Saugus discusses regional partnership to battle drugs

SAUGUS – Saugus Town Manager Scott Crabtree said he?s working with Chelsea, Revere and Winthrop to set up a regional program to fight drug addiction and overdoses in the area.?Part of drug and alcohol addiction is it?s something we don?t want to talk about,” said Crabtree in his update to selectmen Tuesday night. “I think we all realize we have friends or family members that are affected by this and it affects quality of life here. We need to start at an early age with education and intervention.”Saugus recently hosted an opiate overdose summit where local and state officials, families and support groups met to discuss ways to tackle the opiate overdose problem in the area.In town business, the board granted a six-month extension for Aggregate Industries to allow the removal of earth and rock, and to allow the operation of a quarry at Rear Broadway and Whittier Street, granted a permit to Hilltop Steakhouse to remodel the Kansas City room, and continued a hearing for a permit to open a Zumba and Yoga club at 171 Broadway.In other business, the board re-appointed Jeff Cicolini and Earle Bertrand to three-year terms as assistant harbormasters and accepted an official letter of resignation from Gini Pariseau, a former member of the Saugus Cable Television Board of Directors.The board also approved banners to be hung in town advertising the Scott Procopio Road Race, the YMCA Camp Sachem Summer Camp and Saugus Youth Soccer, and approved a parade permit for the Saugus American Little League for opening day.Crabtree also reiterated his praise for town employees in handling last week?s blizzard.?I?m very proud of the DPW, Jimmy Waugh and the guys up there as well as the Fire Department, the Police Department, building maintenance,” said Crabtree.Selectmen also met in an hour-long executive session to discuss Crabtree?s contract, but reconvened the meeting without a vote or any discussion on the issue.Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].