SCTS manager says shocked by firing

SAUGUS – The former operations manager for Saugus Cable Television Station said he didn?t receive “one iota” of information about last week?s board of directors meeting where he was fired.?I had received no information prior to this about anything that was going on ? other than the letter which was to discuss a personnel issue or disciplinary action.” said Richard Garabedian. “It wasn?t a surprise, but the end outcome was a surprise. I thought there would be more recourse than that.”The SCTS Board of Directors voted unanimously to fire Garabedian last Wednesday after attorney Philip Boyle of law firm Morgan, Brown and Joy, who was representing the board, read a list of accusations against Garabedian that show what he called “certain deficiencies in performance.”Boyle said Garabedian approached the Town Manager and the Board of Selectmen to offer $200,000 of SCTS funds to the town, did not keep accurate payroll records and did not file the proper non-profit paperwork with the state.Boyle also said Garabedian paid as much as $30,000 in unnecessary taxes by not properly using SCTS? former non-profit tax identification number for purchasing $500,000 worth of equipment.Garabedian said he there had been no written or verbal warnings about his job performance, noting he went into last week?s meeting “cold.”?For me try to find a lawyer on Friday afternoon of Memorial Day weekend was a bit extreme to say the least,” he said. “That was one of their caveats, that I had prior notification. Considering they must have had their lawyer working on this for six months or longer, I find it very interesting.”Garabedian said he hopes the board will find a replacement that?s as “committed to the community” as he and can bring “that love to the institution.”?That?s what I feel most badly about, how the students will be affected and programs we?ve grown over the last five years,” said Garabedian. “We really built that place up from zero. Since this new board has taken over, they?ve done everything in their power to limit any type of creative programming.”Board Chairman Christopher Peatridge said during Wednesday?s meeting he was “disturbed” by the allegations against Garabedian and noted he did not have confidence in him.Peatridge declined to comment on Monday.Janice Jarosz, treasurer of the SCTS board of directors, could not be reached, despite multiple phone calls and emails.Even though selectmen appointed Jarosz to the board in July 2012, she has taken several shots at Selectmen Vice Chairman Castinetti in the “buzz” section of her website The Saugonian:?A few possible reasons why Castinetti will not give Crabtree the vote: Crab doesn?t wear a uniform; he called for an outside town audit; he didn?t take out a Yellow Page ad; he called for an outside school department audit,” says one comment.?Selectman Castinetti rejected all the applications submitted and called for re-advertisement. No wonder no one is willing to serve the town. Maybe if candidates wore uniforms they might qualify,” says another.After last week?s meeting, Castinetti called the Garabedian?s firing “orchestrated” and called the board?s actions “unprofessional and reckless.”Selectman Stephen Horlick declined to comment on SCTS, saying selectmen don?t get involved in personnel issues.Board member Thomas Lucey also could not be reached. Lucey has been a vocal critic of SCTS and of Garabedian prior to his recent appointment to the board. Lucey also has had a long-standing feud with former SCTS host Mike Downing.?I think originally it can be traced back to that, and I think there?s a lot of vitriol and a lot of unfortunately poisoned minds?” said Garabedian. “I think it?s interesting they put a hostile person on their board.”Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].