Former Saugus town manager Hansen remembered

SAUGUS – Town Meeting members Robert Long and Peter Manoogian reflected on their days as selectmen working alongside the steady hand of former Town Manager Norman Hansen.Hansen, who passed away in Newburyport on Oct. 27 at the age of 90, served as town manager from 1987-92 and had been temporary town manager four times prior.Originally from Berlin, N.H., Hansen was also a U.S. Marine who fought at the Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II.Hansen was remembered by Long and Manoogian as being calm, accessible and approachable regardless of the circumstances.”He was just the epitome of a yankee New Englander,” said Long.Long said Hansen never hesitated to seek assistance from the board and always knew his role in town government. “I was impressed by that,” said Long. “We didn’t want him to retire.”Long and Manoogian both remembered a particular board meeting in which a Denver Street resident complained about a pump that was running continuously, thus keeping him awake at night. Hansen tried to explain that the pump was needed to keep water out of a sewer trench that the town was constructing. However, the perturbed resident did not want to listen and demanded that the pump be shut off. Long said that Hansen got up and offered to leave in the middle of the meeting to shut the pump off himself. However, Hansen remained at the meeting and calmed the man’s nerves.”That was Norman,” said Long. “We never saw the fellow again.””Norman was the type of guy who would not patronize his audience,” said Manoogian, adding that Hansen had a way of gently delivering bad news so as not to cause a stir.Long remembered another time when a group of residents became upset with Hansen, insisting that money was available for a particular project despite Hansen’s saying otherwise. Long said the quarrel ended when Hansen left the meeting and returned with a hefty stack of ledger sheets.Long said Hansen announced to the crowd, “?OK, there it is, if you can find out where the money is, it’s yours.'””His quips could defuse a tense situation rapidly,” said Manoogian. “He was an outstanding town manager.”Hansen was also remembered as a great communicator. Long said Hansen would call each selectman between meetings to keep them as updated as possible on the town’s affairs.Manoogian said his wife would make a Thanksgiving basket every year for Hansen after his wife, Evelyn, died in 2009. Manoogian said his wife became good friends with Hansen, always pleasing him with her Thanksgiving baskets.”He would call me and was on the phone with her for half an hour,” said Manoogian.Long said Hansen did a lot of traveling after he retired from municipal government. He always remembered that Long’s wife, Carol, collected thimbles. Long said Hansen was always sure to “bring a thimble home for Carol Long” after every trip.