SAUGUS — Town Meeting member Jenna Nuzzo’s Article 31, focusing on the vacant school buildings in Saugus, was on the floor of Monday night’s Town Meeting, with an in-depth discussion of the article’s components and its financial implications for the town.
The article would establish a Vacant School Facilities Assessment Committee to evaluate vacant school buildings owned by the town, including, but not limited to, the former Lynnhurst, Waybright, Oaklandvale, Ballard, and Roby School, as well as any other vacant school properties owned by Saugus.
“This article is simple. It is practical. And quite honestly, it is long overdue,” Nuzzo said, noting the number of vacant school properties that are in town. “… While they sit there, they continue to cost us money. They continue to deteriorate, and they continue to represent missed opportunity.”
Nuzzo also highlighted that this idea was already in place in the town’s master plan.
“Over and over again, the plan calls for fully utilizing town-owned buildings, conducting space and facility assessments, creating strategies for surplus properties, and exploring adaptive reuse of former school buildings. (It) even specifically identif(ies) schools like the Waybright as opportunities for future community use,” she said.
Nuzzo then pointed out multiple goals in the master plan and noted that the six schools on the plan had no data listed, despite being labeled as surplus buildings.
“We own these buildings, and we don’t even have complete documented information on them,” Nuzzo said.
She then acknowledged past efforts, specifically the committee that worked on the Ballard School.
“What we do not have today is a formal, comprehensive, professional assessment of this property. Not a documented, structural evaluation, not a full environmental review, not a complete cost analysis. And I specifically asked for that documentation, and based on the communication, it does not exist in any formal, reportable way,” she said.
Nuzzo did not want to dismiss the prior efforts, but highlighted that the prior work hadn’t yet solved the current issues.
Another point in the plan referenced the need for a new Youth and Rec location, highlighting Waybright as a potential location.
“The master plan explicitly calls for asset management policies for surplus properties, public input on reuse of these exact schools, and most importantly, a full space needs analysis assessing building condition, usage, and financial costs. That is exactly what this article does. Not something new, something we were already told to do,” she said.
Town Meeting member Joseph DiFilippo stood in support of the article, noting that one of the most fundamental responsibilities of the Town Meeting was ensuring the town was a responsible steward of public assets.
The article stated that the Committee would be made up of five Town Meeting members, including Nuzzo, with the rest chosen by lottery; two members of the Board of Selectmen; a member of the Finance Committee; a citizen chosen by the sponsor with building and planning experience; and the town planner.
Selectmen Frank Federico and Vice Chair Anthony Cogliano both stood in support of the article and volunteered to sit on the Committee. Cogliano also noted that he had been on the committee for the Ballard property.
Town Meeting member Peter Manoogian, who helped spearhead the effort for the Ballard School, had no issue with the idea of the article but asked that it be amended to include Town Manager Scott Crabtree or his designee.
“Under our charter, the town manager is responsible for buildings and maintenance of those buildings. So it seems to me that if this information that my colleague wishes to obtain, it would be appropriate to have the person responsible for these buildings… be involved,” he said.
Nuzzo agreed with the amendment.
Town Moderator Steve Doherty stated that Town Meeting does not have the authority to appoint people outside the Town Meeting members to serve on a Committee.
Town Meeting member Arthur Grabowski had some issues with the article.
“I reference the report from the town counsel on Article 32. It says that this article is not proper and should not be voted to adopt as such article contradicts the power and duties of the town manager set forth in the town charter. I believe that the town manager is the sole responsible person for all town buildings,” he said.
Grabowski also pointed out that the article states the Committee will “assess the structural condition of such buildings,” and that he does not see a person on the Committee who would have the professional expertise to do this, and that there would be a cost associated with the article.
Town Meeting member Stephanie Shalkoski had similar issues with the article, noting that it appeared to be a professional services contract.
Nuzzo said the difference between the past committee and this one was that it would get an actual physical assessment of the buildings to figure out if any of them can be rehabilitated or if they need to be demolished. She also noted that there were grants that pay for property assessments.
“How can you say no to the enthusiasm that my colleague has shown? I’m supporting this. It’s a ton of work. I did it in 1985 on the Cliftondale School… The type of enthusiasm that I hear will carry this forward. I think she’ll do the right thing. I think she will include the town manager in the process… I’m looking forward to the work being done,” Manoogian said, ending with a joke that he didn’t want to be on the Committee.
Selectman Michael Serino also had no opposition to the article, stating that the Selectmen have publicly stated that they do not want to sell these schools. He also pointed out that they might want to keep one of the buildings as is if enrollment increases and there is a need to reopen it.
Federico also stated that he doesn’t see funding being a current issue, as this article would first get the conversation started, and that they would later have to look at funding down the line.
In the end, with the amendment of the town manager or a designee, the article passed unanimously.
