The Saugus Board of Selectmen began Tuesday’s meeting with a moment of silence for Doug “Coop” Cooper, who died unexpectedly on Good Friday morning. Cooper was 63, according to Selectman Stephen Castinetti and his predecessor as president of the Veterans’ Council.
Bob Davis, Superintendent of World Series Park, paid tribute to Cooper, who helped him find out how to request a banner and parade permit. He and his wife Carolyn want to hold an event called The Dave Webster/Target Cancer: Community for a Cure. He said that Webster died of cancer last September, aged 47, leaving behind his family. “Dave was always there to help,” Davis said.
After his death, Webster’s widow, Joann, asked that donations be made to Target Cancer, a 501(c)3 organization that raises money for research on lesser known cancers. “All the money goes to research,” Davis said, “no administrative costs.”
To honor Webster, Bob and Carolyn Davis created Community for a Cure with the goal of “Trying to bring out the community to raise money for Target Cancer and raise awareness of what’s out there,” Davis said.
Their event, to be held Saturday, September 15, will involve a parade from the First Congregational Church in Saugus Center to the World Series Park behind the Belmonte Middle School and a pasta dinner at the park. There will be separate fees for walking in the parade and attending the pasta dinner. The fees will be donated to Target Cancer.
“We think we can do it, but we need donations,” Davis said. “Every cent that we raise will go to Target Cancer.”
The Board unanimously approved the parade permit and banner advertising the event, to be hung over Main Street. “This is certainly a worthy cause,” Castinetti said.
Selectman Debra Panetta concurred. “Bob, you continue to give back to Saugus with everything you say and everything you do,” she said.
Crabtree agrees to Department of Revenue fiscal plan
Town Manager Scott Crabtree reported on a meeting he had with the Department of Revenue the previous Friday, where he agreed to certain stipulations, including establishing a capital improvement plan to manage the town’s debt, keeping more detailed monthly cash flow reports, establishing a three-person audit committee, and having the Board approve all spending. He said “The Department of Revenue is committed to working with us to establish financial transparency and stability.”
Restaurant fired-up over violations
A Show Cause hearing on liquor violations committed at Angela’s Coal Fired Pizza in March of 2011 was held. Lt. Ronald Giorgetti of the Saugus Police Department conducted the inspection. He said the hearing was delayed for thirteen months due to a criminal investigation that was unrelated to alcohol violations. When he conducted his inspection, Giorgetti said that he found three violations: The licenses were posted in an inconspicuous spot and the manager on duty could neither provide Giorgetti with a list of current employees nor had a copy of the Massachusetts liquor rules and regulations. Neither the manager nor the bartender could correctly tell the officer the acceptable forms of ID: drivers’ license, liquor license, passport, and military ID.
Alfonso Guevara, the general manager, said that since Giorgetti’s visit training procedures had been tightened up, the licenses had been moved to a spot Giorgetti recommended, and he accepted responsibility for the problems. “I apologize for the violations and I’m embarrassed about them,” he said.
Complicating the matter was a violation in March of 2010: A minor was able to purchase alcohol, resulting in a three day suspension of their license (held in abeyance for three years). However, the consensus on the Board was that Angela’s was well-run and taking good steps to correct its problems.
“Angela’s Coal Fired Pizza has been one of the better run restaurants on Route 1 for the past five years,” Castinetti said, recommending that a letter of reprimand for the violation would be the best way to start.
Selectman Stephen Horlick suggested that a one day suspension held in abeyance for a year would be the best way, and the Board voted five to zero to go with both approaches, meaning that the restaurant’s liquor license will be suspended if another violation is committed there before April 24, 2013.
Updated flood plain map–barber shop permit granted
The Board also approved an updated flood plain map, prepared with the assistance of the Saugus River Watershed Council, which will enable residents to apply for federal emergency funds in the event of a flood. A permit was granted to Anthony LaVacca to open a barber shop in Cogliano Plaza on Lincoln Avenue.
s=MsoN”� cn� �tyle=’font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial’> Those interested in volunteering with the Office of New Residents or who want more information can contact Laurie Holmes at 617-291-5855 or e-mail LEHolmes@gmail.com.