Unanswered questions fuel Saugus FinCom dispute

SAUGUS – The Saugus Finance Committee finally had some concrete numbers to work with Wednesday night, but one member lamented the lack of answers and communication between the committee and Town Hall.?We have an acting Town Manager that doesn?t come in and speak with us, we don?t have the Town Accountant being represented, we don?t have the Treasurer/Collector,” said committee member Theresa Katsos. “We have no idea what?s going on in this town. Talk about transparency, we have none.”Katsos then turned her attention to the Town Manager search and said it?s “totally inappropriate” that the Board of Selectmen is “rushing the process.”?This board is being left in the dark and now the selectmen are making random decisions about who?s going to be Town Manager based on what? On popularity? Because that?s all I see,” said Katsos. “I hope that whoever gets appointed ? has some financial background and can come in here and help us ? not just a paper saying they graduated from something, but actually has worked the job and knows what they?re talking about because that?s what this town needs to right the ship. Until that happens, I think we as a committee are wasting our time.”Town Moderator Bob Long encouraged the Finance Committee to continue its work.?This is the place where transparency is happening in town, right here,” said Long. “This is the only place right now where the townsfolk are finding out what these questions are. Even though the budget hasn?t come together yet ? you?re getting the questions out there and having an opportunity to see some things that were long-hidden.”Town Meeting member Peter Manoogian said the committee is now “reaping the rewards” of what he said have been nine years of “deceit.”?You had nine years of someone who was great on paper as a financial person,” said Manoogian. “Over those nine years there was a constant delay tactic, not getting the information to the FinCom.”Looking at some fixed costs for 2013, Finance Committee Vice-chairman Kenneth DePatto said the outlook is grim next year, especially with health insurance costs consuming around two-thirds of new revenue.?The revenue does not support the numbers where they are now ?” said DePatto. “There?s going to be reductions. I don?t see any other way around it. I don?t know where they?re going to come from.”Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].