Saugus selectmen plead case for consulting money

SAUGUS – The Board of Selectmen brought its case for a $50,000 allowance for “consultative services” before the Finance Committee this week.Chairman Ellen Faiella, flanked by members of the board, said Wednesday the ability for the board to find its own consultants and research would have moved processes, like the grease trap regulations, along more quickly.?It?s quite frustrating making the request for information over and over and over again and not getting the response to be able to perform our jobs,” said Faiella. “If we have the opportunity to research and the manager has a lot on his plate, let us do some of the research.”The board?s suggestion was that the money would come from the town?s legal budget.Town Manager Scott Crabtree denied the request since the board first made it in February, and Selectman Debra Panetta had received an opinion from Town Counsel that said selectmen were only permitted to have a $1,000 account, with anything more to be given through the Town Manager.But in reading aloud the section in the charter, Town Meeting member Peter Manoogian proved that the charter said that rule was flexible, since additional funds could be approved at Town Meeting. Still, another member sitting in on the meeting, Al Dinardo, was concerned the request should require a charter change.?This administration is fairly new, in the midst of his first budget, and I feel the manager hasn?t had his chance to carry out his vision for the future of Saugus,” said Dinardo. “It?s way too soon to do this type of micromanaging.”Finance Committee Chairman Robert Palleschi questioned if the board?s request was really something to be heard at the committee?s meeting.?The only reason we brought this up is to drive the point home, that something needs to give,” said Faiella, adding later, “We don?t know where to turn to try to resolve this.”Faiella said the board?s request is not the first of its kind, since Crabtree himself requested the same amount in April 2011 as a member of the Board of Selectmen. But Finance Committee members said according to their minutes, that request was for liquor licensing, and it was not approved by their committee.Palleschi said he was stating the obvious when he told Faiella, “The manager does work for you, and that?s all I really have to say.”He added later to Faiella, “This is an open debate on how the Board of Selectmen is dealing with this manager. ? I don?t want to sound glib, but this problem is your problem.”Palleschi said the Finance Committee would revisit the $50,000 request at its next meeting.