Swampscott Selectmen Pledge To Keep VFW In Current Location

SWAMPSCOTT, MA — All four Swampscott selectmen that attended Wednesday night's meeting pledged that the town would not sell the building it leases to the local Veterans of Foreign War post. The pledge came after dozens of VFW members and supporters used the meeting's public comment period to express concern over a developer's offer to purchase 8 Pine Street and an adjoining, town-owned property to build an apartment complex. Because the issue was not on the meeting agenda, selectmen could codify the promise with a formal vote.

Earlier on Wednesday, Swampscott Patch reported that local developer Charlie Pastios had sent the town a letter of intent in October offering to purchase the two lots for $750,000 and provide an additional $500,000 to the VFW to purchase a new location. At Wednesday night's selectmen's meeting, Pastios suggested the VFW could use the money to purchase the town's vacant, former police station.

But the offer from Pastios "was unsolicited, and the town took no action on it," Chairman Peter Spellios said, adding that offering the VFW rent-free space was the biggest benefit Swamppscott offered local veterans.

"We have no intention of doing anything with the property," Spellios said. "But we need...to find better ways for us to do more."