Saugus town manager still steaming over residency remarks

SAUGUS – Town Manager Andrew Bisignani is still indignant over remarks made about his residency, despite the fact that not all were aimed directly at him.While Selectman Stephen Horlick leveled a direct shot at the fact that Bisignani lives in Nahant and not Saugus, Town Meeting member Al DiNardo did not.Horlick indicated that Bisignani is less concerned with what happens in town because he doesn’t actually live here.DiNardo said when he discussed residency it wasn’t Bisignani he was addressing, but the office he held. He also said he would never expect Bisignani to take up residence in Saugus because it would be unfair after five years of service.However, DiNardo said he would like to start the debate on whether future town managers should be required to live in town.DiNardo said he’d like to see a worldwide search for a town manager undertaken when the need arises, but he doesn’t think it’s unfair to require a future manager to eventually move to town.Bisignani said he not only completely rejects the argument that a manager has to live in town, he also he finds it offensive.”Look at the teachers, are they any less dedicated because they don’t live here?” he asked. “A true professional is dedicated regardless of where they live.”Bisignani also said that if a manager was going to be required to live in town, officials might want to look at other positions as well. While Police Chief Domenic DiMella lives in town, former Chief James MacKay did not and neither does Superintendent Richard Langlois.He also pointed out that few other town officials live in the towns in which they work. Town Administrator Andrew Maylor of Swampscott lives in Lynnfield, Revere Police Chief Terence Reardon lives in Lynnfield and Marblehead Town Manager Anthony Sasso lives in Salem.Selectman Peter Rossetti said he believes the issue boils down exactly to professionalism.”A manager by definition should be a professional so whether he lives in place A or place B . . . it shouldn’t have any impact,” he said.Rossetti said residents should also be careful if they decide to require a manager to “eventually” move to town.”If you say eventually, that’s a broad time period,” he said. “If you require a manager to at some point, become a resident, are you going to be willing to tie their contract to something?”Rossetti said if someone is going to be expected to uproot their family to become a Saugonian, town officials better be prepared to offer at least a five-year contract.”Why would you come here if you could be voted out?” he added.