There is life after Saugus for Fitzgerald

SAUGUS – Sean Fitzgerald, who spent less than a week as Saugus’ town manager during the tumultuous recall of four out of the five selectmen in the town last March, has his old job with the town of Plaistow, N.H., back.Fitzgerald became town manager the week before the selectmen – Ellen Faiella, Maureen Dever, Steve Castinetti and Paul Allan – were recalled. Once the four new selectmen were sworn in, they reinstated Scott Crabtree, who had been fired last October by the previous board.Fitzgerald signed a three-year contract to resume his job as town manager of Plaistow, N.H., which he left to take the Saugus position.”I’m very happy to be continuing the work that I have been involved in over the last six-and-a-half years,” said Fitzgerald, who lives in Peabody.While Fitzgerald was looking forward to making a difference in Saugus, after the events that transpired, he is happy to be back where he began.Plaistow citizens are happy to have him back too, Fitzgerald said.”It’s a wonderful community and I’ve certainly received a lot of well wishes,” he said. “I’ve enjoyed working with both the local officials and the citizens, and I will continue to do my best to help them as a community.”Fitzgerald was disappointed to have the opportunity to become town manager of Saugus not work out, and feels that what happened wasn’t right.”My interest in Saugus has been something I’ve had my entire life,” Fitzgerald said. “I have had family members and friends from Saugus, and I have always thought of it as a wonderful community on the North Shore.””I thought what happened was unfair and a little disappointing,” he said.”I’m going to put that aside and really focus on my responsibilities in Plaistow,” Fitzgerald said. “I wish Saugus the best. They will have to work hard to pull the community together and continue to address those challenges that every city and town faces.”Fitzgerald was hired back by Plaistow on an interim basis until the town made a decision on who would take his place. There were many applicants for the position but ultimately, it was decided that Fitzgerald was the most qualified option.”I was very pleased with our ability to attract over 62 very qualified applicants for this important position,” Plaistow selectman Steve Ranlett said in a release.”Sean has a demonstrated track record of accomplishments in municipal management, and we are pleased he agreed to continue many of the important projects and initiatives he has helped to coordinate for Plaistow,” Ranlett said.”I’ve been fortunate that I’ve had a unique opportunity to help a number of communities,” Fitzgerald said. “I’m going to do my best to use the time that I have to make as much of a positive difference that I can.”