SAUGUS – Contrary to the whispers circulating, Selectman Michael Kelleher insists there is no raise tied to Town Manager Andrew Bisignani’s contract extension.”There was no raise, there will be no raise and there won’t be a raise in the future,” Kelleher said. “I made that motion with my eyes wide open. With this economic climate, we’re facing difficulties that we won’t be recovering from any time soon. These are just rumors people are floating around.”During a routine meeting last month, Selectmen voted to extend the manager’s contract by 18 months with no fanfare or public notice.The move did not sit well with some town officials and worried others that it would come with a raise. More than one Town Meeting member wondered if an article wouldn’t appear on the next special Town Meeting seeking an increase for the town’s top employee.Selectman Peter Rossetti noted that part of the motion made concerning the extension specifically stated there would be no salary increase.”Would we be likely to vote it after we voted the contract when we specifically stated there’d be no increase?” he asked. “No, there will be no raise.”Town Meeting member Raymond Lawrence is not so sure.He said he feels the contract extension that would keep Bisignani in town until July 2012 essentially does come with a raise because there is a cost of living increase tied to the contract.”But my personal belief is this board will give (Bisignani) a raise before they leave,” he said referring to the fact the selectmen are up for re-election in next year.Lawrence said companies that want to reward employees with contract extensions generally tie a raise into the deal and he predicts the same will eventually happen with Bisignani’s extension.The argument has also been made by Town Meeting member Al DiNardo that the town is considering a charter change and therefore should have waited.The town voted overwhelmingly to form a Charter Commission to look at and propose changes to the town’s current charter. However, the commission has not yet finished its work and even when it does it will likely be more than a year before a new charter would be enacted.Bisignani said it would be ridiculous to think that town business, including contract negotiations, could be or should be put on hold pending a possible charter change.Bisignani also noted that every contract negotiation he has ever undertaken has been done in executive session and he is at a loss as to why his contract has “all of a sudden become a public event.”Kelleher said despite the continuing flow of rumors, he has no plans to support a raise for Bisignani.”That’s why we put it in the motion,” Rossetti said. “There will be no salary increase, no raise, it’s guaranteed in the motion.”