SAUGUS – The Saugus Board of Selectmen voted 5-0 Friday afternoon to appoint former board member Scott Crabtree as the new Town Manager starting April 1.”I’m thrilled and honored, and excited that the board put their confidence in me,” said Crabtree. “I look forward to working on the challenges that the town faces and to serving the board and the public.”View Scott Crabtree’s application for the position.While the vote was unanimous, it took an hour of tense discussion to hammer out contract terms, as selectmen Steve Castinetti and Julie Mitchell voted against an initial motion put forward by selectman Stephen Horlick to appoint Crabtree. A four-fifths vote is needed to appoint a new manager.Castinetti said he couldn’t support either candidate, Crabtree or Michael Szlosek, without a probationary period, and noted he hasn’t seen the town as divided as it is right now.”I’ve had more emails and more phone calls, and more people stopping me on the street over this issue than any issue I have faced in a little over two years that I’ve been on this board,” said Castinetti. “I’m convinced this was a flawed process. With 31 candidates we interviewed two and I think that’s unacceptable. I’m disappointed with the way this board has moved. I don’t like to be rushed.”Castinetti said Crabtree helped unite the board and did an “outstanding job” as selectmen chairman, but he called Crabtree’s qualifications for Town Manager “limited at best.”Horlick shot back by saying he took “great offense” to Castinetti’s comments and pointed to a meeting several years ago when former Town Manager Andrew Bisignani’s contract was extended for 18 months during a meeting without discussion.”It was done during members motions,” said Horlick. “What was the rush? There was no rush to do that that night. I was the only member board member that didn’t know that was coming that night. The motion passed 4-1 against me because there was a rush to get his 18-month extension.”With the town undergoing a forensic audit, selectman Debra Panetta said Saugus needs someone with “strong leadership and communication skills.””There will be difficult decisions to be made,” said Panetta. “I am certain that Scott has the communication and problem-solving skills to make these decisions ? Scott has the ability to help us regain the public confidence and improve employee morale.”Selectmen Chairman Michael Serino called a five minute recess after a consensus couldn’t be reached, and Horlick and Castinetti had a heated exchange in the far corner of the auditorium.When the meeting reconvened, Castinetti maintained that he would not support a contract for more than one year, however, Town Counsel and temporary Town Manager John Vasapolli said Town Charter stipulates a contract must be for a “number of years.”Castinetti then made a motion to appoint Crabtree with a two-year contract. However, that was defeated 3-2 as Horlick, Panetta and Serino voted against it.Horlick insisted on a three-year contract for Crabtree, but said he would compromise with a two-and-a-half-year contract. But Castinetti and Mitchell voted against that as well.Another motion for a two-year contract was defeated 3-2, with Mitchell, Serino and Castinetti voting in favor and Horlick and Panetta voting against, but Panetta and Horlick later changed their votes and the motion passed.”I still think the three-year contract is the way it should be,” said Horlick. “It’s going to be two years of making tough, hard decisions and then that additional year we’ll be able to see everything that grows from those first two years. If someone wants to make a motion (for two years), then we can always come back and look at the contract, and we can vote an extension.”Castinetti said he’d be the “first one” to support Crabtree if he’s “kicking butt” after two years.The board voted to continue its meeting to Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m. to negotiate a contract with Crabtree in executive session. There will be a meeting at 7:30 p.m. to fo