McCabe takes slap at Varone on way out in Saugus

SAUGUS – When Health Agent Sharon McCabe left her post earlier this month she also left a resignation letter that all but begged for action to be taken against Building Inspector Frederick Varone.In her letter to the Board of Health, which The Item obtained, McCabe said she hoped Varone would be held accountable for his “intimidating and slandering tactics.””As you know I have experienced his threatening behavior on every level and you need to fully understand that all new people in the Inspectional Department are immediate victims,” she wrote.McCabe went on to lay out a work atmosphere filled with “venomous talk” and “veiled threats,” where Varone preys on personal weaknesses, sets people up to fail “then keeps account for his own self-serving purposes.”Varone on Friday called the allegations baseless. He said her claims of harassment were proven false and declined to comment further.Town Manager Andrew Bisignani said it was merely a personality conflict.”It was a clash of personalities,” he said. “There are really no grounds to this.”Bisignani did not deny there had been issues between Varone and McCabe but said they were investigated and actions were taken. The actions consisted of separating the pair, who both worked in the Inspectional Services Department, by giving McCabe her own office.”I thought that resolved the issue,” he said Friday.McCabe said in the letter she hoped that her experiences with Varone would serve as a cautionary tale to anyone else that tries to take a stand against him.”I say this knowing the personal shame of not defending a fellow employees’ reputation when I should have and the humiliation of learning about the vile rumors he spread about me,” she wrote.Bisignani said McCabe did not file a formal complaint against Varone, but Bisginani said another employee has. That employee has since left the town, and complaint with the Massachusetts Commission against Discrimination is pending.McCabe wrote that “contrary to popular rumor, it is not my intention to bring legal litigation against the town,” but said she plans to speak the truth and give her full support to other victims that might come forward.She also called on the Board of Health to speak the truth as well.Varone maintained there was no truth to any of McCabe’s accusations.Click here to see the complete letter.