Big crowd expected at Saugus Town Meeting

SAUGUS – A big crowd is expected at the sixth session of Town Meeting tonight as the library, the Youth and Recreation Department and the Fire Department have been urging Saugus residents to turn up en masse to show support for the beleaguered departments.?I?ve been getting a lot of calls for all three issues, the library, the youth and rec and the fire station,” said Town Meeting member Al DiNardo, on Friday. “I just got another one just now. I was at FinCom last night and they came up with the extra $135,000 ? I have to support that. I have to clear my conscience over here. No, it?s not fair (to take it from the school), we just need to get through this budget and get a patchwork here. And after July 1 have a discussion in this community about services.”DiNardo was referring to the Finance Committee?s vote Thursday night to recommend taking $100,000 from the school and $35,000 from police overtime to add to the Fire Department?s overtime account. The budget recommended by the Board of Selectmen cut the overtime by $420,000, which Fire Chief James Blanchard said would result in closure of the Essex Street Fire Station because it would not meet minimum staffing requirements.?They?re making a financial choice,” DiNardo said. “There could always be some money put back later. Tax revenues could come in more, expenses could come in less; there could be some savings. You don?t know.”Blanchard said Thursday night that the extra money should keep the station open through September.DiNardo said he?s expecting a lot of people to show up tonight.Town Meeting member Stephen Sweezey also said he supports the keeping the fire station open.?Everybody is going to make a plea to Town Meeting,” Sweezey said. “They already started through letters and interviews and in the newspapers. I?m not sure what?s going to happen, but I?m always on the public safety side. Essex Street is an older part of town where fire danger is very, very extreme. I?ll probably be looking to that part of the budget.”Town Meeting member Peter Manoogian said the only thing predictable about Town Meeting is how unpredictable it is.?Anyone who thinks they can lay out a scenario and have it materialize as planned is wrong,” said Manoogian. “Whether you agree with the budget from the Finance Committee or not, this is such a difficult year for the town trying to establish a baseline.”Manoogian said he supports the budget recommended by the Finance Committee and noted he?s “not going to make any initiatives to change that.”However, Manoogian did say he?ll fight to make sure the library doesn?t isn?t cut further.?Any attempt to take money out of the library I will fight,” said Manoogian. “If anyone does that they?re going to have to identify a source of money for the unemployment it would yield.”Town Meeting starts tonight at 7:30 p.m.Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].