To the editor:
When I read of the death of Wendy Reed of Saugus last week (Item, Feb. 5) I remembered how accommodating and professional she was when I represented the company that built the new Walgreens drugstore on Walnut Street a few, maybe several, years ago.
The Zoning board initially denied permission so we went to Land Court and won our case. It took a few years to get it done and there was considerable interaction with the Board of Selectmen through Wendy Reed.
Zoning lawyers always have an appreciation of the municipal employees they encounter when trying to obtain permission to construct a new building. I only recall a few miserable people over my 40 years of work in 32 different cities and towns. The job is more pleasurable when public employees are so helpful.
I sometimes wondered if the populace appreciates the people who work for them.
Wendy Reed was just one of those calm, even-handed people who did her job to the best of her ability. When she would tell me she would call me back with information, she always did. She would always send me a copy of the meeting agenda with the time I needed to be there highlighted. Now that was being nice.
I asked her to attend the grand opening of the new Walgreens. She politely declined telling me that was not “her thing.” Helping people was “her thing” and people like me will miss her kindness and contributions to her beloved Saugus.
William R. DiMento
Swampscott
