New Saugus budget cuts affect many departments

SAUGUS – Youth and Recreation Director Greg Nickolas said he was relieved his budget wasn?t cut any further, after Town Meeting passed the 2013 town budget Monday night.?We survived,” said Nickolas, whose budget was cut from $120,000 to $65,000. “I?m going to be working with the manager on restructuring things and having the revolving account and the programs be self-sustaining. We?re also going to talk about which way to go as far as drug intervention.”Nickolas said the department?s revolving account has around $9,000 in it and is made up of revenues from the various programs people pay for.?That pays for our expenses,” said Nickolas. “It covers overhead like if we have to hire summer counseling ? supplies and materials for camps.”Nickolas said he owed a “big thank you” to the huge amount of supporters who turned out Monday night, as close to 300 people packed the Town Hall auditorium.?I have to tell you, I was very humbled,” said Nickolas. “Most of the people there were for Youth and Rec.”The library also saw its budget remain as proposed by the Board of Selectmen, which saw a reduction from $525,000 to $370,000.The library faced a further $100,000 cut and the Youth and Recreation Department faced elimination if Town Meeting had passed the Town Manager?s budget, which included $400,000 in arbitration awards for the Police and Fire Departments. Town Meeting did not accept that budget Monday.Paul Allan, a member of the Library Board of Trustees and a Town Meeting member, said the $370,000 budget is a big cut, but it?s “workable.”?We have to go in for a waiver for certification which we should be able to get,” said Allan. “The town is required to match a certain amount of money to keep certification. Because of the cuts through all the departments, it gives us the threshold to apply for a waiver.Allan said there won?t be any layoffs, but hours will be reduced a small amount, which he noted is normal for the summer anyway.?It didn?t affect the staff which is a good thing,” said Allan. “They?ve got a lot of good programs there.”Fire Chief James Blanchard benefited from $135,000 transfer to his overtime account, which had been reduced from $350,000 to just $30,000. Blanchard said the extra money should keep the Essex Street Fire Station open until September.?We?re hoping things may get better by then,” said Blanchard. “I?m happy that there?s something in there, but I?m disappointed we took the biggest hit. There?s no chance (of getting more money) unless the town receives some revenues from something like a new business or some way the state or federal government gives us more money. But of course everyone?s looking for that money.”Blanchard said the turnout Monday night was “unbelievable,” noting that?s the way Town Meeting always used to be.?I?m very old and that?s the way it used to be way back when,” said Blanchard. “There were very tumultuous times in Saugus. Groups like that used to show up in droves. When they used to have it at the junior high, they would fill that entire auditorium and spill out into the corridors. It was very raucous with yelling. Monday was really reminiscent of those times.”Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].