Castinetti: Crabtree misled board

SAUGUS – Selectman Steve Castinetti accused Town Manager Scott Crabtree of misleading the board so that he could enter into negotiations of leasing the Hamilton Street fire station to American Ambulance.Since the ambulance service switch from former provider Cataldo Ambulance to American Ambulance Services had been pushed from the agenda since Crabtree?s announcement Oct. 8, Chairman Ellen Faiella read through a series of email exchanges between Crabtree, the board and Town Counsel John Vasapoli to update the community in a board meeting Tuesday. The emails revealed that Vasapoli had advised the board not to discuss the process of choosing American Ambulance over Cataldo to avoid a liability since they do not hold the authority on contractual issues.In one of the emails dated Nov. 16, Crabtree wrote the board to announce American Ambulance would begin in Saugus Dec. 1 and would temporarily occupy the Hamilton Street fire station as a formal request for proposal is prepared for the lease.Faiella said in the days since that email, the board had since contacted Vasapoli to find out if the town?s charter allowed Crabtree to enter into negotiations of leasing a town property. Vasapoli said if the lease was over 180 days, it would require a majority vote of the board – which, according to the minutes of a board meeting Sept. 25, the board had approved in a vote to give Crabtree authority to enter into negotiations with Kasabuski Rink, the Department of Public Works landfill and “various other town buildings.”Castinetti said Crabtree “intentionally misled” the board by not mentioning the fire station as one of the buildings in what he called a “blanket statement.”Crabtree said he didn?t know why Castinetti felt misled, claiming that on Sept. 24 the possibility of American Ambulance moving to the fire station “was not in the works.” In the meeting Oct. 8, five days after American was awarded the service to the town, Crabtree said that the fire station was an option for housing the new service.?There?s a real gap in communication and a gap in transparency that we all want to see,” said Faiella to Crabtree Tuesday.Castinetti, who at first made mention of a motion to rescind the Sept. 25 vote, settled for making a motion that would require Crabtree to reveal all specific town properties he may enter into negotiation for lease or rental agreement with over 180 days. The motion passed unanimously, though Selectman Debra Panetta voiced her concern over tying Crabtree?s hands too much from the day-to-day operations he was hired to do.Selectman Maureen Dever?s main concern was the residential community surrounding the fire station that would be affected by the development and operation of the garage. She said she was disturbed by the lack of transparency. “I hope we can begin anew with a team approach,” Dever said to Crabtree.During deliberation, former Chairman Michael Serino attempted to speak from the audience but Faiella denied him because she said it was not an opportunity for public comment.Crabtree said the RFP will be advertised this week. Vasapoli said the town?s charter requires that the lease must be presented to the board seven days prior to the occupation date.