Bisignani wary of attending Saugus meeting on audit

SAUGUS – Former Saugus Town Manager Andrew Bisignani said attending a public meeting to explain the recent audit findings would be “akin to going to a crucifixion and bringing your own cross.”Bisignani said he hasn?t received an invitation in the mail from the Board of Selectmen to appear at any public meeting in Saugus – though the board did accept a Town Meeting resolution to invite Bisignani to address the audit findings at Town Meeting. He said if he does receive a request to appear in Saugus he would consult with his attorney.?In the absence of any legal advice, I think common sense would dictate a response,” said Bisignani, who is currently the Town Administrator in Nahant.Bisignani didn?t deny or confirm whether he would attend such a meeting.Town Meeting member Al DiNardo wrote the resolution and said Monday he?s just looking for “justice.”?We were carrying the cross for many years,” DiNardo said. “I?m not looking for my name in the paper, I?m just looking for justice. He?s not in Tahiti. He?s in Nahant. It?s only four miles away. I spoke with Selectman Serino over the weekend and he said he mailed that letter out 10 days ago. Now that he has an opportunity, don?t tell us he hasn?t been given the opportunity, that was my gripe.”Town Moderator Bob Long said he doesn?t think it?s “realistic” to expect Bisignani to attend a public meeting.?I think realistically ? would anyone really expect him to come to Saugus?” Long said. “If he did come, would I be interested in what he had to say? Sure. But I think after reading the audit, most of us have a pretty good grasp of what was going on.”Town Meeting member Peter Manoogian said even though he has his criticisms of Town Meeting, he noted it?s the one place where people can speak and not be shouted down.?The issue isn?t about answering to these charges,” Manoogian said. “The issue is ? I think Andy is the one that made many claims about not having an opportunity to tell his side of the story ? Now is the opportunity to do that. I?m sure Bob Long would keep a decorum. He should have a right to be heard. He was here for nine years. He has to have some response to all this.”Town Meeting member Ellen Faiella said she voted against the resolution because it was “redundant,” noting the Board of Selectmen had already voted on a similar measure in April.The board voted 5-0 at a joint meeting with the Finance Committee on April 25 to send a letter to Bisignani asking him to attend a public meeting to answer questions about the audit.?I think we have so much going on in the community that we need to move forward,” said Faiella. “We need to work together.”Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].