Saugus selectmen split on Crabtree contract extension

SAUGUS – Selectmen Vice Chairman Steve Castinetti said he won?t support a contract extension for Town Manager Scott Crabtree “right now” because he hasn?t been on the job long enough.?He?s only been in the job for nine months so I don?t have any intentions right now based on the amount of time he?s been in office,” said Castinetti. “Does that mean I?m not going to support him later on? No it doesn?t mean that. But I think the timing is bad. I don?t think we have enough of a track record yet to warrant a contract extension after he?s been in office for less than a year.”Castinetti went on to say that selectmen aren?t supposed to review Crabtree?s contract until April.?He?s not even a year into the contract,” said Castinetti. “I?m going to support him now for a new contract? He has more than a year left.”Despite this, “Town Manager?s contract” is listed as the 10th correspondence item on the agenda for Tuesday night?s selectmen meetingSelectmen signed Crabtree to a two-year, $114,000 contract last April. A contentious meeting last March saw Castinetti and selectman Julie Mitchell refusing to sign Crabtree to a three-year contract. Selectmen Chairman Michael Serino and selectmen Debra Panetta and Stephen Horlick voted in favor. The board finally settled on a two-year contract after a tense, hour-long debate. A four-fifths vote of the board is needed to appoint the town manager.Earlier this week, Serino told the Daily Item he supports Crabtree “100 percent” and supports renewing his contract.Panetta said in an e-mail on Friday that Crabtree “communicates information in a timely and accurate manner,” is “able to work with the Finance Committee and Town Meeting” and “has met the goals set forth by the entire board.”?It?s a difficult job and he has exceeded my expectations thus far,” she said. “I will be supporting him for a contract extension.”Horlick said Friday that he would “absolutely” support an extension for “a minimum of between two to three years.”?I think Scott is doing a great job with the town,” said Horlick. “He walked into a hornets nest and he has done what the Department of Revenue has recommended him to do in order to put us back on financial track ? The past three town managers have been given a five-year contract in order for them to sit down and get everything going.”Horlick said Crabtree won?t be able to “do what he can do” with a short-term contract.?If you read the contract, if we don?t let him know by April 1, he can either stay for the remaining year or can basically start looking for other employment before that year is up,” said Horlick.Mitchell could not be reached Friday.Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].