Pair vie for SCTS board seats

SAUGUS – Selectmen interviewed candidates to fill two vacant spots on the Saugus Cable Television Station Board of Directors Tuesday night.Edward Wawrzynowicz previously interviewed for a spot on the board, and has experience setting up cable systems for trial court and helped develop an audio/visual system for bail hearings.?The resume, as I said last time, speaks for itself,” said Wawrzynowicz. “I feel I could be a help to the cable board. I believe that I want to do the best job for the town and especially for the citizens.”Resident Steve Austill also interviewed and said he studied television at Columbia University before working as a counselor for 40 years. He said he wants to use the station to educate people.?I?m very interested that television can be a productive, education and inspirational force in the community,” said Austill. “I?d like to help the television studio and have the television experience be a positive one for Saugus.”Current SCTS board members Jim Ravagno and David Cottam did not show up for their interviews and the board rescheduled them for next Tuesday at 7 p.m.In other business, the board voted under the municipal relief act to transfer $59,000 from the Police Department budget to cover several deficits in the town budget, including $40,000 in the snow and ice budget, $5,500 in additional fees to the state, $8,000 for litigation, and $5,000 for the accounting department.Town Manager Scott Crabtree said the transfers are “new to Saugus even though it shouldn?t be.”?We generally in Saugus have underfunded liabilities and now we?re getting back on track with funding liabilities,” he said. “This allows us to make sure we?re in the black in line items and adhere to municipal finance laws.”Selectmen Vice Chairman Steve Castinetti asked if they were putting “the cart before the horse” by voting before the Finance Committee, but Crabtree said voting on the transfers is similar to the budget process, where selectmen make a recommendation that is voted on by the Finance Committee. Finance Committee member Maureen Dever also noted transfers were voted on the same way last year too.Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].