Saugus selectmen take long-awaited action to reduce number of constables

SAUGUS – Honorary Town Constable Nicola Nicosia has been urging the Selectmen to lower the number of constables and, after several years, it seems he’s finally got the board’s attention.Much to the dismay of potential constable Edward Bukirch, the board voted against his appointment Tuesday.”I am happy to hear that,” said Nicosia. “It’s about time.”But Bukirch left the meeting looking a little surprised and heaving a heavy sigh.Nicosia, who has been a constable for about 45 years, has long said the town needs only three constables at best and five at the most. Instead, the town has 24.During the hearing to appoint Bukirch, Selectman Stephen Castinetti said it bothered him that the number of constables seemed overblown given the size of the town.”I would think a town this size needs two or three,” he said.Selectman Michael Kelleher said his concern is that the board has appointed constables under the premise there is no bylaw capping the number of constables.He said he has offered to help write a Town Meeting article to cap the number of constables, but that has yet to happen. Until it does, he said, all requests that are in order should be granted.Bukirch said 25 percent of his earnings as constable went back to the town.”I would think that’s an asset to the community,” he said. “I would think the town could use every dime it could get.”Bukirch told the board he was seeking the appointment because he had begun working with constables in other districts and he liked the work.While many people think of constables as merely process servers, Nicosia said the job is much more.”Constables have all the powers of a police officer and then some,” he said. “They can handle the civil part of things as well.”Also referred to as peace officer, Nicosia said his job is similar to a sheriff’s job.”It’s a pretty important step,” he said. “A lot of people hate you for your job.”Nicosia said an increase in foreclosures has caused him to be even more unlikable, as he has served more eviction notices in the last two months than he as in the previous two years.”I’ve had to do it because the court ordered it,” he said.While Kelleher and Stephen Horlick voted to approve Bukirch’s request, Castinetti, Peter Rossetti and Chairman Donald Wong voted it down.Rossetti said he felt bad about denying the request, but felt Nicosia was right and a line needs to be drawn.”It’s about time,” Nicosia said. “I’ve only been saying this for 40 years.”