Save Saugus to board: save date

SAUGUS – There is a fear among Save Saugus PAC members that the Board of Selectmen may not approve the date for the recall election at tonight’s meeting.”There is a strong likelihood that they will not call the election for Feb. 3,” said Save Saugus Chairman Mark Mitchell.Selectmen chairman Ellen Faiella, Maureen Dever, Stephen Castinetti and Paul Allan are subject to the recall stemming from the board’s 4-1 vote on Oct. 29 to terminate former Town Manager Scott Crabtree. Selectman Debra Panetta cast the lone vote in favor of Crabtree and will not be included in the recall.According to the Town Charter, the signatures of at least 25 percent of the town’s registered voters – or 4,443 – were needed to force a special election.Mitchell said that on Nov. 26, Town Clerk Ellen Schena sent written notification to the selectmen informing them that enough signatures had been submitted to trigger a recall election. Under the charter, the selectmen had five days to acknowledge receipt of the notice and to approve the election date. Mitchell said the selectmen had the opportunity to discuss the election at either the Dec. 2 or Dec. 4 meetings.”The selectmen are already in violation of the Town Charter by delaying the calling of the recall election,” he said. “The four selectmen have an interest in delaying this election.”Town Counsel John Vasapolli said that under state law, a recall election can only be held at least 65 days after the signatures have been certified. He said this supersedes the charter’s requirement that a recall election be held no sooner than 25 days and no more than 35 days after the clerk certifies that enough signatures have been submitted. Feb. 3 is the first Tuesday date following the passage of 65 days.”They can’t stop the election from happening,” said Vasapolli.Faiella, Dever, Castinetti and Allan did not return calls seeking comment.