The Saugus Review

Saugus MIS Director Michael Donovan has announced the town’s adoption of a new platform that will allow citizens to report issues like potholes or graffiti in their neighborhoods.  Powered by SeeClickFix, the place-based reporting tool is designed to be used from a mobile device, so residents can take part in community improvement while they are around town.  They can also report issues through the website http://seeclickfix.com, or right from the town website www.saugus-ma.gov .

Town Manager Andrew Bisignani expects to see great citizen response to the system.  “This reporting tool holds our government accountable to take care of quality-of-life issues that affect our citizens, and it holds the people accountable to take part in their communities,” he said.  “It’s a win for everyone.”

The SeeClickFix system has already been implemented by cities and government agencies all over the world.  The platform allows citizens to pinpoint problems on a map, comment on issues posted by others, vote to fix issues, and even create “watch areas” to keep tabs on a particular location.  Governments have appreciated the ability to respond to citizen requests within the platform, and to monitor specific areas.

Saugus residents are invited to download the mobile app, available for iPhone, Android, and Blackberry, at http://seeclickfix.com/apps.  For more information, contact mdonovan@saugus-ma.gov .

In conjunction with the Saugus Firefighters, Town Hall will also be collecting unwrapped toys for those Saugus families that need a little help this Holiday Season.

Please place an unwrapped toy in the box located on the main floor of Town Hall. All donations will be accepted until December 13th. If you would like to make a cash donation please see Joanne or Eileen in the Accounting office.

Together we can bring a little joy to a child this holiday season.

The need is greater for gifts for older kids.

Saugus Police Department is asking the citizens of Saugus to be on the lookout for an individual or individuals who are stealing catch basin grates throughout the Town. This malicious act not only costs the Town money but puts the public at risk.

If any person notices any suspicious activity of this nature we would like them to contact the Saugus Police Department immediately at 781-233-1212. If the registration number of the vehicle(s) involved can be safely obtained it would help in the Police Department’s investigation. However, the Town is not looking for the public to have any involvement with the individual(s) but to only report their activity to the Police Department.

In addition please report any missing catch basin grates to the Department of Public Works at 781-231-4145 so that they can be replaced immediately. The citizens’ cooperation in regards to this matter is greatly appreciated.

Curbside leaf collection will take place the weeks of November 1st, 15th and 29th on your regular collection day. There will be no “missed pickups” conducted. The Town of Saugus asks that you please do your part in proper preparation for disposal. We ask that you abide by the following rules:

• Leaves must be out for collection by 7:00 a.m. on your regular rubbish collection day.
• Leaf containers must be physically separated from trash and recycling.

Paper leaf bags are preferred for leaf disposal. If barrels are used to contain the leaves, barrels must be clearly marked with yard waste stickers (free at lower level at Town Hall), and remove covers so the leaves are visible. No plastic bags or cardboard boxes will be accepted. No branches or brush will be collected.

Please note that separate trucks collect the rubbish, recycling and leaves; so the leaves may be collected at a different time of day.

With Election Day coming up, we would like to help get all registered voters in Saugus, Massachusetts ready to vote! The notice below is from Saugus, MA’s official Election and Registration page.

Voter Registration

Voter registration requirements

• A person must be 18 years of age by election day
• A person must be a citizen of the U.S.
• A person must be a legal resident of Massachusetts
• A person must supply identification

A person has the right to register at any City or Town Hall in Massachusetts. Once registered the person is placed on a voting list in the Town where they reside. When registering, an applicant must give his/her date of birth, legal name, address and identification. The applicant will then sign an affirmation under the pains and penalty of perjury that all information given is truthful and correct.

The registration is permanent until a voter moves to another city or town or signs an affidavit stating they no longer wish to remain a voter. In order to remain registered, you must also return the town census. If you have not returned the census and have not voted in the past two state or federal elections you may be taken off the voters list. If a person moves within the Town, they must notify the Board of Registrars in writing.

Mail-in affidavits are also available by calling the Town Clerk’s Office.

Registration Deadlines

• If you are not a registered voter and plan on voting in the next election, the last day to register is 20 days prior to the election.

Absentee Ballots

Applications for absentee ballots must be made in person or in writing no later than noon of the day prior to an election, but preferably much sooner. A ballot is then mailed to the applicant and must be received in the Town Clerk’s Office before the close of the polls on Election Day. You may vote absentee if you are a registered voter and unable to go to the polls on election day due to a physical disability, religious belief or you will be out of town. Illegal absentee voting is punishable by up to a $500.00 fine and one year in prison.

Board of Registrars

The Board of Selectmen, from a list submitted by the Democratic and Republican Town committees, appoint the Board of Election Registrars. In accordance with the law, two members must be registered Democrats and Two members must be registered Republicans. The board is composed of three members and the Town Clerk, who serves as ex-officio. The registrars are responsible for certifying nomination papers, conducting the registration of voters, officiating at recounts and ruling on any voting/election discrepancies.

Members of Board of Registrars

Polling Locations

For further information on your polling location, please call the Town Clerk’s Office.

The Town of Saugus Board of Health announced that the town-wide mosquito spraying in Saugus has been moved today, September 14, 2010 starting at around 7:30 pm since the previous schedule for Monday 9/13/10 was canceled due to inclement weather.

The Town of Saugus Board of Health will be partnering with the Northeast Massachusetts Mosquito Control to prevent increased mosquito activity and to exterminate positive West Nile Virus mosquitoes found in Saugus. The West Nile Virus (WNV) is most commonly transmitted to humans by the bite of a mosquito infected with the virus and people over the age of 50 are the most prone for severe infection among all the age-groups that can be affected.

The Saugus Board of Health also released the following tips to help avoid mosquito bites and the WNV

1)  The hours from dusk to dawn are peak biting times for many mosquitoes so the public needs to be aware that these hours are peak hours for mosquito bites.

2) Wearing clothes that cover the arms and legs when outdoors will help keep mosquitoes away from your skin so pants, long sleeved shirts and shoes are advisable.

3) Applying Insect Repellent when you go outdoors is reccommended. Using repellents with DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide), permethrin, picaridin (KBR 3023), IR3535 or oil of lemon eucalyptus [p-methane 3, 8-diol (PMD)] can help drive away the mosquitoes and prevent them from biting you. But be warned that  DEET products should not be used on infants under two months of age and should be used in concentrations of 30% or less on older children.  Oil of lemon eucalyptus should also not be used on children under three years of age.  Permethrin products are intended for use on items such as clothing, shoes, bed nets and camping gear and should not be applied to skin.

4)   Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water so it is advisable to drain them. Limiting the number of places around your home for mosquitoes to breed by either draining or getting rid of items that hold water also helps.

5) Some mosquitoes like to come indoors so it is recommended to use repellent screens. Keepmosquitoes outside by having tightly-fitting screens on all of your windows and doors.

For additional  guidance material, go to the town hall or to the website at www.Saugus-ma.gov. For info  about WNV and reports of WNV activity in Massachusetts during 2010, go to the MDPH website at http://www.mass.gov/dph/wnv.  You may also call the MDPH Public Health Information Line at 1-866-MASS-WNV (1-866-627-7968).

Thanks to the efforts of The Board of Health, the Solid Waste/Recycling Department and the Department of Public Works, curtailing of illegal dumping activity within town have been decreasing throughout the last couple of years.

The drop off program was introduced April 2009 and is held during Saturdays from 8am and noon at 515 Main St., exclusively to Saugus residents. Residents were allowed to drop-off up to three large items like televisions and computers along with other smaller recyclables free of charge. Aside from the weekly television and computer drop-off program, the town also holds a hazardous waste drop twice a year during May and October and a weekly compost program.

Grass clippings, leaves, and small brush drop offs are done during Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m throughout the duration of the program.

Previously, residents had to pay a fee so they could drop off their TVs and computers for recycling, but the program making recycling free encouraged a lot of residents to avoid illegal dumping.

Over the last year however, televisions and computers were no longer the problem but construction materials illegal dumping and green trashbags containing yard waste even if people can already avail of recycling for free which is making Solid Waste/Recycling Coordinator Lorna Cerbone frustrated.

Thanks to Cliftondale Square fixture Lomas Flowers, Saugus Town Hall looks less gloomy and more bright because of the newly donated flower adornments for the cause of beautifying the building.

Usually a place where people settle taxes and parking fines, Saugus Town  Hall visits are usually a rather dull experience but Paul LaCorcia of Lomas flower arrangements definitely made the place look more cheerful.

LaCorcia describes the town hall as a beautiful and historic building and said that he wanted to do his part to support the town by donating flowers. He made the flower arrangement himself , a selection that consisted of carnations, spider mums, silk lilacs and baby ’s breath. LaCorica also added a patriotic touch to the flower arrangement by adding some flags to it. The giant vase of flowers was placed near the entrance of the building for everyone to see and the response to the addition to the town hall had been positive says Susan Dunn, chief administrative aide to the Town Manager.

Hopefully his example will carry on to the other florists in town. Several florists have already been notified about Seasons on Display, but so far the response has been underwhelming.

For any florists looking to contribute in Seasons on Display can call Dunn at 781-231-4111.

On the fourth of July the Saugus Fire Department responded to a garage fire on Clayton Avenue at 9:30 pm and again at 4:23 the next morning on July 5 for a brushfire this time which was already traveling up the hill toward homes on Birch Pond Drive form 272 Walnut Street.

Although both fires were successfully put out, the fire department was busy dousing hot spots that got into the ground.

Both fires were believed to be set-off by fireworks based on resident’s reports hence Fire Chief Blanchard warns against the use of fireworks during this season’s hot and dry weather conditions. What makes it more dangerous is that people are busy drinking and celebrating to mind fireworks that can potentially cause fires.

It is illegal in Massachusetts to buy or possess fireworks, however the police have a hard time monitoring the public, especially during the Fourth of July when there are a lot of explosions in the sky.

The fire Chief instead appealed to the people to be responsible enough to stay away from fireworks for their own good, noting that fireworks could cause a multitude of problems that the fire department could have trouble dealing with especially when the dispatch is responding to other emergencies across town.