Wong: Saugus welcomes grant even at half of original amount

SAUGUS – A $15,000 child safety grant recently awarded to Saugus would have been cut regardless of when the town claimed the money, said a representative from the Office of Housing and Economic Development.Deputy Communications Director Matt Kitsos said the grant, which was originally for $30,000, was cut in December for budgetary reasons, noting the money is typically awarded in quarterly installments.Several town officials, as well as state Rep. Donald Wong (R-Saugus), have stated the money was cut because the town waited too long to claim the money. However, Kitsos said even if the town claimed the money in August it still would have only been $15,000 because of that quarterly payment schedule.On Wednesday, Wong acknowledged that after doing some research, all the grants awarded were in fact cut as far as he knows.?When I found out that they were going to take some of the money back from the grant, I notified the town hoping they would file for it,” said Wong. “Because when the rumor was going around, it was saying whoever hasn?t filed, they were going to take money away from the grant. But what the governor did when he did announce it, he was taking it from all the grants.”Wong said he?s still “researching” other similar grants awarded to towns, but noted, “from what I see, most of them were cut.”?I haven?t found one that hasn?t been yet,” said Wong. “I?m still looking.”Even though the grant money for Saugus was cut in half, Wong said the town is “still fortunate” to get the $15,000, which will go toward repairing the tennis courts at the Belmonte Middle School.?I?m looking to make up the difference by getting the vocational school to do work and I think a couple of businesses might come in on it,” said Wong.Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].