Crabtree quits board to seek town manager job

SAUGUS – Selectmen Chairman Scott Crabtree resigned from the Board of Selectmen Thursday night in order to apply for the open town manager position.Crabtree thanked the public for electing him to the board for the second time and thanked his fellow board members for supporting him as chairman.?I?ve always put Saugus first and the issues of the residents first,” said Crabtree after the board meeting. “I?ve always advocated for the residents of Saugus and what?s important to us. It was a difficult decision. I?m sad in a lot of ways to step down from representing the people ? but I feel like we have a lot of tough financial issues that we?re going to be facing ? I want to be able to bring the community together.”Crabtree said he?ll submit a resume and go through the application process. A member of a board cannot be eligible for the position until 30 days after stepping down, according to Massachusetts state ethics laws.?I?d have to be resigned 30 days from the board in order for them to take action on my interest,” said Crabtree.Crabtree said Julie Mitchell will be sworn in as the board?s newest selectman today at Town Hall. Mitchell placed sixth in voting in the November election.?I didn?t really give it any serious consideration until the last day or two,” said Crabtree. “Obviously people brought it up and were asking me. Obviously there?s a lot to consider ?”Despite working with the town manager transition team, Crabtree said he?s “by no means” a shoo-in.Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].