Saugus board argues over SCTS appointment

SAUGUS – Selectmen have voted 3-2 to appoint resident Thomas Lucey to the Saugus Cable Television Station Board of Directors, despite objections from Selectmen Vice-Chairman Steve Castinetti.?We all did the interviews and we recall two of the three candidates have experience and Mr. Lucey self-admittedly does not,” said Castinetti of the vote on Tuesday. “Why would you make a motion to appoint a member who has no experience?”Selectmen Chairman Michael Serino made a motion to appoint Edward Wawrzynowicz to the board, however, selectman Stephen Horlick made an alternate motion to appoint Lucey. Serino, Horlick and selectman Debra Panetta voted in favor of Lucey. Castinetti and selectman Julie Mitchell voted against.Horlick said the board has appointed “many people who live in town and want to serve,” while Serino said Castinetti has to “respect people?s votes and their motions.”?When I was appointed on the Conservation Commission, I never had any experience,” said Serino. “People learn when you put them on.”Castinetti again asked “why would you pick the one with absolutely no qualifications,” to which Serino said, “you have no experience to sit on the board of selectmen.”Castinetti also said Lucey has a “personal vendetta,” but Horlick said he has no proof.After the two started arguing, Serino gaveled the meeting back to order.At a March 19 selectmen meeting, the board interviewed three candidates: Wawrzynowicz, who helped set up cable systems for a trial court; Chet Stentiford, who hosts a gardening show on SCTS; and Lucey, who said at the meeting he has no experience in cable, but noted at the time he “can bring a lot to the table from seeing the board meetings and being at them.”Lucey has also had a long-standing feud with resident Mike Downing, who used to host the controversial “Downin? Town” show on the station.In other business, selectmen approved a liquor license transfer for a new restaurant on Route 1 called Pearl Street Cafe.Owners will be taking over Bistro One, which recently closed down after only being open for about a year.Selectmen approved a liquor license transfer for Bistro One from the old Lavo Restaurant in October of 2011. Pearl Street Cafe would be the third restaurant at that location since Lavo closed its doors in 2010. The new manager will be Alan Robbat.The board also continued a hearing for Boston Cremations LLC for a permit to allow an undertaking business at 182 Broadway.Serino said he wanted to do more research before voting.In his update to selectmen, Town Manager Scott Crabtree said the audit into the student activity account at the high school is complete and was submitted to the board.Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].