SAUGUS — Peter Manoogian has announced a reelection bid for Precinct 10 Town Meeting Member. First elected in 1985 to represent Precinct 10, Manoogian is regarded as one of the most knowledgeable and experienced elected officials in the Town of Saugus.
He has served 13 terms (26 years) as a Precinct 10 Town Meeting Member, three terms (six years) as a Selectman, one term (two years) as a School Committee Member, and one term (three years) as a Finance Committee Member and Chairman. In all of these 40 years of elected and appointed service, he has missed only one meeting. He has a 100% voting record in Town Meeting and has maintained independence and ethical conduct as a Town official.
Manoogian has never taken the residents of Precinct 10 for granted. He is known to be responsive and effective in addressing constituent inquiries and concerns, whether it be tree limb issues or a zoning issue affecting neighbors.
He has been a vocal advocate of closing the WIN ash landfill. He has formed and nurtured alliances with regional and state officials to further that goal. He believes that Saugus residents should not have to be subject to higher health risks from an incinerator that cannot possibly meet emission standards.
Manoogian is responsible for a bylaw adoption that prevents a trash fee without a vote of Town Meeting. Because of this bylaw, Saugus is one of but a few North Shore communities where the residents are provided trash pick-up without paying a fee. He is aware that the state will soon be allowing local communities to raise the meal tax. Manoogian will oppose this when it comes before Town Meeting.
Manoogian usually supports the financial recommendations of the Finance Committee, especially on proposals that have resulted in Saugus being in the best fiscal condition in its history. He also supported Selectman Michael Serino’s proposed zoning changes to restrict the height and density of Route 1 apartment buildings. These proposals were adopted.
He was a vocal opponent of the Town Meeting allowing marijuana sales in Saugus after the voters opposed these sales. To date, Saugus has not received 1 cent in revenue and has expended tens of thousands of dollars on lawsuits brought forth by disgruntled applicants.
If reelected by the voters of Precinct 10, Manoogian will remain responsive to his constituents and, God willing, will attend each meeting and vote on every article. Manoogian often reminds his colleagues of the Athenian Oath to “transmit this town not only, not less, but greater and more beautiful than it was transmitted to us.”
