Crabtree might be manager candidate

SAUGUS – Saugus resident Julie Mitchell believes the open Town Manager position should be advertised, after she acknowledged that “discussions” have been held about selectmen Chairman Scott Crabtree stepping down to pursue the position.Massachusetts State ethics laws state a member of a board cannot be eligible for the position until 30 days after stepping down. Mitchell would be next in line to be sworn in as a selectman after placing sixth last November.?I?ve heard rumors, but I don?t listen to rumors anymore,” said Mitchell. “I don?t know how far it?s gone yet. Right now it?s just in a discussion phase. No one has come to me and said, ?OK, you?re ready, you?re going to move up.”Mitchell said she would “absolutely” be interested in becoming a selectman, but noted she wants to see an application process before the Town Manager is hired.?I?m not saying Scott wouldn?t be a good candidate, but I think it should be done the right way,” said Mitchell.Crabtree declined to comment Monday on whether or not he?s interested in the Town Manager position, however, he said the board will likely post an advertisement for the job during Thursday?s meeting.?The board has to decide what they want to do, but that?s generally where it?s heading,” said Crabtree. “It?s pretty standard.”Former Town Manager Andrew Bisignani retired on Jan. 6 after nine years and was replaced by Town Counsel John Vasapolli on an interim basis. Bisignani is now Nahant Town Administrator.Both selectmen Stephen Horlick and Steve Castinetti said Monday the board has not had any discussions about potential managers other than the two public comment sessions held earlier this month.Castinetti said it was at one of these meetings where Crabtree?s name first came up.?Our first session with the residents, somebody said, ?You?d make a great Town Manager Mr. Chairman,? and I?ll tell you, the next day it was all over town,” said Castinetti. “Whether there?s any truth to it or not, we?re going to have to wait and see if he feels like he?s ready for something like that.”Being a Saugus resident was one of the main qualifications brought up during the public hearings, and Horlick said that?s something he wants to see too.?We have all the input of what people want for qualifications,” said Horlick. “The main thing is to have either someone be a Saugus resident or willing to move to Saugus. From what we?re hearing from everybody is they want someone who is vested in this town that walks down the street and sees the issues everyday. After the last nine years I think we?re ready to come 180 degrees.”Current Duxbury Town Manager Richard MacDonald, a former Saugus resident, told The Item he was “very happy” in Duxbury and had not given any consideration to the Saugus job.Current Swampscott interim Town Manager Dave Castellarin, however, said he was “absolutely” interested in the job.?You get to work for your hometown,” said Castellarin, who has worked as the Swampscott Town Accountant for 16 years. “I own a house in Saugus, I pay taxes in Saugus, I care about Saugus.”Town Meeting member Peter Manoogian said he wasn?t interested in applying for the manager?s job, but noted he wants to see “consistency” in the process.?I think what they need to do is do what they?ve done in the past,” said Manoogian. “Whatever they did with Andy and prior to that with Steve Angelo.”Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].