Saugus man files ethics complaint on manager search

SAUGUS – A Saugus resident says he has lodged a complaint with the Massachusetts State Ethics Commission about the Town Manager selection process, as the Board of Selectmen gets ready to interview two finalists for the position this morning.George Brown said he doesn?t agree with how the process has been handled so far, so he decided to contact the Ethics Commission to voice his concerns.?We?re looking for a CEO of a nearly $100 million corporation,” said Brown. “I think that the candidates that have applied, some of them have been overlooked and not even spoken to. We spoke for quite a while ? It?s just how the whole operation was. It didn?t sound right and it didn?t seem right. I believe it?s going way too fast.”David Giannotti, spokesperson for the state Ethics Commission, said he couldn?t confirm or deny if Brown filed a complaint with the commission or if there is an investigation due to “strict confidentiality.”The Board of Selectmen named three finalists last week out of 31 applicants: Scott Crabtree, former Chairman of the Saugus Board of Selectmen; Michael Szlosek, the former Town Manager of Uxbridge and former Town Administrator of South Hadley; and Mark Andrews, the former Town Manager of Wareham.However, Andrews recently accepted the interim Town Administrator job in Wenham, and according to Wendy Reed, the selectmen?s clerk, the board will be interviewing just two candidates this morning.While some residents have taken issue with Crabtree being named a finalist, resident Patrick O?Leary said he thinks Crabtree is the best candidate for the job and thinks the selection process has been fair.?He?s got a good education,” said O?Leary. “He?s a lawyer and he?s an accountant, and he lives in town and has young children. He would probably have a real personal interest in education and the schools.”If chosen, Crabtree wouldn?t be the first selectman in the area to step down to take a Town Manager position. In 2008, current Wakefield Town Administrator Steve Maio resigned his post on the Wakefield Board of Selectmen to pursue the Town Administrator job.For Saugus resident Martha Clause, the board has been “following their procedures” all along.?When we looked for Mr. (former Town Administrator Andrew) Bisignani I think we had more candidates, so it took longer,” said Clause.She said Crabtree would make a good town manager, but noted that being from Saugus doesn?t automatically make him the best candidate.?If there are other candidates that have more qualifications, they have to be looked at impartially,” said Clause. “If Scott Crabtree wants to take on the town of Saugus then God bless him.”Margaret Clarke also said she wants to see the most qualified candidate picked.?That?s what they have to go for,” said Clarke. “As far as management, a background in finance. They have to look at the whole package.”Mary Floccher and Joan Denahy stopped their walk in Cliftondale Square Tuesday, and both said they want to see the board take more time and interview more candidates.?I?m concerned about (transparency),” said Denahy. “I think they had a lot of applicants and maybe they had some that were qualified that they?re not interviewing.”Denahy said the only finalist she is familiar with is Crabtree, whom she noted seems like a “nice guy,” but may not be as qualified as other candidates.Floccher said she feels Crabtree cares a lot about the town, but hopes the board conducts interviews “fairly.”?I want them to have someone that really knows about the accounting field as far as what?s going on with the budget,” said Floccher.Candidate interviews are expected to start at 9:45 a.m. today.Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].