SAUGUS – The ongoing forensic audit into alleged financial violations in the town?s books is taking longer than expected after Town Manager Scott Crabtree said some of the issues auditors uncovered have “spider webbed.”Speaking to the Finance Committee Wednesday night for the first time as Town Manager, Crabtree said auditors from Powers and Sullivan are planning to roll out their findings in stages, starting with a water and sewer report next week, followed by purchasing and procurement issues one to two weeks later and then employee issues one to two weeks after that.?I?ve had some discussions with the auditors and what they told me ? is things have spidered into other issues which has created more time and more investigation,” said Crabtree. “This is a major issue and obviously it?s causing anxiety for me and the Finance Committee, and people in town. I?m disappointed in some ways because ? it looks like they didn?t start until two weeks after they said they were going to start.”Crabtree said he will be meeting with auditors today to stress to them that the town?s budget is on hold until they can finish.?If they have to bring three more people in here, then bring three more people in here,” said Crabtree.Crabtree declined to comment on whether or not any of the audit findings so far are criminal in nature.In other business, Finance Committee Chairman Robert Palleschi said he was “deeply disturbed” by a letter to the editor written by Town Counsel and former Temporary Town Manager John Vasapolli that appeared in the Daily Item on March 26.?There was an article in the Item saying the Finance Committee should have known about these things,” said Palleschi. “John swore us to secrecy, then he goes to the newspapers. I expect a letter of apology. I really do. I?m very serious about that. We can?t have this. I know what would happen where I work, he wouldn?t be here.”Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].