Judge to board: Set Saugus recall date, or I will

LAWRENCE – A Superior Court justice warned he may set a March 17 date for the Board of Selectmen’s recall election if board members fail to keep a promise – made by its attorney in court Tuesday – to schedule the election during its Jan. 6 meeting.”I am giving them the opportunity to follow through or you’re going to be back here next Wednesday. I can order the election to be conducted – I’m hoping it’s not necessary,” said Justice Thomas Drechsler.Board Chairman Ellen Faiella, following the afternoon court hearing, said the board had been planning to include scheduling the recall election during next Tuesday’s meeting since Dec. 22 when Faiella said Town Clerk Ellen Schena received a “declaration” from Secretary of State William Galvin’s office allowing the board to proceed with scheduling the recall.”The special election has been on our agenda for a week,” Faiella said.The board’s Oct. 29 vote to fire former Town Manager Scott Crabtree set in motion the recall effort and sparked formation of Save Saugus, an organization that gathered and submitted to the clerk’s office certified voters’ signatures calling for a recall vote.Board member Debra Panetta opposed Crabtree’s firing and is not a target of recallers. Those who are targets, other than Faiella, are Stephen Castinetti, Paul Allan and Maureen Dever.Selectmen tabled scheduling the recall on Dec. 9 and Save Saugus filed a complaint Dec. 22 asking the court to order selectmen to schedule the recall. Assurances by Board of Selectmen attorney Neil Rossman were sufficient for Drechsler to hold off ordering the board to schedule the election. But he warned Rossman:”If they don’t follow through, I’m inclined to issue the order.”Save Saugus member Jeff Cicolini called the court’s warning “fantastic.””The judge realized it was necessary to force their hand. He is saying, ?You don’t do it, I will act.’ It’s unfortunate it got to this point,” Cicolini said.Save Saugus attorney Matthew Thomson said the March 17 date complies with a state law mandating a 65-day time period between when the board meets to schedule an election and the election date.Drechsler also briefly addressed on Tuesday Save Saugus’ concerns about selectmen moving forward with hiring a new town manager prior to the recall election. The judge noted the board has not moved to hire a new manager.”Nothing’s happened yet – if it does – bring it back to my attention,” he said.A selectmen-appointed screening committee is reviewing town manager applications submitted to the town, but Faiella said there is no “defined deadline” for the committee to forward recommendations to the selectmen.