SAUGUS — Wednesday night, Saugus Action Volunteers for the Environment (SAVE) hosted its forum for the Board of Selectmen candidates. Nine candidates are running, and all answered randomly selected questions focused on environmental issues.

The moderator for the evening was Joyce Rodenhiser, and the timekeeper was Al Rodenhiser. Both are founding members of SAVE.

To begin, candidates gave their opening statements. All candidates thanked SAVE for hosting the event. Saugus TV was also thanked for filming the forum.

Incumbent Michael Serino said, “I’m a graduate of Saugus High School and the University of Massachusetts… I’d like to thank SAVE, our leading environmental organization in Saugus, for sponsoring this. They’ve provided over 50 years of environmental help to the town, and our community is a much better place to live in because of your leadership, and I want to thank you for that.” 

He added, “My environmental record includes former chairman of the Conservation Commission, former chairman of the Open Space Committee, member of the Town Meeting Landfill Committee, a long-time member of SAVE, and a member of the Conservation Law Foundation. In closing, I’ve always been a steadfast advocate for our environment, and I certainly welcome the opportunity to share my thoughts with you tonight. Thank you.” 

Challenger Frank Federico said, “I’m running for Selectman because I care deeply about the direction of our town. As a resident and small business owner here in Saugus, I’ve seen what works, and I’ve also seen what hasn’t worked. I believe in keeping the traditions that built this town while improving upon them with transparency, accountability, and willingness to adapt. That also means protecting our environment, keeping our air and water clean, preserving open spaces, and ensuring any growth that we pursue is done responsibly and sustainably.”

He added, “We can have progress and economic opportunity without sacrificing the health of our residents or (the) natural beauty that makes Saugus a great place to live. I want to help lead (a) Saugus that’s business-friendly, fiscally responsible, and environmentally conscious, a community that plays smart and protects what matters most. Thank you.”

Incumbent Debra Panetta said, “I live at 1 Bellevue St., and I am married to Mark Panetta. I have two children, Mark Jr. and Sabrina. I earned my bachelor’s degree in accounting from Suffolk University and my Master’s in Business Administration from Northeastern University. I also received my Project Management Professional certification. I have over 40 years of experience working in finance, accounting, and strategic planning, along with serving as your Saugus Selectman for the past 14 years, currently as chairman. I also serve as the president of the Saugus River Watershed Council, board member of the Saugus Business Education Collaborative, member of the Historical Society, the Women’s Guild, the Garden Club, past president and current member of SAVE, member of Conservation Law, the Alliance for Health and the Environment, and the Sierra Club.”

She added, “I’m honored to be endorsed by the North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters, Local 339, the Sierra Club, and the Environmental League of Massachusetts Action Fund. I am also a two-time recipient of the Grassroots Leadership Award from Clean Water Action for environmental excellence. I’ve also served as the chairman of the Saugus School Committee, as a Town Meeting member for 10 years representing Precinct 5, vice chair of the Saugus Charter Commission, member of the Master Plan Advisory Committee, secretary of the Cliftondale Revitalization Committee, and on the Tree Committee for 12 years. Giving back to our community through volunteering and participating in community events is something that I strongly believe in. It’s important to mention that Saugus boasts an AA+ stable bond rating by Standard & Poor’s, the highest in Saugus’s history, which is saving taxpayers millions of dollars. With our finances and good order, we can have a better focus on environmental concerns. Thank you.”

Challenger Sandro Pansini Souza said, “Thank you to all of you who came out not just to listen, but to engage, to challenge us, and to remind us that we’re not alone (in) caring for this town. Your presence tonight inspires us, and I say this to myself first, to keep working together for the good of all who call Saugus home. I’m a father and I’m a husband. I have an 11-year-old kid. I’m also an entrepreneur. I’m a lender in six states, and I’m a broker in two states. I’ve been in the mortgage business for a long time, and I enjoyed being here in town as well. Now I’m serving as treasurer for Saugus TV, which I’m proud to (do). 

He added, “Saugus deserves leadership that protects our health, our open spaces, and the natural beauty that makes this town home. My vision is simple: make environmental responsibility (a) shared priority for the entire Board, not just one Selectman. Together, we can protect our wetlands and rivers, preserve green space, and hold operations, including WIN Waste, to the highest environmental standards. We can expand recycling and composting, invest in clean infrastructure, and teach our children to care for the land that we inherit. I believe in teamwork, transparency, and accountability. No one person can solve the issue alone, but united as a board, we can ensure that every decision consists of the health of people and the future of our town. Because we work together, Saugus wins, (and is) cleaner, stronger, and better for generations to come… Thank you.”

Challenger Jennifer D’Eon said, “I live in Cliftondale with my husband, Tom. We have two children, Ally, who turned 23 today, and my son, Jake, who is 18. I’m also the proud owner of a four-year-old German Shepherd named Chief. I’m a long-time Saugus resident and a dedicated public servant. I’ve always believed that protecting our environment is essential to preserving the character and health of our town, and Saugus is blessed to have natural beauty from the Saugus River to Breakheart Reservation. 

She added, “We must all work together and collaborate to preserve these resources and ensure that they remain vibrant. If elected to the Board of Selectmen, I will advocate for policies that preserve our open space and wetlands, promote sustainable growth, prepare for climate change, and collaborate with other boards such as the Garden Club and the Tree Committee. Anything that we can collaborate on to make our town more beautiful. Environmental conservation and stewardship are not partisan issues; it’s a community responsibility, and I take it seriously. I’m running for office once again to ensure that Saugus remains safe, healthy, and a beautiful place to live. Thank you for your support.”

Challenger Vincent Serino said, “I’m a lifelong resident of Saugus — born and raised here, and now I am raising my own family here as well. My wife, Julianne, a teacher in the Saugus school system, and I have four children who all graduated from the Saugus Public Schools as well as four-year Universities and have gone on to successful careers. This town has given so much to me and my family, and I’m running to give back — and to help lead Saugus forward with experience, transparency, and a deep commitment to our community.

He added, “I’ve served on the School Committee for the past six years, the last four as Chairman. During that time, I’ve worked with town officials on municipal budgets, educational programs, and long-term planning. I’ve also owned a small business and currently serve as Executive Director of Sales and Marketing — giving me both public and private-sector experience that I believe is valuable at the Selectmen’s table. Most importantly, I’m an independent thinker. I believe in listening, finding common ground, and always doing what’s best for the residents of Saugus. Whether it’s improving public safety, supporting our schools, or encouraging smart growth — I’ll work hard every day to make decisions that strengthen our town, now and in the future. Thank you, and I look forward to the conversation tonight.” 

Incumbent Anthony Cogliano said, “Nobody loves this town more than I do, and I do my best to prove that every single day. I was first elected to the Saugus Board of Selectmen in 1991 and served for 10 years. After that, I stepped away to focus on my family. My wife, Teresa, and I raised four wonderful children: Cassandra, Gabriela, Sophia, and Anthony Jr. We are now blessed with two beautiful granddaughters, Luciana and Leila Cross, both sixth-generation Saugonians. That legacy keeps me grounded and reminds me every day why I serve. I take this position seriously and work hard to make Saugus the best it can be. When it comes to the tough issues, especially on the environment, I’ve always believed in working with people, not against them. That approach has paid off. WIN Waste now attends every meeting of the Board of Health and responds to issues immediately. Communication is always the key.”

He added, “I also played a major role in creating the WIN Waste Landfill Committee, so Saugus is prepared should the state ever allow an expansion of the ash landfill. The committee developed, and the Board of Selectmen approved, a host community agreement guaranteeing no tipping fees for 30 years, which would save the town upwards of $40 million, while requiring major facility upgrades and new air quality monitors, and lower NOx emission levels. My longstanding belief has always been that what comes out of the stack and releases into the air is far more important than the height of the landfill. The harsh reality is that if and when the landfill closes, the plant will continue to operate. Yet, Saugus will receive no economic benefit from its presence without a signed host community agreement. I’m also proud to have led the Hilco Development Project that brought the UPS facility on Route 107, one of the largest environmental clean-ups in our town’s history. We transformed a polluted salvage yard into a modern facility that created hundreds of jobs, and soon a beautiful river walk will open for residents to enjoy. My family lives in and we call East Saugus our home. The safety and well-being of my family, friends, and neighbors continues to be my top priority.”

Incumbent Jeffrey Cicolini said, “I’m an honors graduate of Saugus High School, and I graduated magna cum laude from Salem State University in 1994, when I joined my firm, AAFCPAs. We’re a 400-person CPA firm located in Westborough… I’ve always been environmentally aware; however, in the past decade, I’ve become significantly more aware, passionate, and outspoken about protecting our environment, our people, and our Earth. In today’s fast-paced society, everyone is trying to do everything more efficiently and effectively, and unfortunately, sometimes the impact on our environment is not taken into account. The protection of our environment and the natural resources is imperative in order to make sure our future generations can enjoy the air we breathe and the land we occupy.” 

He added, “Education needs to start as early as possible for our children, from renewable energy, solar farms, and the importance of capping landfills, to promoting recycling and encouraging the purchase of energy-efficient household items such as appliances, toilets, and hot water heaters, their countless ways for our residents to partake in the protection of our environment and natural resources. If we elected, I would like to continue to work with our town manager and our recycling coordinator to explore items to further our stands as a green community, which includes looking into the possibility of single stream recycling and continuing to update our facilities to more energy efficient platforms to gain further levels of LEED certification… Thank you.”

Challenger Stacey Herman-Dorant said, “My husband Joe and I have proudly called Saugus home for the past 20 years. Like you, we built a life in this town and we’re deeply invested in its future. Professionally, I work in university administration. I hold an undergraduate degree in communications and a master’s degree in higher education administration. I have experienced leading teams, managing budgets, and solving complex problems by listening first and acting thoughtfully. I will bring these same skills to the role of Selectman. I currently serve as a Town Meeting member with a perfect attendance and voting record. I also serve on the Zoning Board of Appeals, and I’m a proud member of the Saugus Garden Club, SAVE, Bike to the Sea, and the Saugus River Watershed Council. I’ve also served on the Affordable Housing Trust.”

She added, “I believe that every person in Saugus, regardless of where they live, should be guaranteed the same fundamental rights to clean air and a healthy environment. That’s why I’m proud to have been endorsed by the Environmental League of Massachusetts Action Fund. Protecting our environment and character of our town requires a forward-thinking approach. My environmental vision for Saugus includes automated trash and recycling bins that have lids to reduce litter, organizing precinct-based community cleanups, hiring a part-time environmental grant specialist, holding WIN Waste to admission standards with no landfill expansion, using data from our new DEP permanent air quality monitoring station, and protecting our open spaces. Thank you.”

After opening statements and separate questions asked to the candidates, the final round consisted of a set of candidates answering the same question.

The first question posed was: “How would you balance the need for revenue versus the need for open space protection as Saugus continues to move forward?”

This question was given to Michael Serino, Federico, and Panetta.

“I tried years ago to get the Town Meeting members to pass the Preservation Act in town, and that would charge homeowners, when you sold your house, 3%; the buyer would have to pay the 3%. That money would be put aside for open space. That fell through at Town Meeting. That was my push on that, and I’ve been thinking about it the last couple of years… I think that’s the best way,” Michael Serino said.

Federico said, “I would look at a two-pronged approach for that. I think the first thing we need to do is look at the properties that have already been developed throughout our community. A prime example of that would be the Square One Mall. Everybody in town can see what Square One Mall was… It no longer has the luster that it did when I was a child. We could look at something like that (and) look at how we can redevelop that property without actually expanding the footprint.”

He added that the second approach is attracting quality businesses.

Panetta said, “As we all know, the commercial tax rate in town is significantly higher than the residential, and that keeps our taxes low in Saugus, so commercial is important. Development is going to happen no matter what. But we need to work with the developers in order to have the green space and the open space that is required.”

She continued, “If we use the Hilltop property, for example, there was supposed to be additional open space… I think we need to ask as a community, as the developers come in, more questions. Ask for more greenery… We want to keep as much open space as possible.” Panetta also noted that there are no plans to sell the closed schools to keep open spaces for the community.

The second question posed to the next candidates was: “Our community’s quality of life is directly impacted by various environmental factors. As a Selectman, describe how you would use your policy-setting authority to preserve and protect air and water quality for Saugus citizens?”

This question was given to Pansini Souza, D’Eon, and Vincent Serino.

“I believe that it’s not only important, but we’re living in the town and we want the air quality to be the best quality that we can have. So, I would support anything that we can do to make it better, especially the trees that we can put in the town… It’s what I said before, too. It’s not about just one person’s opinion and one person saying what we can and what we can’t do. But one thing that I can say is that I will support all the candidates when we become Selectmen to go and have a cleaner Saugus,” Pansini Souza said.

D’Eon said, “When you are a Selectman, you have a very unique opportunity to work with your state delegation. You come to the table and when concerns are brought either from the public or you have your own you collaborate with who you can… Anybody who can help you get anything better for our town. With the air quality and the water quality, there are groups that do dredging… It takes a team. People working together… I’d work with others to get these kinds of things done.”

Vincent Serino said, “The first thing I would do is do a real comprehensive study as far as air quality and where the air quality is lacking. I’d spend the time to take a look at businesses that aren’t meeting the standards that we set.”

He added, “Secondly, the big thing is policy. Let’s have policy in place to hold people accountable. The people that aren’t doing the right thing for the community. The businesses that aren’t keeping the air (and) water clean. The town makes investments in tide pools and things to keep the water clean… As a community (and) as a board policy is a big thing on making sure both air and water are clean.”

The third question posed was: “WIN Waste can currently meet emission standards by purchasing carbon credits rather than reducing pollution at the source. How do you think this approach affects public health, environmental justice, and long-term climate goals?”

This question was given to Cogliano, Cicolini, and Herman-Dorant.

“These are issues that the DEP sets and allows them to buy those credits,” Cogliano said. “I think one of the things that I’ve shown and was a leading force on was bringing WIN Waste to the table to provide better quality of air for the neighbors, especially around East Saugus, the residents of Revere, and the residents of Lynn.”

He added, “The agreement that we put in place with them would lower the NOx level… Lowering the NOx level is of the utmost importance, especially to the residents of East Saugus.”

Cicolini said, “First of all, I think the option of purchasing credits should be abolished. I don’t think it should exist… I think because they are the oldest incinerator and because they are not at the latest and greatest technological standards, they have no choice but to purchase credits in order to continue to operate. I wish the state would take a hard stance. Eliminate and abolish the ability to purchase carbon credits. Make these companies use their capital dollars… Invest in bringing that plant to modern-day standards to make the NOx levels what every other incinerator is complying with. I think that’s critical.”

Both Cicolini and Cogliano noted that the Host Community Agreement was an insurance policy due to trust lost with MassDEP.

Herman-Dorant said, “If the incinerator continues to operate, they should be required to meet all existing emission standards without buying credits. That should not be allowed. The incinerator is over 50 years old, and the lifespan of most of those facilities are 25 to 30 years old. It’s been plagued by shutdowns (and) malfunctions on a regular basis.”

She continued, “Like an old car, we have to make a decision. Either we invest in our car and it passes inspection, or we say it’s lived its life, and it’s time to get a new one. I think that the plant should be shut down or made to meet all existing standards… The Saugus residents should not be subject to lower emission standards.”

NOTE: Each candidate’s opening and closing remarks, as well as answers to the evening’s array of questions, will be published in full at itemlive.com.