Save Saugus takes action

SAUGUS – The Save Saugus Political Action Committee Tuesday filed an injunction against the Board of Selectmen seeking to halt any further action to hire a town manager prior to the March 17 recall election.A civil court hearing will be held in front of Essex Superior Court Judge Thomas Drechsler Thursday. The complaint asks that Drechsler stop the selectmen from “entering into a long-term contract with a permanent town manager that extends beyond the date of the recall, Tuesday, March 17.”Since the contract of former town manager Scott Crabtree, fired by the board last October, does not expire until April 1, 2018, the town could be exposed to hundreds of thousands of dollars in potential liability – for both Crabtree?s contract and the new town manager?s contract, said Attorney Thomas P. Fowler, who is representing the PAC.?The board is flouting the voices of the Saugus voters,” Fowler said. “Voters voiced their opinions, but the board reacted angrily to their efforts. Save Saugus got signatures from nearly 5,000 voters and voiced their objection in the impending recall. We?re merely asking them to wait until after the recall has ended, or to hire someone on a short-term basis until March 17.”Four of the five selectmen – Chair Ellen Faiella, Maureen Dever, Stephen Castinetti and Paul Allan – are the targets of the recall, which was precipitated by Crabtree?s firing.According to Fowler, selectmen haven?t said how long the new town manager?s term will be. He said the long-term appointment could happen immediately after being hired.?Paying for two town managers is not practical,” Manoogian said. “It would be a financial risk to the town by the Board of Selectmen creating additional exposure on an already-filed lawsuit that Crabtree had. What?s the rush?”Manoogian said most communities take 90 to 120 days or longer, as needed.Selectmen voted to appoint a selection committee Dec. 16.Jeffrey Cicolini, another plaintiff, said the date is too soon.?I do feel strongly that with the recall election only 28 days away that it makes absolutely no sense for this board to enter into a long-term contract with a new town manager, given they may be recalled and out of office in less than a month,” said Cicolini. “The town has a pending lawsuit against it and three sitting members of the Board of Selectmen. Included in that lawsuit is specific mention of one option of relief coming by returning the former town manager to the position he previously held.”He said entering into the contract prior to the election would be callous, self-serving and will completely ignore the voice of the people.Similarly, Manoogian said the PAC wants to minimize the financial risk, especially from the settlement of Crabtree?s termination.?Never in Saugus has a town manager been hired less than a month before an election, especially by a board that could potentially be removed or replaced,” Manoogian said.According to Fowler, the official title for the court date is “plaintiffs renewed emergency motion for preliminary injunction.”?I always knew in the back of my mind that the board was moving to hire someone quickly,” Fowler said. “But it was done at an abnormally fast pace. My understanding is that it takes approximately six months, but they?re possibly going to hire a new town manager at the open meeting Thursday.”According to Clerk Wendy L. Reed, there will be a discussion/deliberation of town manager candidates followed by a possible appointment of the new town manager. The meeting will be held Thursday, Feb. 19, 7 p.m., in Town Hall?s auditorium, 298 Central St.Peter Manoogian, a town meeting member and plaintiff, said it comes down to double jeopardy.