Saugus man says ‘threatened’ by Horlick

SAUGUS – A Saugus resident said he was “threatened” by selectman Stephen Horlick the morning after he criticized the board at Tuesday night?s selectmen?s meeting, however Horlick said his claim is an exaggeration.According to the Saugus Police log, Eugene Decareau walked into the station at around noon Wednesday to report that he received a phone call from Horlick at 8:30 that morning. He stated that Horlick “threatened to go to the Newspapers and tell them I approached him for his support to become town manager prior to me putting in an application for said job,” said the log.Decareau stated that Horlick told him his actions were “illegal,” said the log. Decareau stated to police that he told Horlick that what he was saying was a lie and at that point Horlick hung up the phone, said the log.The log states Decareau wanted to file this with the police because he fears he will receive future calls from Horlick, said the log. Police advised Decareau of his right to file a harassment prevention order.?He said I went to him directly trying to get his approval to support me if I ran for Town Manager,” said Decareau, on Thursday. “I said, ?That?s a lie,? and he hung up on me.”While the majority of residents speaking at Tuesday?s citizens? forum blasted the Saugus Cable Television Station Board of Directors, Decareau criticized selectmen for the way they appointed Town Manager Scott Crabtree.?My issue was with the method they used to pick the town manager,” said Decareau, who noted he never applied for the position.Decareau said he thinks Horlick called him in retaliation for what he said Tuesday.?No question about that,” he said. “He said I had no right criticizing the board. I have no problem if they want to call me and talk about it, that?s all. The only way you solve problems is to communicate. To make threats, that?s out of the question. You don?t do those things. When you take that attitude nothing is going to be resolved ? Who knows why he did it?”Horlick said he never threatened to go to the newspaper, noting he reminded Decareau that he had approached him several times to be named temporary Town Manager.?I told him I could not discuss it with him and he said he had other support from people that would make him temporary Town Manager,” said Horlick, of his past conversations with Decareau. “He has asked me several times. He went around town for almost a year telling people he would be a great Town Manager.”Horlick said he called Decareau Wednesday to point out that while he “chastised the board” Tuesday night for how it picked Crabtree, Decareau essentially did the same thing.?He?s exaggerating,” said Horlick. “I didn?t yell at him. I didn?t raise my voice. I said, ?How would that be if that went into the paper? That you approached selectmen before and did the same exact thing, even worse, that you?re accusing this board of doing ?? Well now it?s in the paper isn?t it?”Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].