Castinetti under investigation for selling advertisements

SAUGUS – Saugus Selectmen Vice-Chairman Steve Castinetti said there is “some type of investigation going on” from the town into his business dealings based on “calls” he?s been receiving from local businesses.Castinetti, who sells advertisements for Yellowbook, said selling to local businesses shouldn?t be an issue.?The first time I was on the board I got a verbal ?OK? from the Ethics Commission that what I did, based on what I make from a sale, is nothing to be concerned about for a conflict of interest,” he said.Massachusetts conflict of interest law “generally prohibits” selectmen from “taking any official action on matters affecting your own financial interests” or the “financial interests of your immediate family members.”The law also prohibits selectmen from taking any type of “official action that could create an appearance of impropriety,” or acting in a manner “which could cause an impartial observer to believe that your actions are tainted with bias or favoritism.”Selectmen Chairman Michael Serino, and selectmen Stephen Horlick and Debra Panetta all declined to comment. Town Counsel John Vasapolli also declined to comment and Town Manager Scott Crabtree could not be reached despite multiple calls.An attorney for Boston law firm Arrowood Peters LLP would neither confirm nor deny working for Saugus.After Crabtree failed to net the four-fifths vote necessary to extend his contract last month, selectmen have since voted to add an article for Special Town Meeting seeking to reduce the number of votes from four to three to extend a Town Manager?s contract.Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].