SAUGUS — Town Meeting members voted unanimously to form a closure committee for the landfill at the WIN Waste facility during the second night of Town Meeting.
Article 25, brought forward by Precinct 10 Town Meeting member Peter Manoogian, was approved by a vote of 44-0 to applause from those in attendance.
The committee will seek to identify timeframes for the landfill’s possible closure, outline procedures to monitor usage of the landfill in the event it closes, and explore economic options for its utilization after its potential closure.
After Manoogian introduced the article, several attendees took the lectern to support it.
Among the functions of the committee, Manoogian said, would be to investigate the potential economic uses of the landfill’s approximately 170 acres.
“(The committee) would investigate how much commercial tax is being left on the table,” Manoogian said.
Time is of the essence for the committee, as Manoogian said that the property is developable, but if the landfill “goes to 100 feet, you’ll never develop it.”
Additionally, Manoogian said there are opportunities for alternative energy sources at the property. He said that a previous Town Meeting, an overlay zoning district was established for the landfill’s potential usage as a solar farm.
“No one has investigated how much energy that would yield, how many homes that would power, and so forth,” Manoogian said. “It would be addressed by this committee, and that information would be made public.”
“There are potential benefits for Saugus that far transcend anything that you’ve heard by going along with some sort of a proposal that is outside of the realm of public law and regulation,” he added.
Board of Selectmen Chair Debra Panetta voiced her support for the article, saying that it makes sense for the landfill to close given the dangers of sea-level rise and severe flooding in its area.
Whether the landfill closes soon or not, Panetta said that a committee should be formed. She added that not having a remediation plan in place is irresponsible.
“Our number-one priority should always be the health and well-being of our residents. A closure committee is in the best interest of everyone involved,” Panetta said.
“I think it’s time to draw a line in the sand, so to speak, and end this once and for all, for the good of all of the town,” Precinct 7 Town Meeting member Robert Palleschi said.
Resident Jackie Harris Mercurio said that the formation of a committee would add additional protections and monitoring to the landfill’s open permit.
“There are lots of conditions to close out the 2018 permit… so, I think, forming a closing committee would at the very least, even if we don’t know it’s going to happen, if it’s going to close in the end or the state will let them expand, we’ll at least be able to close out the actual current permit in the proper way,” Mercurio said.
Selectman Michael Serino said it is clear that the landfill was never supposed to be a “forever solution.”
Serino said that a solar farm on the property where the landfill is located could potentially generate $1.2 million in revenue for the town. Over the course of 25 years, he said, such a solar farm could net Saugus an estimated economic benefit of $31 million.
“I truly believe we should work with WIN to explore potential development opportunities, which would provide a greater long-term forever economic benefit to the Town of Saugus,” Serino said.
In a statement, Mary Urban, WIN Waste’s senior director of communications and community, referred to the company’s Host Community Agreement with the town, which has not been signed by Town Manager Scott Crabtree.
“WIN Waste Innovations worked with town leaders, community members, and the Landfill Committee for more than 18 months to carefully craft a Host Community Agreement that was approved by a vote of the Board of Selectmen more than a year ago and includes a closure date for the monofill,” Urban said. “We are eager for the HCA, which is designed to give the town at least $20 million and significant environmental benefits, to be signed and start the rigorous permitting process.”
A member of WIN Waste will be invited to participate at meetings held by the committee in a non-voting capacity.
Town Meeting members will hear additional articles at a third night of Town Meeting on Monday, May 20 at 7:30 p.m.
