Two significant bills will come due for Saugus in 2024: the new Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational School Building Project and the beginning stages of funding a third fire station for the west side of town.

Both projects will require significant investment beyond what can be funded through the town’s operating budget, and, as a result, residents will likely be asked to vote on a debt exclusion and/or an operational override to ensure Saugus can pay those bills. Ensuring residents are educated about the twin projects and the need to be proactive about securing funds to cover the costs was cited as a top priority for the Board of Selectmen in 2024 by its chair, Debra Panetta.

Panetta was the top vote-getter in the race for Board of Selectmen during the town’s election this fall, and 2024 will be her first full year leading the selectmen since 2018 after Anthony Cogliano served as chair from 2019 to 2023. In a lengthy statement, Panetta outlined numerous goals for the board in the coming year, with a significant focus on infrastructure.

Among the other projects Panetta cited were the Town-Wide public safety communication infrastructure project, for which the town secured a $1 million grant to help fund the cost of the town water-meter replacement program, which she estimated will cost $6 million, improvements to parks and playgrounds, and re-purposing the offline school buildings.

On the public safety communication project, Panetta said replacing existing infrastructure will allow for “reliability and town-wide coverage for the portable and mobile radios and a needed investment in the town-owned network to expand fiber optics communication.”

The new water meters funded through the replacement program will be automated, alerting residents when their usage is abnormal. In 2023, several residents approached board members to seek help with excessively high water bills.

Panetta said any action on the vacant schools, like Oaklandvale, Lynnhurst, and Waybright, will be delayed as the town deals with the school and station costs.

Beyond infrastructure, Panetta called for increased communication of town-wide information to residents, including frequent updates to the town’s website.

And, Panetta said the board needs to schedule Show Cause Hearings to address the numerous restaurants in town that have closed but still hold all-alcoholic liquor licenses, which could be redistributed to aid different businesses in town. Board members renewed all the licenses in town earlier this month.

“We have one restaurant [that] has an all-alcoholic liquor license that never even opened in Saugus,” Panetta said, noting that the Longhorn restaurant holds a license. “Some of these establishments have had years to sell their license. I am sure we have restaurants in Town that would appreciate having one of these licenses, which would help them with their business, and Saugus would get the meal-tax revenue.”

At a Show Cause Hearing, board members could revoke the licenses issued to now-shuttered businesses.

Headlining the board’s accomplishments in 2023 was a pair of steps taken toward revitalizing Cliftondale Square — the reception of a $2.3 million grant and the purchase of a property adjacent to one acquired by the town in 2022. The future of those properties is not certain, though town officials have repeatedly floated the idea of constructing a parking lot there.

Panetta also pointed to the town retaining its AA+ bond rating from Standard and Poor’s as a “huge accomplishment.”

“We have funded many projects within our own operating budget without an override or debt exclusion,” she said, adding, “maintaining the Town’s strong fiscal health throughout the pandemic without any layoffs or reduction or interruption in Town services was a significant achievement.”

When board members extended Town Manager Scott Crabtree’s contract earlier this year, they noted his role in boosting the town’s financial standing as a major reason why he remained the best person to serve in that post. Panetta said extending his contract “provides continued stability for our Town.”

“I believe he’s been able to listen to the residents as well as elected and appointed officials, prioritize needs, put plans together, and execute effectively,” she said. “Under his leadership, we remain a full-service community, have received significant grant money to help our residents, and have expanded Town services and events.”

Panetta also cited infrastructure upgrades to sewers and sidewalks across town as an accomplishment.

And, she said, the board’s commitment to serving residents and addressing their concerns remains a top priority.

“I know all five selectmen have worked hard over the last year to assist residents with various issues and concerns, and that is something that we are all committed to continue doing,” she said.