Saugus names Vasapolli interim Town Manager

SAUGUS – Saugus Town Counsel John Vasapolli said he considers it his “civic duty” to serve as temporary Town Manager, after the Board of Selectmen voted unanimously Tuesday night for him to take over the position starting Friday at noon.?I still have my law practice and I?m Town Counsel so I?m wearing three different hats,” said Vasapolli. “But sometimes duty calls. I just have to keep the good ship Saugus sailing until we get a new captain.”Vasapolli has served as Town Counsel for more than 30 years and was named temporary manager once before in 2003, before current Town Manager Andrew Bisignani took over.Vasapolli served as temporary manager for five months then but, this time around, he doesn?t think it should be that long.?That was too long,” said Vasapolli. “I don?t think it?s in the best interest of the town to have me or anybody in there temporarily for any long period of time.”Selectmen Chairman Scott Crabtree said Vasapolli?s long tenure as Town Counsel made him the logical choice.?Appointing John Vasapolli as temporary Town Manager seemed to be the natural choice,” said Crabtree. “He?s done it before, he has experience and has been Town Counsel for 30 years. He?s worked under seven different Town Managers and he knows the functions of the government and knows the department heads and the employees.”Vasapolli will be paid the town manager?s salary of $114,000 “less any other town current salary,” according to the unanimous selectmen?s vote. Vasapolli currently makes $50,000 as Town Counsel.Crabtree also announced Tuesday that Bisignani will be taking his accumulated vacation time starting Friday until Jan. 31. Bisignani will then take over as Town Administrator in Nahant on Feb. 1.?I?ll be in my office until Friday,” said Bisignani. “I?ll be going on vacation next week, so technically I?ll be manager until the 31st.”Bisignani called Vasapolli “very bright” and said he thinks he?ll do “fine” as temporary manager.Bisignani believes the board should conduct an in-depth search for a replacement.?My advice is to engage the services of a professional consultant to conduct a search,” said Bisignani. “In this day and age, I would strongly suggest that an applicant have a proven track record with appropriate credentials and experience as a manager. Not limited experience, but substantial experience.”Town Moderator Robert Long said Vasapolli will have a lot to do with budget season approaching.?The biggest thing of all comes down to what are we going to have to spend next year? The revenue estimates is what concerns me. John is going to have to get up to speed really quickly,” Long said.Vasapolli said he has no interest in pursuing the job full-time, and said he will maintain his law practice, which is located just a few blocks from Town Hall.?I think I can effectively bounce back and forth when I need to, depending on what the schedule is,” said Vasapolli. “It?s in the best interest of the town to put someone in there permanently. It?s not a good thing to have someone in there temporarily. I am not interested in the job. God put me on this earth to be a lawyer, not to be a Town Manager.”Selectmen also voted unanimously to set up a “transition committee” consisting of Crabtree, Vasapolli, Town Treasurer Wendy Hatch and Town Accountant Joan Regan, with Hatch overseeing all financial activity during the transition.?I have confidence in these individuals,” said Crabtree. “This will be best for stability as we transition from the outgoing manager to the temporary manager.”Crabtree said the committee will be meeting with various department heads to discuss budgetary needs to ensure a “smooth transition,” and selectmen will look into forming a search committee.?The board will be meeting with town employees and the public to get input and feedback to put together a job description, and to find out what the public wants to see in the attributes of a new Town Manager,” said Crabtree.Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected]