Saugus manager conflict drags on

SAUGUS – Sean Fitzgerald, whose contract as the town?s new manager has been voided by the new Board of Selectmen, indicated Wednesday that he is still weighing his options before he makes his next move.?I do have support from a number of different lawyers,” Fitzgerald said. “I?m looking to reach out to a few more,” said Fitzgerald, of Peabody, who was selected to replace Scott Crabtree late last month, and who was sworn into the position one day before the majority of the old board was recalled in a special election.Tuesday night, the new board unanimously voted to reinstate Scott Crabtree – who was fired last October with four of the five members of the previous board voting to terminate him.Fitzgerald denied reports that he was seen leaving Essex Superior Court in Lawrence Wednesday, and said he cannot speculate on how he will respond to Tuesday?s developments, or whether he?ll file suit, until he gets more information.?I?m troubled to hear (about what the selectmen did),” said Fitzgerald, “but I can?t make a decision until I have all the facts.”Crabtree, however, appeared well on his way to settle the lawsuits he?d filed against the town upon his termination.After announcing its decision on Fitzgerald – which came after the board went into executive session – selectmen discussed that the town will pay Crabtree his lost back pay (approximately $42,000, which includes legal fees) and provide him lost back benefits, such as sick leave and vacation.The town will pay his attorney fees, not to exceed $30,000. In return, Crabtree will dismiss his case against the town and the board members in their official capacities, the board said.Labor and employment counsel Jay Sullivan said the former Board of Selectmen did not act in good faith when it hired Fitzgerald and signed him to a contract.?They were trying to bind a successor board and manipulate the election,” Sullivan said. “When you are trying to sign a contract four days before an election, and your longtime town council (John Vasapolli) is refusing to sign it, and (he?s) telling you it?s unlawful: reasonable people don?t rush to sign that contract.”Vasapolli said he told the previous board that the contract it was trying to draft for Fitzgerald entirely ignored the realities of the pending recall, as well as Crabtree?s lawsuit. He also said that it was not appropriate for the recalled selectmen to try to saddle the town with a poorly drafted three-year contract four days before a recall election.Sullivan said that signing the contract four days before the recall election, swearing in Fitzgerald the day before the recall election, and not mentioning the recall election in the document, was tantamount to tying the hands of the new board. Everything, he said, points to the old board not acting in good faith.Crabtree settled his lawsuit against Saugus for $72,000, and his salary will be $122,000. He will be sworn in Monday at 8 a.m. in the Town Hall Auditorium.Former selectman Maureen Dever took exception to accusations her board did not act in good faith.?The contract entered into with Sean Fitzgerald was a comprehensive contract, vetted by outside counsel and entered into in good faith by both parties,” Dever said. “The posting of the town manager position, the screening committee and the interview process to hire a new town manager for the town of Saugus could not have been more transparent.”