Selectman: Town Meeting to test new Saugus officials

SAUGUS – Saugus will have lots of new faces deciding the town?s fate on 17 articles at Monday?s Special Town Meeting. With 19 new voting members and the first new Town Moderator being voted into the position in 18 years, Selectman Maureen Dever said she wished the meeting wasn?t so soon after the election.?Town Meeting members need to be comfortable with the charter and the zoning bylaws,” said Dever, who said she had 25 years of experience herself.Town Manager Scott Crabtree said he tried to deliver a level of comfort and clarity to new and veteran Town Meeting members by meeting with them last Thursday to answer any questions they have about the articles, which he?s hosted before every Special Town Meeting since he became Town Manager in April 2012. “It was a good roundtable discussion and I got a lot of positive feedback on it,” said Crabtree.Crabtree said the most important part of the Special Town Meeting was to make adjustments in the budget with what needed to be appropriated and where, in order to set the tax rate Tuesday. Finance-related articles are 5 through 16, and include creating a Stabilization Fund for capital items, funds to improve the Department of Public Works and regular school budget items.As the town?s chief financial officer, Crabtree said financial articles will be the priority at the meeting. As for other issues that may call for more review by voters, like Article 4, which addresses the conduct of elected officials and town employees, Crabtree said he doesn?t have involvement in that, but Dever and others believe that article will be “the one to watch.”The article was put forth by the Board of Selectmen after former Chairman Michael Serino launched an investigation of Selectman Steve Castinetti for allegedly pressuring town residents to buy advertisements from him in return for political favors.?The code of conduct one will generate some strong feelings and debate,” said Dever. “There will be a fair amount of discussion on that issue.”Selectman Paul Allan said he didn?t know whether the restrictions intended to prevent potential conflicts of interest would “help or hurt the town.”?Personally, I don?t think it will be healthy,” said Allan. “If anyone steps out of line, let the state take care of it.”Allan said he was interested to see who would step up to replace Bob Long as Town Moderator, because he said whoever takes the job could “really change the tempo” of the meeting. Allan said he hadn?t heard of anyone who was slated to step up. “Pretty much going to be as surprised as anybody else,” said Allan.Other articles include Article 2, which will ask Town Meeting members to approve Special Police Officers, which may allow retired officers to perform police details.The final article on the warrant about the Historic Mills Mixed Use Overlay District will most likely be deferred to the next Special Town Meeting, said Crabtree, because the issue will return to the Planning Board again before it will be voted on by the town.