Saugus selectmen vote to require CORI checks

SAUGUS – Saugus selectmen voted 5-0 Tuesday to make criminal background checks a requirement for serving on some town boards.?None of the committees handle money except for the (Saugus Cable Television Station) Board of Directors,” said Selectmen Chairman Michael Serino. “I would suggest, under our bylaws, the treasurer and vice-president sign the checks, so I would recommend those two people require CORI-ing. They have to sign the checks.”Serino said that the Library Board of Trustees and the Council on Aging don?t handle money, and noted Town Manager Scott Crabtree is performing CORI checks on “everybody that he?s hiring.”Selectman Debra Panetta noted that discussions about CORI checks started after former Saugus Library worker Linda Duffy was arrested for stealing more than $800,000 from the library. Duffy had previously served time for check fraud.In other business, the board interviewed three residents for appointment to the SCTS Board of Directors: Chester Stentiford, Edward Wawrzynowicz and Thomas Lucey, who has had a long-standing feud with former SCTS host Mike Downing.Lucey said he should be appointed to the board because he has “always been following town politics” and has followed SCTS “for a long time.”?I think I can bring a lot to the table from seeing the board meetings and being at them,” said Lucey, who noted he has “no hands-on experience” in cable. “I think that brings something to the table.”Panetta said she appreciated Lucey “stepping up into this role” while selectman Stephen Horlick said he knows Lucey can be a “fair and impartial person.”?I know there has been some controversy in the past and I know you can see through that,” said Horlick.Stentiford, who hosts “Creative Gardens” on SCTS, said he wants to create unity between the staff and the Board of Directors, which he called “nonexistent.”?We have a remarkable staff ? and a decent board of directors ? and the communication seems to be held up,” said Stentiford. “I think they?re of good character and are sincere in their efforts ? I think they?re seeking to understand what?s going on behind the scene, I being one who has been behind the scenes can bring that to the board.”Wawrzynowicz said he has experience setting up cable systems for trial court and helped develop an audio/visual system for bail hearings.Matthew Canterbury also interviewed for reappointment to the Library Board of Trustees.Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].