Belmonte board members explain reasons for release

SAUGUS – Saugus selectman Stephen Horlick said he wasn?t surprised to learn he was removed from the Belmonte Middle School Building Committee since his work hours usually keep him tied up when the committee meets on Monday afternoons.?I explained this would be a really bad conflict with me and it would be tough for me to keep breaking away from work,” said Horlick, who owns VCR Technologies. “I?m self-employed ? I just can?t commit to it. I told them when I first got on there that it conflicts with my work. I have to be here for customers.”Horlick, along with former selectman Michael Kelleher, School Committee member Joe Malone, Jim Russo and Ben Lynch, were all removed from the committee Monday, due to a lack of attendance.Malone also cited work as keeping him from meetings.?I generally work every Monday all day long,” said Malone, who works two jobs. “I?ve been pretty much working at this job for 27 years. I think they just put me on because I?m on the school committee.”Calls to Kelleher were not returned Tuesday.The Belmonte Building Committee formed about two years ago to oversee the middle school renovation project, which will get under way this summer.After Monday?s vote the committee has 19 members, which is down from 24. The committee will only need 10 members for a quorum now instead of 13.Committee Chairman Wendy Reed said the vote was necessary because the committee has been having trouble having enough people for a quorum.?Two years ago ? at the time we decided to have all five School Committee members and all five selectmen,” said Reed. “But it?s a long process. It?s not just one year and you?re done. Trying to schedule it is difficult because it?s such a large group so you have to go with the majority. Things change in your life ? You have to understand that these things happen. I don?t think it?s a lack of commitment.”Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].