For total recall, Saugus can look back 40 years

SAUGUS – The March 17 recall election in town is not without precedent, but you have to go back 40 years to find the last time it happened.The recall election on Feb. 4, 1975 came about as a result of the town manager being fired – the same reason for this year?s recall.Robert Hagopian was hired as town manager in 1974, only to be terminated eight months later. The current recall was triggered by four of five selectmen voting on Oct. 29 of last year to fire former town manager Scott Crabtree.What?s different this time around is that at the time of the last recall, elected officials facing the possibility of recall had the option of starting over – in a sense. They could resign and enter the special election as private citizens in an attempt to get voted back into office.According to town counsel John Vasapoli, the town charter was amended in 1979 to require any elected official who is voted out as part of a successful recall to wait two years before running for office again. Fast forwarding to today, that means if Selectmen Paul H. Allan, Maureen P. Dever, Ellen L. Faiella and Stephen L. Castinetti are recalled, they can?t run again until 2017.Four decades ago, selectmen Clayton Trefry, Christie Serino, David Dwyer and John Bucchiere resigned their seats and were among 14 candidates on the ballot. Selectmen Benjamin MacGlashin did not resign and was subject to recall.Bucchiere, MacGlashin and Dwyer were voted out of office in the special election, while Trefry and Serino were the only two selectmen to retain their seats. Joseph Kerwin and Brian Robinson were also elected to the board. John Bryant subsequently fulfilled MacGlashin?s term.According to Dick Barry, who served as town moderator from 1964 to 1975, there was tension between Hagopian and Bucchiere.?Bucchiere threw his hands up in the air, because there were differences personally and politically,” Barry said. “Bucchiere was a tough member of the board, and Hagopian spoke his mind.”According to Bill Stewart, a town meeting member for more than 20 years, the political climate was even worse in 1975.?The fighting between sides was much worse than it is now,” he said.Stewart said at the time he knew the selectmen candidates well.Janice Jarosz, a former town meeting member and selectman, recalled how Hagopian?s termination came about. Her late husband, Ronald, was also a selectman, from 1978 to 1980.?I don?t remember any problems between Bucchiere and Hagopian since Bucchiere took office again,” Jarosz said. “That?s the way it is in Saugus. I remember Hagopian doing a lot of good in the town, but not being able to do the job correctly.”Jarosz said there was disagreement from the start. Hagopian, who lived in New Hampshire with his family, rented a trailer in Saugus to fulfill the residency requirement, she said.The first recall in Saugus? history was in 1961, and it concerned an alcohol license not being granted to Carr?s Liquors – which still exists today, as Amato?s Liquors, 206 Lincoln Ave. Barry said Carr was well-liked, and the recall began when people were shocked that a different store received the license.Jarosz said selectmen Samuel Ludwig, Arthur Gustafson Sr. and Benjamin Rice, who were against granting Carr?s the license, were recalled. She said Fred Willis, former speaker of the House, helped Carr?s ultimately get the liquor license a year later. Willis intended to run for town manager but died in the 1970s before he got the chance, Jarosz said.