SAUGUS — The newly formed Ash Landfill Closure Committee held its inaugural meeting after Article 25, which passed at this year’s Annual Town Meeting, officially established it.
The committee elected its officers and discussed plans for future activities at its first meeting.
Peter Manoogian was elected chair and Carla Scuzzarella was elected clerk, with Selectmen Debra Panetta and Michael Serino rounding out the committee.
Town Manager Scott Crabtree was invited, however a designee, Administrative Aide Jeannie Meredith, attended in his stead.
The meeting was well attended, with various advocacy groups from surrounding communities, such as Slingshot and Lynn Environmental Volunteers, present.
Panetta said that she had invited representatives of WIN Waste Innovations, which owns the landfill, to attend the meeting, but that they had declined to attend via email.
“While we do appreciate the offer, we respectfully decline the invitation to participate on a committee that has been formed explicitly to attempt to dictate the future use of our private property,” Panetta read, quoting WIN Waste Senior Director of Communications and Community Mary Urban.
Urban added that WIN Waste Innovations will continue to send updates regarding the plant and attend Board of Health meetings.
“Our focus remains on finding a path forward for the most environmentally friendly option, which we believe is to continue to utilize our monofill to safely manage the residual ash from our adjacent waste-to-energy facility while also providing tens of millions of dollars in economic and environmental benefit to Saugus,” Panetta read, again quoting Urban.
Manoogian said that he believes that around the time of the formation of the post-closure committee for Aggregate Industries, the company was also “reluctant” to participate, but ultimately began to attend the meetings and “saw the wisdom of working with the town.”
“Hopefully, WIN will as well,” Manoogian said.
“I think we should do our due diligence and do the best job we possibly can and come up with recommendations, suggestions, and continuously invite a WIN representative to come,” Panetta said. “Maybe (WIN Waste Innovation) will change their mind and they will send a representative… We’re giving them the chance to sit at the table and work with us.”
Loretta LaCentra, a founding member of the Alliance for Health and Environment, said that the committee has the support of surrounding communities and hopes that WIN Waste will “come to the table.”
Bernette Dawson of Slingshot echoed LaCentra’s sentiments.
“Slingshot is here to support in any which way possible to help move this forward,” Dawson said.
The committee’s next meeting will be on Sept. 16 at 6:15 p.m.
