and 3.”You have a lot of blue-collar working families in this area,” he said. “If they are developing walking routes I think they should take a look at the whole town. But I think parents need to be proactive too. I think the town has been more supportive than it was years ago. The DPW has been very supportive with our efforts to raise money to build a playground.”Selectman Matthew Strauss lives off Essex Street and said he doesn’t believe the two areas of town are treated differently.”I don’t think there is any favoritism of one area over another. I think it’s a misperception. I’d be happy to speak with any residents who think they are being treated fairly because of where they live,” he said.