Saugus group advances in recall effort

SAUGUS – Save Saugus PAC says it has 500 signatures against each of the four selectmen it is trying to remove. Legally, it only needed 50.Chairman Mark Mitchell said the group has collected 10 times the required signatures to initiate a recall against Chairman Ellen Faiella, Vice Chairman Maureen Dever, Selectman Stephen Castinetti and Selectman Paul Allan.Mitchell said the only remaining challenge for Save Saugus will be meeting the requirements for a Special Recall Election. The fifth selectman, Debra Panetta, who has become a minority of one in most board votes, is not part of the recall.”We have more than enough signatures for the petitions of intent,” he said. “Think of petitions of intent as ?nominating a selectman to be recalled from office.'”Mitchell said last week the core purpose of Save Saugus is “to provide people with an opportunity to decide whether this group of four selectmen is acting in the best interest of Saugus.”In order to initiate a recall election, Mitchell said that 5,000 signatures will be needed within 25 days after the initial petitions of intent are filed with the town.”We understand this a huge undertaking, and our success is directly linked to the voters not only signing the petitions, but then getting out to vote in the Recall Election,” said Mitchell.A team of volunteers will be going door-to-door, canvassing for signatures, each of them having a quota to meet. Mitchell said volunteers will be stationed at various locations around town.”We are confident that once the signatures are obtained, those facing recall will be put out of office,” he said.Should there be a special election, Mitchell said that each selectman will need a majority yes vote to be individually recalled.He added that the number of residents backing suspended Town Manager Scott Crabtree has continued to propel the recall campaign.”We feel that Mr. Crabtree’s termination hearing will generate tremendous support for the recall process,” he said.Going forward, Mitchell explained that as a PAC group, Save Saugus will be able to host candidate forums and question-and-answer sessions, thus steering voters away from electing a similar group of selectmen.