Saugus rounds up votes on parks

SAUGUS – Town Meeting members, after a lengthy debate, voted 44-1, with four members absent, to repair the parks and playgrounds Monday at Town Hall.Members also voted, unanimously, to provide up to $1.85 million for a feasibility study for a new high school, as mandated by the Massachusetts School Building Authority.Seven other articles – 7 through 13 – involving revolving funds all passed unanimously, according to Town Moderator Steve Doherty.A third session, which will be taken up with the town budget, will take place Monday, June 8.?We hope to vote on the entire budget then,” Doherty said.On the parks and playgrounds issue (Article 1), Precinct 8 member Eugene Decareau was the lone opponent, and his motion to refer the issue to Town Manager Scott Crabtree for an expert?s advice did not pass. Decareau said with all due to respect to those who helped put the article together, he?d like more information before voting for it.?I?d like to suggest a recommendation to refer the article back to the Town Manager and to receive quotes from three qualified persons, companies, or consultants first,” Decareau said. “It?s important that we do it, but let?s do it right.”Decareau said he understood the figures are well-meant as they are, but if they?re estimates – not computed by professionals – he won?t have it.A motion recommended by Precinct 4?s Robert Cox to complete a more thorough assessment on the parks was defeated. And while Cox was originally opposed to the article, he ultimately voted for it two hours later.?Although I was opposed earlier and I indicated my concern, I?m not saying a vote shouldn?t be made, but I would like to have a more thorough plan,” Cox said. “I?ve never voted on something that?s not good for the town, but unless I have a firm plan of where we?re going. My past experiences in not only local politics but in the state and businesses that I?ve worked for, two years later, they?ll do something else.”Crabtree presented a slideshow, showing pictures of areas of playgrounds that are in need of repair, and a comparative look with other cities and towns, including Lynn, Revere, Wakefield, Lynnfield and Melrose.?Everyone who has visited the playgrounds is aware that the parks are in disrepair, abandoned and neglected for – at this point decades,” Crabtree said. “I?m embarrassed to be town manager where I and other parents have to send our children and grandchildren to parks in other towns. Yellow tape around the equipment signifies safety issues. In the last two weeks, two injuries were reported, sustained from the equipment.”Crabtree said it was an exciting evening in that both articles passed.Article 7 will reauthorize a revolving fund for the purpose of supporting recreational community programs; Article 8 for supporting the water system cross-connection program; and Article 9 for the purpose of supporting programs and activities at the Senior Center.Article 10 provides for the Senior Lunch Program at the Senior Center; Article 11 for supporting the town of Saugus compost program; Article 12 for raising and transferring from available funds a sum of money for street resurfacing, handicapped ramps and sidewalks; and Article 13 for authorizing the treasurer, with the Board of Selectmen?s approval, to borrow a certain amount at 0 percent interest from the MWRA Local Pipeline Assistance Program for the purpose of designing and constructing improvements to water pipelines.