North Shore news powered by The Daily Item SWAMPSCOTT — To the community members who have seen signs of renovations taking place at the top of the town hall building Interim Town Administrator Gino Cresta said the town is almost at the finish line who is also still the current Director of the Department of Public Works sat down to give updates as the town hall rooftop renovations project enters the last phase before completion the work on the town hall roof is almost complete “The final phase of the roof was that they had to take down the railings that were on the roof and constructions of the railings are also complete,” Cresta said was contracted to complete the work on the roof.  and now all that’s left is for Emery Construction to install the railings back on the roof.” When Cresta was asked how long he expected the project to take he said he believed it would be completed within the week as they showed up earlier in the week of April 27 – May 3 to begin the last phase of the project Cresta noted the town had begun preliminary work in the future replacement of a flat roof on the building which saw a massive crane looming over town hall as work on the first phase of the project was set to begin The town collaborated with SenCam Incorporated on the early stages of the development SWAMPSCOTT  — A fire ignited Wednesday evening in a screener in the quarry on 30 Danvers Road The Fire Department responded to the fire at 6:30 p.m. He said their screener was undergoing modifications by quarry personnel when the fire was ignited “Firefighters were presented with an unusual challenge in extinguishing a fire in the seven-story steel structure housing industrial machinery with limited water available,” Archer explained “Swampscott Fire Captain Michael LeBlanc recounted that the fire showing near the top of the structure on arrival was initially darkened down by the water carried aboard Swampscott’s Big Blue Engine 21 while crews coordinated with quarry personnel to establish a water supply.” Archer noted that apparatus from Lynn and Marblehead assisted in extinguishing the flames There were no reported injuries among the quarry personnel of firefighters Archer said, though moderate damage was done to the screener SWAMPSCOTT — With local elections looming around the corner community members have begun to announce their running for seats on the Select Board A dedicated public servant with a lengthy track record of fiscal responsibility and community engagement has announced her candidacy for re-election to the Select Board MaryEllen Fletcher has decades of experience serving different town boards — where she most recently served as Select Board Chair — and is committed to continuing her work to ensure that every taxpayer’s voice within the community is heard and represented Her background includes seven years on the Finance Committee She was also the liaison to the Capital Improvement Committee and was involved in other committees She was also a member of the Massachusetts Municipal Association Finance Committee “I have had the privilege of serving the residents of Swampscott and I am excited to announce my candidacy for a second term with a strong focus on fiscal responsibility accountability and inclusive governance,” Fletcher said A few of Fletcher’s most notable achievements include reallocating $1.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funds for critical sewer pipe rehabilitation the Land Disposition Agreement for the Hadley and Pine Street projects balancing the 2023 budget between the school and the town Fletcher has been a town resident for 37 years with deep roots spread throughout the community who attended and graduated Swampscott schools participated as a volunteer Girl Scout leader Some of her priorities for the next term include the following: fiscal responsibility Katie Phelan has officially announced her candidacy for re-election to the Select Board After serving on the board for the past three years Phelan is eager to continue working to strengthen the community through thoughtful leadership and collaboration Phelan played a critical role in acquiring open space including the largest land acquisition in over 50 years She also helped secure $1.7 million in ARPA funding to improve Fisherman’s Beach and advocated for a $3.5 million Sewer Revolving Fund to repair the infrastructure that affects the town’s shoreline She also has her eye on the town’s more long-term goals Phelan supported a Feasibility Study for Swampscott Community Center to find ways to address the evolving needs of the town’s population Equity and Inclusion (DEI) consultant to ensure the town is fostering an inclusive community one of her most notable accomplishments was the Hadley School Land Development Agreement which would bring a new boutique hotel with a flurry of jobs economic growth and a fresh destination for the town I was shaped by the Benedictine value of listening with intention The Rule of Saint Benedict instructs us to ‘Listen with the ear of your heart,’ and that belief has guided me not just in my role on the Select Board but in my life,” Phelan said employees at town hall and my fellow Select Board members has been at the core of my approach and I look forward to continuing those conversations.” Phelan is equally passionate about making Swampscott a town where families can thrive “I want to ensure Swampscott remains a town that balances progress with preservation and I would be honored to continue serving as a Select Board member.” An advocate of Save King’s Beach and Chair of Swampscott’s Water and Sewer Infrastructure Committee has announced that she is setting her sights on a candidacy for the Select Board Smith has an extensive history working to rally the communities of Lynn and Swampscott together to battle the issue of pollution her efforts to bring awareness of the state to the sewer pipes led the Select Board to create the Water and Sewer Infrastructure Committee and commit $1.7 million of ARPA grant funds for Fisherman’s Beach “I am excited to announce my candidacy for Swampscott Select Board,” Smith said “The town needs collaborative leaders who listen and work together to solve the challenges facing the town we love I am talking to residents throughout town to understand how to preserve the wonderful aspects of this town by the sea.” determination and passion to the role of town leadership where she hopes to advance strategic initiatives that correlate directly with the wishes and needs of all residents Smith has regularly attended Select Board meetings to understand the challenges and dynamics at play She and her family moved to Swampscott in 2015 so that she could return to her roots by the North Shore joined the town’s school district as the School Business Administrator and her daughter attended Swampscott Middle School for four years “We have beautiful beaches that should be swimmable a wonderful new elementary school that must be fully staffed and equipped and housing that is out of price for many people that want to live here,” Smith said “We have acquired open space and need a plan for it that residents support We must have a middle school on par with our other schools I’m excited to work with my fellow Select Board members to advance these projects and keep Swampscott beautiful and affordable.” Smith holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and a Master’s in Management from MIT’s Sloan School “I want to put a stop to the discord that’s torn the Select Board apart,” Smith said “Swampscott needs Select Board members who will hold public hearings and make decisions in public view for the benefit of all I will be that kind of Select Board member 2025 at 3:44 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The three candidates are running for two spots on the Board at a time when it is expected that town will increase the tax levy and potentially cut some town staff or services to help balance the budget without further cuts to the schools MA — Swampscott Select Board candidates MaryEllen Fletcher Katie Phelan and Liz Smith traded plans and priorities when it comes to dealing with the town's pending budget crisis during a candidate forum ahead of the April 29 annual town election The three candidates are running for two spots on the Board at a time when it is expected that town will increase the tax levy "We are going to have a deficit next year," current Select Board Chair MaryEllen Fletcher said The question is: How high are we going to have to raise taxes really have to take our time and scrub these budgets." Fletcher pointed to her track record of "fiscal responsibility" and said Challenger Liz Smith criticized the current Select Board members for not following through on plans for a "financial summit" following last year's surprise attempt to increase the school budget on the floor of town meeting in a move that was reversed the next night "We knew this was going to happen and we didn't plan for it when we should have," Smith said There is a lack of trust between some members of the Select Board and the School Committee That lack of trust has been building over a number of years and has been really coming to a head." Smith said she is the only candidate who has committed to "fully funding" the schools and charged that the Select Board's proposed budget "has the largest tax increase in at least 10 years and it still doesn't fully fund the School Committee budget." "If we don't close that gap the schools will lay off seven to eight teachers and reduce core programs," she said "The relations between the Select Board Chair and School Committee have reached a new low." Phelan said this year's budget process — despite the lack of a financial summit — was actually the most collaborative of any she has seen since becoming involved in town government and that she committed to becoming more active in the process following last year's budget debate on the town meeting floor She said the hard choices upcoming will be based on determining priorities for the town and among the taxpayers "I can't promise today that we are going to close the (budget) cap entirely by cutting services," she said I can say that we will continue to do the work until the day that we go to the town meeting to try to figure out how we can close the gap and affect the taxpayer in the least way possible we have to decide whether we are going to keep the level of services we have in this town and that may cost the taxpayers more," she added "or whether we are comfortable with where our taxes are and therefore we must give on our services we do not have the amount of commercial and residential taxes coming in to subsidize the services that people are calling for." (Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. SWAMPSCOTT — Early voting has begun for Swampscott residents to cast their vote for the 2025 local town elections The polls will be open for residents from 8 a.m Community members are encouraged to head down to Town Hall throughout this week to cast their votes for their candidates of choice prior to the election officially kicking off April 29 from 7-8 p.m A booth was set up on the first floor of Town Hall where residents could stroll inside and cast their vote making the process as easy as possible for community members Jonathan Leamon was the volunteer positioned behind the booth where he welcomed incoming residents and encouraged them to vote we’ve had quite the turnout already,” Leamon said He said that in the two days the town had early voting 122 people showed up to cast their early votes and early voting goes through Friday,” Leamon added “We hope that as many people as possible vote seeing as how election day is next Tuesday which will be held at Swampscott High School for all town precincts.” Assistant Town Clerk Michael Brison also commented on the impact voters can make in town “We’re just hoping that there’s going to be a large turnout,” Brison said local elections don’t bring a real large turnout 2025 at 12:13 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}"Listening and engaging with residents and I look forward to continuing those conversations." - Swampscott Select Board candidate Katie Phelan (Katie Phelan Campaign)SWAMPSCOTT MA — Katie Phelan has launched her bid for a second term on the Swampscott Select Board saying she is "eager to continue the work of strengthening the community through thoughtful leadership Phelan said she played a key role in several initiatives that have had a lasting impact on Swampscott She supported the acquisition of open space ensuring the town remains committed to conservation She also said she helped secure $1.7 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding to improve Fisherman's Beach and advocated for a $3.5 million Sewer Revolving Fund to repair critical infrastructure affecting Swampscott’s shoreline Phelan cites here championing of long-term planning efforts including supporting a feasibility study for a Swampscott Community Life Center to explore ways to enhance services for the town’s growing and aging population and Inclusion consultant to ensure the town is actively fostering an inclusive environment for all residents She said one of her most significant accomplishments was facilitating the execution of the Hadley School Land Development Agreement which paves the way for a boutique hotel that will bring jobs Phelan said that looking ahead she is "committed to continuing the work of listening to residents and shaping policies that reflect the needs of the entire community." I was shaped by the Benedictine value of listening with intention," she said in a news release to Patch "The Rule of Saint Benedict instructs us to 'Listen with the ear of your heart,' and that belief has guided me not just in my role on the Select Board and I look forward to continuing those conversations." Phelan is a mother of two and said that makes her especially passionate about making Swampscott a place where families can thrive "I want to ensure Swampscott remains a town that balances progress with preservation and I would be honored to continue serving as a Select Board member." 2025 at 1:10 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The forum topics will also include source elimination efforts complementary solutions such as the proposed UV Light treatment summer testing and ​communication about water conditions to town residents and beach visitors MA — The future of King's Beach in Swampscott and Lynn will be the subject of a public forum next week after both the city and town committed to a UV Light pilot program this summer aimed at determining the effectiveness of the water treatment procedure The forum topics will also include source elimination efforts summer testing and communication about water conditions to town residents and beach visitors The meeting is set for the Lynn Auditorium from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m Lynn Community Television will record the event Representatives from the Lynn Water & Sewer Commission Apex Companies and Save the Harbors/Save the Bay will be there to facilitate the discussion and answer questions A three-month UV light treatment pilot program to clean the water of King's Beach in Lynn and Swampscott is on track to move forward this summer after Lynn Mayor Jared Nicholson pledged to increase that city's portion of the pilot funding by $100,000 to the Swampscott Select Board late last month The Swampscott Select Board then voted to spend $300,000 on the pilot — with Lynn now paying $500,000 — with Swampscott housing the temporary treatment unit on Humphrey Street this summer While Swampscott has pledged to spend millions to line its pipes to help curb the source pollution of the Stacey's Brook area Swampscott representatives and regional stakeholders have also long pushed for a "complementary solution" — such as a UV treatment or long outfall pipe — because it has said that pipe-fitting alone will not guarantee a clean beach for years Swampscott Select Board members said that the commitment to the pilot program is not necessarily a pledge to support a more permanent UV Light treatment program even should the pilot — as expected — show encouraging results without substantial state and federal funding to offset the local financial obligation Swampscott Select Board member Doug Thompson called the pilot program "a calculated risk" that was akin to the type of feasibility studies the town routinely approves before embarking on greater projects "We have to bite the bullet in the interest of so many people and that we're this close," Thompson said While the Select Board ultimately supported the pilot program funding by a 4-1 vote members acknowledged there will be a noise and shore sightline impact with the treatment apparatus on Humphrey Street for three months this summer SWAMPSCOTT — Emily Zotto has been named the new principal at Swampscott High School (SHS) according to incoming Superintendent of Schools Jason Calichman Zotto has worked as Assistant Principal of Swampscott Middle School and served as the director of guidance at SHS from 2009-2022 She will take over for Dennis Kohut after he announced on March 1 that he wouldn’t seek to renew his contract “Emily is the consummate team player and has played a critical role in establishing an incredibly positive culture at the middle school,” Calichman said “She is a dynamic educational leader who focuses on supporting teachers Zotto graduated from Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs She worked in sports marketing for about five years she went on to earn her master’s degree at Boston University in 2009 Calichman added that he thinks Zotto is an incredibly intelligent and caring person “She is going to do amazing work at Swampscott High School.” Zotto said her previous experience at SHS will serve her well in her next role knowledge and experience gives you context on how systems have developed over time,” Zotto said “I have many relationships there that will be constructive We want to develop a vision for a culture of excellence so that we can be one of the top schools in the Commonwealth on a sustainable basis.” The ambition with this transition is to continue to give students a positive experience that prepares them for their next steps in life “We want to cultivate a culture of excellence,” Zotto said “We embrace the idea of everyone having their own path and we support a diverse school environment Our job is to provide access and help students achieve individual success.” When Zotto began her work in the guidance department of SHS she noticed the school suffering from a perception issue that she felt needed to be addressed “The perception was that our department was not serving students effectively or communicating with parents well,” Zotto said I will use the same approach as principal.” and she lived in town until the sixth grade at which point her family moved to Switzerland Zotto plans to continue her hands-on style of administration when she takes over as SHS principal 2025 at 11:55 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The early voting begins on Tuesday and runs through Friday at Town Hall MA — Swampscott will hold four days of early in-person voting ahead of the annual town election on April 29 The early voting begins on Tuesday and runs through Friday at Town Hall Residents can also request a vote-by-mail ballot here SWAMPSCOTT — A motor vehicle accident on Paradise Road at the intersection of Ellis Road on Monday afternoon caused one vehicle to roll over upon impact a rollover incident occurred after the two vehicles collided near the intersection of Ellis Road and she said the road has since been opened back up Doyle said that one operator may face motor vehicle charges 2025 at 3:11 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Officials said there is no rain date to reschedule due to a lack of availability for coordinators and vendors MA — Swampscott residents can still pick up a free tree for Earth Day despite the cancellation of the town's Earth Fest because of the weather Officials said there is no rain date to reschedule due to a lack of availability for coordinators and vendors Free trees will still be available at the Swampscott Library from Noon to 3 p.m "We are so sorry to have to skip this year's event and hope we can reconvene in 2026," organizers said 2025 at 4:00 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}"This is not a single-year issue We are anticipating to be in a similar place next year as well." - Swampscott Director of Finance & Administration Amy Sarro (Shutterstock)SWAMPSCOTT MA — Swampscott residents could be facing big property tax increases for at least the next two years — in a town administration-proposed budget that is still $661,000 short of what the School Committee requested for Fiscal Year 2026 last month — according to a budget forum that laid out the challenges facing the town Wednesday night Swampscott Director of Finance & Administration Amy Sarro said the proposed budget would tap into $1.5 million in excess tax levy — the amount of property tax the town can charge homeowners without seeking a Proposition 2 1/2 override — that she said would translate into a $643 annual increase for the median single-family homeowner with a home assessed at $769,000 based on 2025 values She said adding the $661,000 to meet the School Committee's request would increase the average tax bill another $99.94 to $743 "We do want to be very clear as we head to annual town meeting and as we head to Finance Committee review the impact that this is going to have," Sarro said She added that a similar increase should be expected next year as costs — including double-digit increases in employee health insurance contributions — continue to rise while growth remains potentially stagnant "This is not a single-year issue," Sarro said "We are anticipating to be in a similar place next year as well." That increase does not include the 4.79 percent budget increase the School Committee approved on Feb 7 — but instead the 3.25 percent increase the town proposed — a difference of about $661,000 that School Committee members said on Wednesday would result in the cutting of staff members currently employed right?" School Committee member Carin Marshall said But I just want people to remember when we talk about sharing the pain that the schools have sort of bore the pain more than maybe other departments The schools have been cutting every year." The budget proposal is still in the formative stages and still must go through the Finance Committee and eventually to town meeting for approval But the contrast of parents who spoke at Wednesday's Select Board meeting and School Committees urging the "fully funding" of Swampscott Public Schools after years of cost-cutting and town officials saying that tax increases will be necessary simply to maintain level services points to a challenging road on the way to the May town meeting "I don't think it's fair that we continuously say to the schools: 'Who can you cut Can you cut a teacher?'" Swampscott Select Board member Danielle Leonard said "Until we have looked at every single position in this town with the same scrutiny The school budget accounts for about 68 percent of the town budget annually who is retiring at the end of the school year after more than a decade gave an impassioned pushback on the budget during the February meeting where the 4.79 percent increase was approved saying "enough is enough" with the schools being forced to do more with less each year "There are no positions to cut," Angelakis said on Wednesday night I have gone to the drawing board with my leadership team There is no place where there is excessive money put or excessive staff There is nothing left to touch unless I am going to touch programs that draw our kids to staying within our public schools." A budget showdown last year played out on the floor of town meeting when a motion to increase the allocation on the fly passed one night "This is all starting to feel a little bit like last year," Select Board member Doug Thompson said on Wednesday "What happened at town meeting is that people had different versions of what was going to happen (if the increase was not allowed) so I don't want that to happen (this time)." School Committee member Amy O'Connor said the school budget is already pressed to the breaking point with some classes packed with 30 students and critical open positions going unfilled the only place we have to meet our budget is by firing people," O'Connor said "We can't tell you today which (employees) are going to be gone in September if we're talking about ($661,000) that's a lot more than seven (positions)." who died early Saturday morning at age 74 shortly after being diagnosed with cancer but you wouldn’t have known by talking to him unassuming superstars you’re ever going to encounter,” said Jauron’s brother who was shocked and devastated by the news He always deflected anything about himself.” Jauron was named NFL Coach of the Year in 2001 with the Chicago Bears broke records as a player at both Swampscott High and Yale University “He would never talk to you about him,” Bob said “He was a quiet leader who led by example.” Jauron grew up in Lynn before moving to Swampscott baseball) created a lasting legacy at Swampscott High He was a star running back for the Big Blue from 1966-68 compiling 3,284 yards rushing across three seasons and sporting a 16-0 record as an upperclassman scored 140 points during his senior season holds the school record for touchdowns scored and captured a Class B state championship in 1968 Swampscott sported a 25-2 record with Jauron in uniform who played high school sports with his brother for one year From there – with colleges such as Harvard and Princeton on his radar – Jauron took his gridiron talents to Yale University for Coach Carmen Cozza where he was widely considered one of the greatest running backs in Ivy League history Bushnell Cup as the league’s Player of the Year in 1972 and was first-team All-America the same season He recorded 2,947 yards rushing and entered the College Football Hall of Fame in 2015 also excelled in the classroom and was named a National Scholar-Athlete in 1972 as the shortstop was also drafted by the St Louis Cardinals – was selected in the fourth round (91st overall) of the 1973 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions Jauron (25 career INTs) spent five seasons in Detroit followed by three with the Cincinnati Bengals He was named to the 1974 Pro Bowl after leading the NFC in punt-return average he became Coach Jauron for 28 seasons in the NFL as a defensive backs coach and head coach of the Chicago Bears and Buffalo Bills He coached defensive backs in Green Bay and became friends with current Kansas City Chiefs Coach Andy Reid a former offensive line and tight ends coach with the Packers Jauron was hired by Tom Coughlin – a two-time Super Bowl champion head coach of the New York Giants – as the defensive coordinator for the expansion Jacksonville Jaguars the kid who attended Saint Pius V elementary school in Lynn was named the NFL’s Coach of the Year with the 13-3 Chicago Bears It was the greatest one-year turnaround in Bears’ history he was just like his mother (Kay),” Bob said Joey Barrett is the Daily Item's Sports Editor Barrett was also Sports Editor at Endicott College and treasurer of Endicott's Society of Professional Journalists branch February 18, 2025 by SWAMPSCOTT — The Housing Authority met on Tuesday evening to discuss potential redevelopments to the former Lally’s Garage property on 40 Essex Street it was noted the board arrived at a point where it needed to start setting up bylaws and apply for nonprofit status to receive funding from the state  Board Chair Charlie Patsios spoke before the board where he elaborated on the background of the matter that property is on Essex street in Swampscott it absolutely abuts the Swampscott housing property the family units on Cherry Street,” Patsios said “There could never be a better positioned parcel of land for the addition of the Housing Authority inventory that exists.” Patsios said that he indicated that the Housing Authority is not in a position to offer a contractually-binding agreement but that it would be willing to enter a non-binding agreement to allow the board the opportunity to study the parcel over a period of several months “We’d be able to get input from the state and other interested parties that would be willing to help us and we would obligate ourselves to act in good faith there’s no contractual monetary obligation,” Patsios added Patsios said he would be meeting with the current owners of the garage and will bring another board member along they can begin to enter discussions on a possible estimated cost “We just want to be able to have a vehicle to look at and understand what could potentially exist,” he said Patsios noted environmental studies have been done Environmental studies on the parcel were done prior to land being sold to the current owners we need an obligation from the owner saying we can go ahead,” he said The motion was made to enter into future discussions on the matter SWAMPSCOTT— Former Superintendent of Schools Pamela Angelakis officially passed the baton onto Jason Calichman who was officially elected as her successor during the School Committee meeting Thursday evening School Committee Chair Glenn Paster began the meeting that evening by opening up discussion about recent efforts to search for a Superintendent of Schools after Angelakis retires on June 30th Angelakis officially endorsed Calichman as her successor Committee member John Giantis was the first to comment on behalf of Calichman by saying he thought Calichman presented both himself and his vision extremely well “Jason has demonstrated very strong leadership skills,” Giantis said “His years at the middle-school showed that he was someone who had the capacity to make decisions to stay on top of things immediately and get satisfactory resolutions.” “Some other things that stood out to me were your problem-solving skills and community engagement,” Giantis said you’ve gone out of your way to go to events “I think the process we had was very meaningful and that we were able to learn a lot from it.” “I think we’re very lucky that we have an internal candidate and that we know somebody who’s both dedicated and competent,” Marshall continued “Mister Calichman will make a wonderful superintendent What a lot of people want to see is a strong presence in the community and you have that,” said committee member Suzanne Wright Committee member Amy OConnor added to the discussion and confidence that makes a good leadership style.” O’Connor then took a moment to thank the members of the community that took time to write letters both in support of Calichman and highlighting some areas of concern that should be addressed in the future “I have no doubts and I enthusiastically endorse Jason Calichman for the position,” OConnor said “I want to thank the entire school committee for their assistance with this process many people about what we should do,” Paster said He also addressed the community for their diligent efforts to seek out Angelakis’s successor Calichman was then elected by a unanimous vote to be the superintendent designee he will be officially appointed the superintendent of the Swampscott school district for a period of three calendar years “I appreciate the committee for going through a thorough process I look forward seeing Jason get the same longevity.” “I want to thank everybody for the opportunity I’m so proud and happy that this has come to fruition and I won’t let you down,” Calichman said after being elected 2025 at 10:44 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The exterior of the envelope clearly identifies the operator as someone with autism spectrum disorder providing instructions for officers on how to enhance communication or reduce anxiety during traffic stops or incidents MA — The Swampscott Police Department is inviting residents with family members on the autism spectrum to participate in the voluntary "Blue Envelope" program that aims to make it easier for officers to interact with drivers and their family members The program is in collaboration with The Massachusetts State Police The Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association and makes Blue Envelopes available at the Swampscott Police Department as well as any Massachusetts State Police Barracks Residents receive the state-issued blue envelope that contains their essential documents It's designed as a tool for communication and understanding The exterior of the envelope clearly identifies the operator as someone with autism spectrum disorder More information on the program can be found here Those unable to stop at the Swampscott Police Department due to being housebound can email Officer Brian Wilson at bwilson@swampscottpolice.com and an officer can deliver an envelope to you 2025 at 5:44 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}"There were some members of the Board who had recently been elected and we just disagreed about a number of things." - former Swampscott Town Administrator Sean Fitzgerald (Danvers Cable Access Television)SWAMPSCOTT MA — Former Swampscott Town Administrator Sean Fitzgerald spoke publicly this week about his December resignation with months left on his contract who was the town administrator in Swampscott for eight years was asked about the circumstances surrounding his leaving the position during a public interview as one of two finalists to be the next town manager in Danvers "There were some members of the (Select) Board who had recently been elected and we just disagreed about a number of things," he said "I thought it would be best to negotiate a separation because sometimes you just get to a point where philosophically you just don't see the same vision I wanted to do my best to try to leave in a way that would help support the principles that I had and support the town that I had worked for for eight years Have I learned some things over the past 20 years of being the person in charge and addressing all sorts of challenges You can make a huge difference in implementing wonderful change "I'd like to think that leveling a tax rate that had had 20 years of tax increases is generally considered to be (a positive) Swampscott passed an override for just the budget about 15 years ago And we did some financial work that was really difficult And we did it in a way that helped support not only a $100 million elementary school but also a $7 million acquisition of a waterfront property and another couple of million-dollar purchases of other open space "It was all because we had leadership and coordination with a number of really important boards The Select Board asked me to do a number of very complicated things The Board changed and I think it was time for me to move on." 2024 at 5:20 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}"Our apologies that your favorite location Thank you for the years of loyalty to Bertucci's." (Shutterstock)SWAMPSCOTT MA — The Swampscott location of a popular brick-oven pizzeria has closed — leaving 15 Massachusetts locations remaining of the once-thriving pizza shop Bertucci's parent company removed the Paradise Road location from its website as of Monday A sign posted door read: "Our apologies that your favorite location Thank you for the years of loyalty to Bertucci's." Several customers expressed disappointment on social media when they went to the restaurant and found it abruptly closed less than four weeks before Christmas The sign directed customers to the nearest location Other remaining Massachusetts locations are: Braintree 2025 at 12:45 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}"Swampscott needs Select Board members who will hold public hearings and make decisions in public view for the benefit of all." - Swampscott Select Board candidate Liz Smith (Liz Smith Campaign)SWAMPSCOTT a vocal advocate for monitoring and cleaning the water at King's Beach and fixing the aging sewer infrastructure in Swampscott as the chair of the Water Sewer Advisory Board announced on Tuesday that she will run for a seat on the Select Board at this spring's annual town election "Swampscott needs collaborative leaders who listen and work together to solve the challenges facing the town we love," Smith said in her announcement to Patch "I am talking to residents throughout Swampscott to understand how to preserve the wonderful aspects of this town by the sea." Smith was in leadership with Save King's Beach and has worked collaboratively with Swampscott and Lynn residents to stop the pollution and to notify residents and visitors of potentially dangerous water conditions She said her goal has been to refocus "an often emotional discussion on the facts and the date that matter." She said her efforts led to the Select Board committing $1.7 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding to Fisherman's Beach and the town meeting approval of a $3.5 million Sewer Revolving Fund to help sleeve and fix the pipes that lead to the shoreline and passion to town leadership and bridge the divide on the Select Board to advance strategic initiatives in line with resident wishes and needs." "We have beautiful beaches that should be swimmable and housing that is priced out of reach for many folks who want to live here," Smith said "We have acquired open space and need a plan for it that residents support "We must have a middle school facility on par with our other schools I'm excited to work with my fellow Select Board members to advance these projects and keep Swampscott beautiful and affordable." Smith and her family moved to Swampscott in 2015 so she could return to her roots on the North Shore and the "ocean she loves." Her husband joined the Swampscott School District as School Business Administrator and her parents moved to Swampscott as well Their daughter attended the Swampscott Middle School for four years She said she has an understanding of people that comes from years of managing global teams She speaks Mandarin and has lived in Beijing Smith earned a Bachelor’s degree in sociology and a Master's in Management from MIT's Sloan School is active in the Unitarian-Universalist Church served on the Board of Trustees of River Valley Charter School in Newburyport and directs the Handbell Choir at Old North Church in Marblehead "I want to put a stop to the discord that's torn the Select Board apart," Smith said "Swampscott needs Select Board members who will hold public hearings "I will be that kind of Select Board member — and I'm excited to get started." 2025 at 11:23 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Ralph Edwards has started and led community organizations and state agencies and developing programs for youth and the developmentally disabled Diversity founding member Ralph Edwards will be celebrated as a Local Black Excellence honoree at a Lynn City Hall ceremony next week The North Shore Juneteenth Association will honor Edwards at a 6:30 p.m event after he was nominated for the award by St Mary's of Lynn track and cross country coach Tristan Smith The Juneteenth Association and its events commemorate June 19 the date that enslaved Black people of Galveston learned that President Abraham Lincoln had freed enslaved people in rebel states two and a half years earlier The Association hosts regional cultural and educational events Edwards built his knowledge and skills through college at Tulane University an MPH at the University of Texas and an MPA at Harvard's Kennedy School With a love of creative writing and poetry including currently at a Swampscott Senior Center writing group he refined his work in advocating for causes he cared about Edwards has started and led community organizations and state agencies he worked at the MA Department of Public Health as Regional Director of the Department of Substance Abuse and later He then served as the new Director of the Office of Citizen Leadership at the MA Dept which advocates for those with developmental disabilities He has served on the Board of YMCA of the North Shore chaired the Swampscott Democratic Committee for many years was a founding member in 2016 of Swampscott S.U.R.E was a member of the Town of Swampscott's Civil Service Review Committee and its Police Chief Search Committee he was on the Board of the Boston NAACP and the Greater Boston American Red Cross encourages Swampscott residents to write about their first ancestor they know of who came to America SWAMPSCOTT — A resident called for Select Board Chair MaryEllen Fletcher to resign from her position during the board meeting on Wednesday night The meeting was injected early on with a harsh sense of resistance from the residents of Swampscott They voiced concerns regarding a lack of transparency citing an apparent habit of the committee to suddenly pivot into executive sessions which are private meetings the public cannot attend that affect the outcome of matters relevant to the whole community The first to speak regarding Fletcher’s lack of openness and transparency was resident Katie Arrington “Prior to becoming Select Board Chair on May 29 you regularly expressed concern about the lack of transparency by the Select Board and openly criticized your colleagues,” Arrington said I respectfully ask that you stop this immediately,” Arrington continued the committee has held practically no public discussion about the Hawthorne site virtually no discussions about the Hadley Hotel and virtually no public discussion about the Pine Street affordable housing for veterans and VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) until tonight the Select Board has met in nonpublic executive sessions 18 times.” Arrington noted how in 14 of the 18 nonpublic sessions the public agenda references vague parcels of land that were left undetermined expressing concerns that the subjects were only being discussed behind closed doors “The Select Board has not released any minutes from the nonpublic executive sessions,” Arrington said Arrington cited that under the Massachusetts Open Meeting Law for the Select Board to discuss property in a nonpublic executive session the chair must first determine that discussion in open minutes may have detrimental effects on the negotiation positions of the town the Chair could make this determination in 14 nonpublic executive sessions relating to every property the board discussed since June 1,” Arrington said “There’s no excuse for this violation of trust,” Arrington added Arrington said she filed an Open Law Meeting violation complaint against the Select Board and Fletcher last week and that those involved are held accountable and stop the secrecy,” Arrington concluded The next to approach the microphone for public comment was Craig Smith of Archer Street Smith expressed his concerns that stem from the recent conversations of speculation regarding closed-door meetings discussions relating to the potential reversal of the decision to preserve the VFW Post in its present capacity Smith added it was a promise made to veterans “I am quite concerned about the seemingly excessive amount of closed-door sessions,” Smith said “These styles of meetings deny the very people the transparency of process that is intended to serve as the primary function of the board and its elected officials.” “If it is determined at any point in time that the Select Board has openly violated the Open Meeting Law I am calling for the immediate resignation of Select Board Member MaryEllen Fletcher from their present Chairperson position of which would be reassigned following a public vote of the remaining Selection Board members,” Smith said the meeting moved forward with the rest of the agenda 2024 at 12:45 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Swampscott voters chose to support a Community Preservation Act Committee formation that would determine historic preservation recreation and affordable housing funding projects funded through money raised from a property tax surcharge MA — Swampscott voters aligned with much of the rest of the state — if not necessarily the country — in their votes on Tuesday with town residents backing U.S Vice President Kamala Harris for president and trending with the state on all five ballot initiatives Swampscott voters chose to support a Community Preservation Act Committee formation that would determine historic preservation recreation and affordable housing funding projects that could be funded through money raised from a property tax surcharge and state matching funds The proposed 1.5 percent charge over the tax levy passed by a 55 percent to 45 percent margin Here are the Swampscott vote totals for leading candidates (unofficial): Question 2 (MCAS HS Graduation Requirement Elimination) Question 3 (Rideshare Driver Unionization) Question 4 (Psychedelic Drug Legalization) 2024 at 4:35 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Swampscott residents looking to discard their trees after Christmas will be able to put them out curbside during the week of Jan MA — Swampscott residents looking to discard their trees after Christmas will be able to put them out curbside during the week of Jan Trees will be picked up on the resident's normal trash collection day Residents are advised to have the trees out by 7 a.m residents should be sure to remove all ornaments Trees flocked with artificial snow cannot be recycled and will not be accepted December 15, 2024 by SWAMPSCOTT — In a press release sent out to residents over the weekend the Police Department formally recognized the actions of Officers Todd Nottingham and Angelica Noble and Sgt Matthew MacDonald for responding to a motor vehicle crash on Nov The Police Department also expressed gratitude toward several of the Fire Department personnel and Atlantic Ambulance received a report of a motor vehicle crash at the area of Burrill Street on Railroad Ave according to the press release from Swampscott PD Nottingham was first on the scene and quickly noticed the operator of one of the motor vehicles was unconscious behind the wheel while the wheels spun in place as the rubber burned Daniel Waters and off-duty Salem firefighter Nicholas Newhall giving the patient chest compressions once she was removed from her vehicle Shortly after Nottingham rendered the scene safe The Fire Department took over medical care and were assisted by MacDonald and Noble in the event the police needed to create an accident reconstruction to further analyze the scene along with Medics Dingle-Archer and Merullo They then took over the role of medical care for the patient and transported her to Salem Hospital for treatment “The patient owes her life to the dedication and skill of these first responders who performed their jobs with skill and dedication,” Hennessy said in the press release The victim is currently recuperating at Mass General Hospital “I want to particularly commend Officer Nottingham and Firefighter Newhall for their quick actions in rendering a volatile and dangerous scene safe so that they and others could provide lifesaving medical care to the patient,” Hennesy said 2025 at 2:51 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Swampscott residents are invited to a night of exhibits dance and poetry to celebrate how "Black History Is Our History" on Tuesday night at Swampscott High School MA — Swampscott residents are invited to a night of exhibits dance and poetry to celebrate how "Black History Is Our History" on Tuesday night at Swampscott High School and EmbracesDiversity — will host its annual Black History Month Celebration from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m "We want to celebrate and acknowledge the contributions of Black Americans to Swampscott and also illuminate how all of us are impacted and enriched by that history," said S.U.R.E Khatib said the family-oriented event will include Swampscott poet Enzo Silon Surin sharing his poetry and reflections on the various ways that history and culture mold our identity Surin will also lead a forum of residents in this discussion The Swampscott High School and Middle School bands will perform as well as the High School’s Big Blue Steppers Creative student and family art projects will be highlighted The Swampscott Senior Center will provide rides to and from theevent S.U.R.E.'s other popular community projects include Tell Us Your Story (family origins stories ofcoming to America) also showcased the film "Intelligent Lives," highlighting the challenges and successes of individuals with intellectual disabilities It sponsors the Swampscott High School Heritage Festivals and supports the annual town Pride Day and Juneteenth 2024 at 4:27 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}"The lease attached to this marriage is 99 years so it's long-term We want what's best for our community I think they truly feel like what's best for them is parallel to what's best for our community." - Select Board member Katie Phelan (Clearview Investment Management Group)SWAMPSCOTT MA — The Swampscott Select Board voted to enter into a land development agreement with Delamar Hotels to design and develop plans for a boutique hotel at the site of the former Hadley School The land development agreement is a significant step toward turning the former elementary school which was given to the town following the decision to build a new K-4 elementary school to replace the aged building into a proposed 55- to 60-room hotel with an event space and rooftop bar that would employ about 125 people when completed Select Board member Katie Phelan said the land development agreement begins the timeline toward a series of triggers which includes the signing of a 99-year lease in approximately 18 months and the eventual opening of the hotel about two years later "There is a very long road between tonight and anybody sleeping at Hadley," Phelan said on Wednesday night "I just want to be really frank about that so we're not sending mixed signals here to the public." Phelan said that Delamar Hotels has agreed to be transparent during the draft design development process including providing the public with designs open to public comment "The lease attached to this marriage is 99 years so it's long-term I think they truly feel like what's best for them is parallel to what's best for our community." The Delamar proposal was chosen in February out of a final three that included proposals from The Drew Company and Noannet Clearview "envisions repurposing the Hadley School into a market-leading full service 55-60 key 'Delamar' hotel restaurant and spa with dedicated meeting and event space," including: • Guest rooms will be divided between the ‘main’ school building and the annex building.• What is currently the principal/nurses office/admin office will become the hotel lobby and check-in with stair access from the front of the building facing Redington Street and ADA accessible by elevator.• What is currently the gym will become a full-service restaurant & bar with dramatic double-height ceilings an open-concept finishing kitchen in place of the existing stage a new terrace will be built off the building to provide guests with seasonal outdoor dining overlooking historic Linscott Park and Nahant Bay.• If approved a new one-story addition will be constructed on the roof of the 'main' building This area will be programmed with two penthouse suites and a seasonal outdoor bar — all of which have unrivaled views overlooking Nahant Bay and the Boston skyline.• The basement of the 'main' building will house the Spa and prep kitchen — along with regular back office functions such as employee offices • Parking will be located on the site of the existing lawn/playground with select parking available along the Redington Street side of the property the existing blacktop that is not used for parking will be converted into landscaping and green space "We all worked very hard to get to this point," Phelan said "I'm excited that we have this opportunity to work with Delamar They are a fantastic company — a fantastic brand they are very reputable — and I think they will be a great addition to that district." 2025 at 11:28 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The Select Board has approved five days of early voting prior to election day on April 29 MA — Swampscott voters will go to the polls on April 29 to elect town-wide positions as well as candidates for the annual town meeting The Select Board has also approved five days of early voting prior to election day Town positions up for a vote this spring are: TWO SCHOOL COMMITTEE members - 3 Year Terms TRUSTEE OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY member - 3 Year Term BOARD OF HEALTH member – one is a 3 Year Term ONE HOUSING AUTHORITY member – one is a 5 Year Term There are also 18 Town Meeting Member slots open in each of our 6 precincts Voting on election day will be at Swampscott High School 200 Essex Street Voters can request a vote by mail ballot here Swampscott will have five days of early voting with it taking place at town hall on April 21 from 8 a.m 2025 at 1:51 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}"We are talking about people's taxes going up to make this happen Just so that's not lost on anybody." - Swampscott Select Board member Doug Thompson (Shutterstock)SWAMPSCOTT MA — The Swampscott Select Board signaled support for a budget designed to "fully fund" public schools — backing what had been a School Committee request for $661,000 higher in Fiscal Year 2026 than the town target amount — presumably necessitating cuts in other municipal staffing or services Town official said last month the budget proposal would tap into $1.5 million in excess tax levy — the amount of property tax the town can charge homeowners without seeking a Proposition 2 1/2 override — that Treasurer Amy Sarro said would translate into a $643 annual increase for the median single-family homeowner with a home assessed at $769,000 based on 2025 values The original town proposal increase did not include the 4.79 percent budget increase the School Committee approved on Feb 7 — but instead the 3.25 percent increase the town proposed — a difference of about $661,000 that School Committee members previously said would result in the cutting of staff members currently employed in terms of doing this," Select Board member Doug Thompson said "But it does feel like there is a possibility of really doing this (finding other cuts/revenue sources to offset the school increase) in a really responsible way But to not sugarcoat it — we don't really talk about that $1.5 million "We are talking about people's taxes going up to make this happen with Chair MaryEllen Fletcher saying she would abstain because "I have not seen what I (feel is) a full line-item budget from the schools to see exactly what can possibly "I do think there is a process," Fletcher said "I am in full agreement that the schools need additional support knowing that I am very serious about what the tax implications are for this entire community I would just like to see everything wrung out." Select Board member Danielle Leonard said she wants to continue working with town officials to find where more efficiencies and reductions can be found to offset the school increase "We do certainly need to make sure we are as lean as we can get," Leonard said I don't feel like we were doing much of anything on this side to figure out how we were going to bridge that divide "It is time that the rubber meets the road And the Select Board ponies up and says we need to do this for the schools 2025 at 2:21 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}There will be a contested race for two Select Board seats and an incumbent write-in candidacy for a School Committee seat as part of the Swampscott annual town election on April 29 MA — There will be a three-candidate contested race for two Select Board seats and an incumbent write-in candidacy for a School Committee seat as part of the Swampscott annual town election on April 29 While there are various candidates for town meeting in each precinct the ballot for the townwide races appears set with Select Board incumbents MaryEllen Fletcher Katie Phelan and Water and Sewer Advisory Committee Chair Liz Smith running for the two spots on the Select Board There are also two seats open on the School Committee with only one candidate — newcomer Michael Contreras — on the ballot said she has launched a write-in campaign for re-election Each of the other townwide positions — Board of Assessors and Constable — has only enough candidates on the ballot to fill the seats up for election in this cycle The town clerk's office said there are between 16 and 24 candidates for town meeting member spots with the six precinct ballots set to be finalized to reflect that over the next few days 2024 at 2:15 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}This year's parade is set for 5:30 p.m MA — The Swampscott Police Association Holiday Parade is returning this December with residents invited to donate toys for local children in need along the parade route A drop-off box will also be located in the lobby of the police station Residents are asked to make sure gifts are unwrapped and non-perishable Groups that would like to be in the parade can contact Officer Candace Doyle at cdoyle@swampscottpolice.com 2025 at 10:53 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Swampscott Town Meeting members will convene at the elementary school on March 19 to help determine the future of the town's plans for the 12-24 Pine Street and 10 Ne New Ocean Street property purchased for $1.8 million in 2023 MA — Swampscott Town Meeting members will convene at the elementary school on March 19 to help determine the future of the town's plans for the 12-24 Pine Street and 10 Ne New Ocean Street property purchased for $1.8 million in 2023 A citizens' petition seeks to overturn the authority town meeting granted two years ago after those behind the petition argued that the original plan presented to town meeting members — which included senior affordable veterans housing and a renovated VFW post on site — is not represented in current plans to move the VFW post to the former ReachArts building on Burrill Street while a senior veterans-preference housing building is built on the town-purchased site "Passage of this warrant article will serve notice on the Select Board that it exceeded the intent of Town Meeting by excluding VFW Post 1240 as a future occupant of these properties despite clearstatements by the Select Board to Town Meeting that the VFW Post 1240 would continue to belocated on these properties as part of any future redevelopment of the properties," the warrant states The Select Board voted 3-2 in January to decline a special town meeting on the matter — instead to have it taken up at the annual town meeting — but reversed course after Chair MaryEllen Fletcher said during a Feb 5 Select Board meeting that a certified citizens' petition had been submitted which requires the special town meeting within 45 days Those against plans for a relocated VFW that the Select Board approved in a 3-2 vote in December — including Select Board members Doug Thompson and David Grishman who championed the project during the 2023 annual town meeting campaign — argued that the intent of the town meeting authorization was to include the VFW reconstruction on site and that deviating from that in the final project proposal went against the will and spirit of that town meeting vote Danielle Leonard and Fletcher voted in favor of a revised proposal for the property that included spreading the housing complex over the two parcels to minimize its height by one story and its impact on the neighborhood faced a deadline as the town was using the expiring American Rescue Plan Act funding to pay for the purchase and fund the project Fletcher had proposed the town pay one year of utilities and other necessary renovations to the Burrill Street building to make it a financially viable VFW post But VFW Post representatives publicly rejected that compromise arguing that the VFW Post needed to remain on site for the project to be in line with the 2023 town meeting vote The Special Town Meeting will be held in the elementary school auditorium beginning on March 19 with Town Moderator Michael McClung presiding 2025 at 4:16 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The vote Wednesday night was 114 to 104 against the citizens' petition rescinding the 2023 authorization MA — A citizens' petition aimed at halting or forcing the redesign of a senior veterans-preference affordable housing project on town-purchased property on Pine Street — which would necessitate the moving of the VFW post from its current location — narrowly failed following a three-hour debate and vote of special town meeting The petition argued that the Select Board violated the spirit of the 2023 town meeting authorization for the original purchase of the property for $1.7 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding for senior veterans-preference housing and a renovated VFW post by approving a plan that does not include the VFW on site The vote Wednesday night was 114 to 104 against the citizens' petition rescinding the 2023 authorization A request for proposal on the plans received one return from B'nai Brith Housing which presented various proposals that drew opposition based on the height of the affordable housing building if the VFW were to remain where it is to the size of the veterans' space allotted inside the new building following several public meetings and up to nearly two dozen executive sessions pertaining to the sale of the property and negotiations with the developer 3-2 split decision to support a three-story housing building over the two parcels of land on Pine Street which would necessitate the moving of the VFW post to the former ReachArts building on Burrill Street "Without the inclusion of the new VFW there would have been absolutely zero support for this project from the veterans," said Select Board member David Grishman an original chief proponent of the project who argued against the land-development agreement that included the moving of the VFW post "which would have made the warrant article dead on arrival at the May 2023 annual town meeting." Town Counsel Tom McEnaney told town meeting members that any special town meeting vote to rescind the original authorization on Wednesday was essentially moot given that the Select Board had already used its authority to enter into an LDA with B'nai Brith Housing if the town or the Select Board sought to terminate the LDA at this point and failed to proceed with the ultimate execution of the ground lease and the project," he said "BBH under the terms of the LDA would have rights to seek damages." indicated they may also pursue legal options to force the town to keep the post where it is or at least on the current parcel Select Board members MaryEllen Fletcher and Danielle Leonard said the decision to pursue the option that included moving the VFW to a location renovated at town expense and lessening the height of the housing complex was a compromise designed to accomplish as many of the objectives of the original proposal as possible "This decision was made to minimize the impact on an already densely populated neighborhood," Fletcher said on Wednesday night "The plan includes building a three-story structure on the two lots and relocating the post to the original American Legion building at 89 Burrill Street — approximately 600 feet from the original location "The majority of the Select Board believed that this approach was the most balanced way to (use) ARPA funds and guarantee the success of the project." While Affordable Housing Trust Chair Kim Martin-Epstein said a vote to rescind the 2023 town meeting authorization would leave the critical housing project "effectively dead," Select Board member Doug Thompson offered an amendment that would essentially force the renegotiation of the LDA to ensure the inclusion of the VFW on the property That amendment to the citizens' petition article passed before the article itself eventually failed the narrow decision November 25, 2024 by SWAMPSCOTT — The Water and Sewer Department issued a warning statement to all residents regarding the quality of their drinking water claiming that it may be contaminated with traces of lead the department highlighted how the residents’ service line — the water pipe that connects their homes to the water main — is constructed of an “unknown” material which could possibly contain traces of lead To try and combat the issue at hand before it avalanches into a bigger problem the town provided information on the health effects of lead and possible steps that residents could take to reduce exposure “There is no safe level of lead in drinking water,” the statement said “Exposure can cause serious health effects in all age groups infants and young children.” The statement also added that exposure in adults can lead to a greater risk of heart disease Until the material used to make the service line can be determined the statement suggested a number of precautions residents could take to ensure their safety The first suggestion advised residents to run their water for at least one minute to try and flush out any lingering traces of lead levels of lead can increase over time as water sits in plumbing materials that contain lead The town added that using water for non-drinking purposes first The statement was also adamant that residents should not boil water to remove lead Another suggested strategy was to use filters approved by the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) residents are urged by the town to identify and replace any plumbing fixtures in their homes that contain lead or any copper piping with a lead solder Another critical point of information relayed in the statement was the necessity to have children tested for lead It was noted in the statement that children are at higher risks of lead-poisoning The town says parents should consult their children’s healthcare provider or reach out to their local State Health Department The statement also emphasized that residents seek out testing for their homes “We’re asking that every resident reach out to the Department of Public Works (DPW) to have their systems tested,” Swampscott DPW Director Gino Cresta said “What we’ll be doing is going out to each home and testing for lead ourselves hopefully to start putting peoples minds at ease.” 2025 at 12:57 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}"There's no trust There is a little bit of a lack of respect for the professionals who are making these decisions And I've got to tell you that I've had it." - Swampscott Superintendent Pamela Angelakis (Shutterstock)SWAMPSCOTT MA — A school budget battle appears to once again be brewing in Swampscott after the School Committee on Thursday night voted unanimously to support a 4.79 percent budget increase that School Committee Chair Glenn Paster said includes "nowhere else to go" to reduce expenses to reach the town's recommended target of a 3.25 percent increase The gap could set up another showdown amid annual clashes on the school budget that have come down to last-minute deals with the town administrator and even a fight on town meeting floor last spring The School Committee budget approved on Thursday was for $33,919,609 I have felt and others have said that there have been some on the town side who have talked about a superintendent budget and a school committee budget," Paster said That budget not only exceeds the town-prescribed increase of 3.25 percent but exceeds to an even greater level the town policy — exercised for several years under former Town Administrator Sean Fitzgerald — that all budgets must adhere to the guideline of a 2 percent increase plus new growth (typically under 1 percent) But School Committee members have long argued that sticking to those modest increases has actually meant a decrease in services as costs and educational mandates rise especially now that the schools no longer have access to any federal COVID-era (ESSER) funds gave an impassioned pushback on the annual process Thursday night after often acting as a facilitator to reach a compromise between the town and School Committee in years past we have been put through this same ringer," Angelakis said during Thursday's virtual meeting "I appreciate all the people who do support us the questions that come in and the suggestions that are made (from people) without an education degree feel like there's no trust in the superintendent who is leading this district when we know that a superintendent's shelf life is two to three years Every year we've demonstrated our transparency and some of the questions that came in during the last couple of weeks were definitely questions trying to 'get us' on something And the more transparent we are the more we get prodded I'm done with this and I'll say what I want to say If it means it needs to go to town meeting floor then I'm on town meeting floor The Select Board had long-sought a "budget summit" this year to try to head off the annual conflict with Select Board Chair MaryEllen Fletcher telling that Board that she'd been told the School Committee had expressed "reservations about it" when pressed on why that summit never occurred The School Committee has long-bristled at those types of negotiations amounting to members being told to "meet a number" each year rather than the town figuring out how to accommodate the number the School Committee says it needs to run the schools while individual one-time exceptions could be negotiated to meet certain costs containing the overall increase of department budgets to 2 percent plus new growth was the best way to reduce the tax burden on residents after years of previous escalations — which has included maintaining an excess tax levy space between what the town charges residents in property taxes and what it could charge under Proposition 2 1/2 School Committee member Carin Marshall countered during Thursday's meeting that strategy masks the actual costs of running the schools since the agreements cover the added costs for one year but force the schools to fight for that same money over and over again "Our job is to make sure our students get what they need," School Committee member Amy O'Connor said when the town raises money (through taxes) for being a town I am tired of hearing people say: 'Back in my day "There's a correlation between net school spending and school rankings So if we're content to be in the bottom with our net school spending then I think we need to be content to be in the bottom SWAMPSCOTT — Select Board candidate and current Vice Chair Katie Phelan spoke to community members at Coastal Collective on Sunday morning to hear their vision for Swampscott’s future Residents gathered at Coastal Collective on Humphrey Street to hear Phelan talk about her campaign for re-election at 9 a.m where they got to voice their concerns and hopes for the town while enjoying coffee and snacks as they took in the artsy environment of Coastal Collective “I just think Katie’s done great things for Swampscott,” Katharine Ronck said I think she really looks out for our kids and our families and I think for me that’s the most important thing about our town right now.” Vice President of Cheryl Gale Public Relations Charlotte Daher de Garcia commented on the impact Phelan has made in town  “I’ve had the privilege of knowing Katie for almost ten years now and one of the things that draws me to Katie is her honesty and moral compass,” Daher de Garcia said “I think that’s hard to come by in politics today… I think it’s one of the biggest assets you can have in a leader.” She said Phelan is “always willing to listen to an open heart and do what’s right.” “I think one of my favorite things about Katie (Phelan) is how approachable she is and how I can ask her anything without fear and know she’ll give me her honest opinion,” Save King’s Beach founder Andrea Amour said she’ll think about it and get back to me.” “The main characteristic that makes me excited to vote for Katie is her humility It’s rare to see leaders these days with the kind of humility that Katie has.” She emphasized that the town needs leaders who will listen “Humility needs to become normal in Swampscott politics again,” Amour said Kim Nothnagel spoke about how she feels events like these are important to increase outreach and communication within the community.  “I think events like this are so important because one of the biggest things that distinguishes Katie (Phelan) for a Select Board candidate is that the conversations we have at events like this are the things she takes into those meetings at the Select Board,” Nothnagel said our voices are always heard… There is no greater strength that a candidate can have than to be a champion for the things their constituents care about.” Phelan said she’s very grateful for the way the community shows its support and it makes me feel honored that people see something in me that seems like they feel represented,” Phelan said to help people feel represented in this town and make sure their voices are heard.” 2025 at 2:31 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The snow parking ban was set to begin at 5 p.m on Sunday and continue through noon on Monday MA — A snow emergency parking ban was declared for Swampscott starting Sunday with 6 inches or more of snow expected from a fast-moving storm The snow was expected to start late Sunday afternoon and continue into early Monday morning with harshly cold temperatures to follow The snow parking ban was set to begin at 5 p.m which could result in snow accumulation and icy roads Swampscott DPW requires roads to be cleared of vehicles to safely conduct snow removal operations on or against a fire hydrant or on any sidewalk or roadway MA — MaryEllen Fletcher will seek a second term on the Swampscott Select Board after serving as the board's Chair for the past year Fletcher told Patch on Tuesday she will run for re-election in an effort to build on her "proven track record of fiscal responsibility and community engagement." "I have had the privilege of serving the residents of Swampscott and I am excited to announce my candidacy for a second term," Fletcher said Fletcher also spent seven years on the Finance Committee as vice chair and Capital Improvement Committee liaison Harbor and Waterfront Committee and Article 6 Committee as well as the Massachusetts Municipal Association Finance Committee Fletcher said she has been instrumental in ensuring Swampscott maintains a stable financial future and that her achievements include reallocating $1.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funds for critical sewer pipe rehabilitation negotiating the Land Disposition Agreement for the Hadley and Pine Street projects balancing the 2023 budget between the school and town and restoring the town paddle board program "With both looming challenges and opportunities on the horizon including significant infrastructure needs it is vital to have a candidate with a strong municipal financial background," former Selectman Dan Santanello said "MaryEllen's balanced approach keeps the needs of residents at the forefront." As a 37-year resident of Swampscott and local business owner and actively engaged in volunteering as a Girl Scout leader and coach in softball and field hockey Fletcher said her priorities for her next term include: She said she is "ready to continue serving the community with integrity and a commitment to making sure every resident has a voice." 2025 at 4:35 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}"I do not want this to turn into a political battle of wills where we completely forget the 15,000 people who live here and what they've seen historically in the years that they have been here." - Select Board member Danielle Leonard (Shutterstock)SWAMPSCOTT MA — The Swampscott Select Board began the process to find a new permanent town administrator on Wednesday night with the official appointment of Department of Public Works Director Gino Cresta as the interim town administrator and discussing the parameters of finding a permanent replacement for Sean Fitzgerald who resigned last month after eight years on the job Fitzgerald resigned with six months remaining on his contract and about two months after taking a medical leave Select Board Chair MaryEllen Fletcher said the move to make Cresta the interim town administrator on Wednesday was because it was the first meeting since Fitzgerald's resignation became official on Dec who is continuing in his role as DPW director with some administrative assistance from other town officials had been the acting town administrator while Fitzgerald was out on medical leave Fletcher said the town charter gives each of the town's major committees — Select Board Finance Committee — representatives on the search committee for a new permanent town administrator along with two appointees from the town moderator "We're in a process of doing this right," Fletcher said "We don't have to drop everything and rush through it We just have to do it right and put some thought into it This is our first meeting since the town administrator's resignation." Select Board member Danielle Leonard proposed ways to involve residents in forming recommendations of what they would like to see in the next town administrator with Select Board member Katie Phelan and Leonard proposing a survey that residents could respond to anonymously with their thoughts "I know we have to follow what our charter says," Leonard said "But at one point do we engage members of this community I certainly want to respect our charter and our process But I do not want this to turn into a political battle of wills where we completely forget the 15,000 people who live here and what they've seen historically in the years that they have been here "What they might have appreciated — or not appreciated — what their feelings are moving forward I think we lose sight of that a lot of times To the extent that we can explore that I think we should." Cresta said earlier in the meeting that one change coming to town hall is public hours returning to Fridays He said that administrators have agreed to return to work from 8 a.m to noon in order to make town hall more accessible to residents five days a week He said to make up for those four hours without adding to workloads or increasing expenses those who are working on Fridays would work one hour less on the later end of the day Monday through Thursday He said those involved have largely embraced the pending change Leonard used her Select Board time to thank Cresta for taking on the responsibility of town administrator "You have been a beacon in this town for many years," she said "I applaud you for having the courage to take on this interim position it's not been an easy situation but I really do feel that we are in good hands with you as well as with the very qualified department heads in town hall."