Saugus officials share thoughts on Crabtree decision

SAUGUS – Scott Crabtree said he’s feeling “pretty good” Friday after resigning as Chairman of the Board of Selectmen Thursday night, and said his “broad range” of experience makes him “well-suited” for the open Town Manager position.Crabtree said he made the decision to step down on Thursday, after “seriously considering” it for several days.”I talked to my wife and family, and decided,” said Crabtree. “I’ve indicated my interest and I’m going to follow the process just like every other applicant. It’s a public posting and I expect to be considered just as any other candidate. I’ve lived here my whole life. I know Saugus, I know the residents and I know the issues.”Crabtree pointed to his experience as head of the Police Patrolman’s Union for nine-and-a-half years along with his accounting and law degrees as key factors in his qualification to be manager.”I negotiated contracts, grievances and arbitration, and resolved labor disputes,” said Crabtree. “I think being on the board and being intimately involved over the last two-and-a-half years has given me a good insight into the issues that we’re facing. Being on the transition team has obviously given me more insight.”Crabtree said he hopes to bring more “professionalism” and “public trust” to the Town Manager’s office if he gets the nod.”We have a vacancy and it’s something I feel confident I can help move the town in a positive direction,” said Crabtree.Selectman Stephen Horlick said he only found out about the decision Thursday when he said Crabtree told him he would recuse himself from the board’s vote to advertise the position.Horlick went on to say Crabtree will be considered like any other candidate.”My thing is I don’t make any decisions until I review everything,” said Horlick. “We’ll look at the other applicants and then we’ll look at Scott, and the board will have a decision to make. I want the best candidate for the job and who’s in touch with everything going on in town.”Horlick said the board will vote on Tuesday to name a new Chairman and vice-Chairman.By order of votes in the November election, Mike Serino would be Chairman and Steve Castinetti would be vice-Chairman.Julie Mitchell, who came in sixth in the selectman’s race, was sworn in on Friday morning.”I’m looking forward to working with her,” said Horlick. “Julie is going to have a pretty good learning curve but I think she’s up for the job.”Mitchell was at Thursday’s meeting, but said she had no idea Crabtree was going to step down that night.”I was in shock,” said Mitchell. “I knew eventually it was going to happen, but I didn’t think it would happen like that. I thought I would have some warning. I had no idea, that’s why I left. They went in executive session so I went home, did some dishes, sat down on the couch, put it on the TV and said, ‘What did we just miss?'”Mitchell said she’s excited to be on the board and is looking forward to starting on Tuesday after being sworn in on Friday.Town Moderator Bob Long also said he was surprised Crabtree stepped down.”I had heard rumors of it and supposedly board members were talking to him about it,” said Long. “The bottom line is, it comes to what’s the town’s perception of the situation based on how the audit report turns out. I think it’s imperative that we really find out where we stand as far as the current year finances are concerned. I think it’s incumbent upon the selectmen to come up with somebody that can deal with the situation. That’s there responsibility.”Town Meeting member Sean Maltais said Crabtree made the right decision, saying it was a “smart move.””Look at the past Town Managers,” said Maltais. “Look at the one we just had for nine years, look at the mess we’re in and he had a degree from Harvard. Look at Steve Angelo, he was a State Rep. I know there are already people barking about qualifications. We had someone educated at Harvard and he left a $3 million mess.”Former Town Manager Andrew Bisignani declined to comment Friday.Maltais said