New selectmen take over; manager in limbo

SAUGUS – The new Saugus Board of Selectmen was sworn in at the Town Hall auditorium Wednesday, but the group gave no indication on the status of new Town Manager Sean Fitzgerald, who was just sworn in last Friday.The move to recall four of the previous selectmen, which succeeded Tuesday night, was prompted after the voted to terminate the previous town manager, Scott Crabtree, last October.After nominating Debra Panetta – the only holdover from the previous board – as chairman due to her experience with the board, and choosing Scott Brazis as the vice chair (he was the No. 1 vote-getter, collectively, in the recall), the five selectmen went into executive session to discuss pending litigation.Fitzgerald said he hasn?t received any information on whether the board will try to remove him.?I would expect to hear from them if that happened,” Fitzgerald said. “We?d talk about how we?re going to move forward.”He was present at Town Hall during the swearing-in ceremony Wednesday.?There?s been a lot of speculation and rumors, but at this point, let?s get them sworn in so that we can talk about ways to pull this together,” Fitzgerald said.Mark Mitchell said he hasn?t seen Fitzgerald?s contract, and asked how one could make that decision before officially meeting.?We?re talking about that at the meeting tonight,” Mitchell said.Scott Brazis said he doesn?t think it?s fair for him to comment at this time.?I want to look over everything so that we can make a good, educated decision first,” Brazis said. “We have a lot of catching up to do, and I?m excited.”Brazis said they need to let matters digest before any action is taken.Jeffrey Cicolini said he “wasn?t part of the hiring process for Fitzgerald. I have no idea what we?re going to do until we see the contract. We?ve held no back-door meetings. That would be a violation of the Open Meeting Law.?Various things have been swirling in our heads,” Cicolini said. “It?s daunting. We at least need a day to sleep on it.”Cicolini said there wasn?t a termination between Tuesday night and Wednesday, despite rumors.Recall supporter Sherri Raftery said terminating Fitzgerald?s contract so soon would put both him and the board in a tough position.?It would have been better judgment to allow the new Board of Selectmen to get elected before signing a contract,” Raftery said.Former selectman Stephen Castinetti said they should take a breather.?If they do (terminate Fitzgerald), they?re making a big mistake,” Castinetti said. “They need to give this guy a chance. He?s a lot more of a manager than Crabtree will ever be.”