Written statements accuse Saugus board vice chairman of pressuring employees

SAUGUS – Town Counsel John Vasapolli submitted statements to selectmen Tuesday night from town employees claiming they were “pressured and put into an uncomfortable position” by Vice Chairman Steve Castinetti.Vasapolli said on Feb. 26 Castinetti asked assistant purchasing agent Michelle Wendell and Jen Smith from human resources for resumes` and applications for open town positions.Vasapolli said they, along with Treasurer/Collector Wendy Hatch, submitted written statements saying Castinetti asked to see all resumes` and applications for the open positions, and asked if “certain town citizens” applied for any of the jobs.”They told him it was confidential,” said Vasapolli. “He told them that he is Scott’s boss, and is entitled to the information and could keep a secret because he had top secret security clearance because he was in the Navy.”Vasapolli said he sat down with Smith and Wendell later in the day to explain open records law, and the authority given to selectmen and the Town Manager, and noted applications and resumes` are not public records.”No one except for the Town Manager or his designee has access to them,” said Vasapolli.Vasapolli said Smith and Wendell began to cry, and told him they were pressured and put into an uncomfortable position.Castinetti said he was “getting tired of hearing this” and noted he “never had any interest” in interfering with Town Manager Scott Crabtree’s duties.”Our responsibility to assess the performance of the Town Manager ?” said Castinetti. “Tell me the resumes` I looked at .. tell me the personal information I asked for ? If you answer those questions you’ll find this letter is preposterous.”Castinetti was referring to a letter from Crabtree from March 12 accusing him of exceeding his authority.Castinetti then asked Crabtree if he has the “responsibility to assess your performance,” to which Crabtree replied, “I think that’s a question you should ask yourself.””I’ll leave it at that,” said Castinetti.Selectmen Chairman Michael Serino said selectmen need to know their authority and directed the board to speak with Vasapolli if they want to discuss the issue further.In other business, the board voted 5-0 to authorize Superintendent Richard Langlois to submit a statement of interest to the Massachusetts School Building Authority for a new high school.”I just want to thank you,” said Langlois. “I hope it comes to fruition down the road.”According to Langlois, Saugus met two of eight criteria for a new school: priority 5, which modernizes the schools and its “facility systems” to increase energy conservation, and priority 7, replacing or adding to an “obsolete building” to provide a “full range” of programs “consistent with state and approved local requirements.”Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].