To the editor:
As the lone vote against the recent contract extension of the Saugus town manager, I’d like to respond to your Aug. 3 editorial, “Taking the Long View in Saugus.”
I’m not sure who the actual editor is, as it states “we,” however I’d like to point out several issues with this editorial.
To begin with, your editorial is riddled with errors, including the following: First, you’ve misspelled a selectman’s name. Second, the board did not vote a “second five-year extension” — it was a three-year extension. Third, the statement, “Riley said the extension defied the will of the voters,” is false. Fourth, the new contract was not voted five years later; it was four years later.
As editors, it is your prerogative to share your opinion, but please do so accurately.
Regarding my analysis that you disagree with, you reference the 2015 recall vote and claim, “Crabtree clearly has a mandate as town manager.”
Since the 2015 election wasn’t close, I’ll agree that it was a mandate six years ago. But by that logic, the 2019 election, which also wasn’t close, was also a mandate, and a more recent one.
For some reason, you seem to feel that the election six years ago is more relevant to today’s issues than our most recent election, but you fail to share your reasoning. My reasoning is clear: The voters of 2019 put me in the seat of selectman, and I will follow their wishes to the best of my ability.
I said in my statement on July 20 that Saugus voters spoke loud and clear at all levels of our local government last election and clearly indicated their appetite for change with sweeping changes in the School Committee, Town Meeting, and Board of Selectmen, and I stand by it.
Corinne Riley
Vice Chair, Saugus Board of Selectmen
