Saugus Board Approves Wonder Restaurant, Raises Fees

Board of Selectmen · Meeting of July 14, 2026

Saugus residents demand answers as water bills spike into the thousands. Deborah and Michael Fossey told the Board of Selectmen they're holding three water bills totaling more than $15,000 across two properties, while Selectman Jeff Cicolini said a constituent's bill jumped to nearly $192,000 from around $325. Town Manager Scott Crabtree said he would push the collector's office for updates and consult town counsel on capping disputed bills at historical usage.

The board also voted 5-0 to demand Beacon Hill audit the Legislature under Question 1, approved a common victualer license for the national "food hall" chain Wonder at the former Santoro's site over small-business objections, raised the special permit fee to $200 and the liquor transfer fee to $350, and adopted a $150 BYOB policy. Residents also pressed the board for nearly an hour over longstanding gridlock at Howard and Main streets, which they blame on a 2016 state signal change.

In the full story:

• Citation for Lieutenant Arthur Connors
• Letter demanding a Legislature audit
• Election warrant and poll workers
• Spectrum Health donation
• Saugus Olympic Day banner request
• Tree dispute on Laureen Road
• Water and sewer billing dispute
• Taxi livery license: Elias Lambros
• Wonder restaurant license
• Licensing fee schedule: special permits and liquor transfers
• BYOB policy
• Paymore used goods license
• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report: 4,180 words

Source: the Board of Selectmen meeting of July 14, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript. It was corrected where it differed.