Saugus officials split over reinstating Crabtree

SAUGUS – Going into Tuesday’s meeting, Selectman Debra Panetta knew she was facing an uphill battle with her motion to reinstate suspended Town Manager Scott Crabtree, but she had to try.”I had reservations, but I was hopeful,” she said on Wednesday, following a sound 4-1 vote from the selectmen to defeat her motion.”I wanted us to all come together and iron out whatever the issues there are,” she said. “Nobody wants to see this town divided.”Panetta explained that time was of the essence as Crabtree’s suspension and preliminary resolution for removal took effect on Sept. 15.”We’re already 10 days in,” she said.Panetta added that the board does not meet again until Oct. 7, at which time only a week will remain before the board votes on a final resolution.”There was no time to wait,” she said.Town Meeting member Peter Manoogian said Panetta was simply trying to give the board the “opportunity to explore a different avenue.””Debbie leads with her heart,” he said.However, Manoogian explained that the selectmen may very well have cost the town $35,000 to cover Crabtree’s three-month suspension.He also cited wrongdoings in terms of how the selectmen attacked Town Meeting members, including those who were not present.”They’ve taken an Uzi and are shooting it all around in a 360-degree circle,” said Manoogian, who compared the board’s actions to those of former U.S. Sen. Joseph McCarthy’s red-baiting in the 1950s.Vice Chairman Maureen Dever said that residents have misunderstood the town charter in telling the board that Michael Murphy is unauthorized to serve as the acting town manager. She added that similar actions have been taken before and can be taken again.However, Page 49 of the Town Charter states that no one on the Board of Assessors is qualified to serve as acting town manager. Murphy is its chairman.Town Counsel John Vasapolli explained that residents could seek a court order that would force the board to comply with the charter.”There may be a civil action,” he said. “I’ve never seen this in the time I’ve been here.”Town Meeting member Al DiNardo said he has “eternal optimism” for the town despite the string of recent events.”I know what it means for the town if we go down this road,” he said.DiNardo pointed out that the town’s business, including the preparation of a statement of intent to the state for a new high school, has come to a halt despite having Murphy as acting town manager.”He’s not Scott Crabtree,” DiNardo said.