Selectman hopefuls focus on town spending

Candidates were warned not to cast aspersions on any one person, but the “former administration” took some serious hits Monday, as did the current Board of Selectmen, in regards to communication during the Chamber of Commerce’s Candidates Forum.Candidate Maureen Dever said “I think it’s a disgrace that people feel their voices are not important or that their voices are not heard,” in response to how she stands on the citizen’s forum portion of selectmen meetings.Challenger Ellen Faiella also scolded the board for losing sight of who they represent and for pushing for a charter change without seeking approval from the voters.Incumbents Michael Serino, Stephen Horlick and Debra Panetta each said they believed the town is in better shape now than it was two years ago. They credited the current town manager for helping to bring financial stability, settled labor contracts, a negotiated decreases in town-paid utilities and trash fees to fruition and faulted the former administration for bringing the community to the brink of financial ruin.Serino also touted a list of financial policies he said the board and Crabtree worked out and adopted as adding to the town’s financial stability.Incumbent Julie Mitchell said everything she’s done in the last two years has been a conscious decision to move the town forward. She supports building a new high school and, along with Faiella and Panetta, increased spending for the Youth & Recreation Department.The casino bound for Everett or Suffolk Downs could play a serious part in the town’s future, but officials need to start to focus on the issue now, according to incumbent Steve Castinetti.First-time candidate Paul Allan said the town needs to learn to balance both cutting spending as well as increasing revenues, set priorities and streamline its permitting process.Newcomer Gary Sund said he would like to see the town pay off its debt quickly to prepare itself for new debt in order to build a new high school. Sund also said he would like to see the town retain control over Saugus Cable Television but let the Federal Communications Commission control content.Political neophyte Joshua Jake Greenstein, who arrived 30 minutes late for the event, said his main purpose for running is to represent his generation of 30-somethings, who he feels is largely ignored.”I’m in real estate and I cannot sell in Saugus,” he said. “We need to find a way to bring people back.”All ten candidates agreed that the town’s zoning ordinances and bylaws need an overhaul to allow for mixed-use developments on Route 1 and attract more businesses in general.”Our zoning bylaws are so specific that any business not listed in the bylaws is prohibited,” said Castinetti, who added that the sign bylaw is equally restrictive.Only Greenstein said he would prefer to see more small businesses in town rather than corporate-backed entities.Everyone also agreed that the town needs to get creative when it comes to generating more revenue.”The Police Department could use extra manpower ? the DPW (Department of Public Works) is understaffed, we’re paying outside vendors to do work we could do in-house, but we need more equipment and more personnel,” said Horlick.Greenstein said he believes most of the town’s problems can be fixed with common sense and voters will decide if they agree with him or his colleagues when they head to the polls on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5.