Saugus board approves I-95 roadbed measure spearheaded by Manoogian

SAUGUS – Saugus selectmen voted Tuesday night to have an environmental attorney and a representative from an environmental firm present during a walkthrough by the Department of Environmental Protection of the old I-95 roadbed.Town Meeting member Peter Manoogian requested the vote as he and 18 other residents filed an appeal to the DEP after the Saugus Conservation Commission approved a project by the Department of Conservation and Recreation to remove sand from the roadbed to restore Winthrop Beach.?The board has been very supportive of the neighborhood ?” said Manoogian. “But apparently the Conservation Commission, for whatever reason, did not want to participate in that collaborative approach to the issue.”More than 30 residents from the neighborhood were at the meeting to show their support for the measure as Manoogian said ownership issues need to be figured out before the project can begin and assurances need to be made regarding a proposed marsh restoration project.According to Manoogian, a letter from town attorneys said the Commission issued its order of conditions before they could provide their full input and said the project will only benefit the town if the DCR follows through with a marsh restoration project.?If the town owns the land, then this is a whole different conversation,” he said. “But if the DCR does have the right to do this, then we need to make sure this funding is secure and this restoration takes place. If it doesn?t, we?re going to be left with a mess down there. The neighborhood is concerned that they?ll be left with something completely different from what was represented.”Selectmen also voted to send a letter to DCR Commissioner Edward Lambert requesting a public meeting to discuss the care and control agreement that has been the center of ownership questions for the land.Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].