Page 2 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, MArCH 14, 2025 REFLECTIONS | FROM PAGE 1 seated incumbent Board of Selectmen Chair Ellen Faiella, Vice Chair Maureen Dever and Selectmen Paul Allan and Steve Castinetti was so polarizing that people on both sides of the issue don’t feel comfortable talking about it even today. “It’s hard to believe that it was 10 years ago already,” Selectman Corinne Riley recalled in an interview this week. “Not one of those anniversaries I care to dwell on, as it caused nasty and hurtful division between neighbors, friends and family,” Riley lamented. Board of Selectmen Chair Debra Panetta – the only selectman who was not recalled, because of her unwavering support of Crabtree – prefers not to talk about that period of political turmoil in the town once nicknamed “the graveyard of town managers.” “Our Town has successfully moved past the dark days of the recall,” Panetta said. “I want to focus on the positive work that our Town Manager, the Board of Selectmen, School Committee, Finance Committee, Town Meeting, our Town Departments, and the other Boards and Commissions have accomplished,” she said. For his part, Crabtree declined to comment on the recall election, which enabled him to return to the Town Manager’s Office a short time after Panetta and a new board consisting of Mark Mitchell, Jeff CiLawrence A. Simeone Jr. Attorney-at-Law ~ Since 1989 ~ * Corporate Litigation * Criminal/Civil * MCAD * Zoning/Land Court * Wetlands Litigation * Workmen’s Compensation * Landlord/Tenant Litigation * Real Estate Law * Construction Litigation * Tax Lien * Personal Injury * Bankruptcy * Wrongful Death * Zoning/Permitting Litigation 300 Broadway, Suite 1, Revere * 781-286-1560 lsimeonejr@simeonelaw.net colini, Jennifer D’Eon and Scott Brazis voted to reinstate him. As things turned, Crabtree – who was fired after two years – has gone on to serve nearly 10 more years to become the longest-serving town manager since Saugus hired its first town manager in 1948. He’s also the only town manager to serve for a decade. Crabtree has been on the job about 14 years and has carved out a career in his hometown that could lead to two decades in the Town Manager’s Office. Selectmen in February voted unanimously to extend Crabtree’s contract through Jan. 31, 2030. They also voted to give Crabtree a 1.5 percent pay increase effective Feb. 1, 2025, and 4 percent increases for 2026, 2027, 2028 and 2029. For this week’s edition, The Saugus Advocate reached out to two dozen longtime participants in local Saugus government to get their reflections of the recall election, the impact it had on the way town government operates and the residents’ view of local government. Most of those officials contacted did not want to comment for this story. Recalled selectmen respect voters The Saugus Advocate attempted to get comment from the four recalled selectmen. Castinetti and Dever both said they accepted the decision of the voters without any bitterness. “The town voters spoke at the time and hopefully they’re satisfied with what they got from it,” Castinetti said. Although he moved away from Saugus to Danvers several years ago, he maintains a public profile in Saugus through his work as commander of the Saugus Veterans Council. “The people made their decision and we have to respect that,” Dever said. Former Selectmen Allan and Faiella could not be reached for comment at press time this week. Here are the reflections offered by four current and former town officials: Former Town Meeting Member Al DiNardo “There was an enormous outcry after the firing of Scot Crabtree from the public. No one person has the authority to recall a sitting board of selectmen, but the citizens of the town. All we did was galvanize those voices that felt that the Crabtree administration was doing a good job at restoring Saugus. “Saugus was at a multi-generational decline before this administration. The town was even under a consent order for dumping raw sewage into the Saugus River. After hearing from hundreds of citizens, I decided to run the recall from my home on Essex Street. We had over 200 volunteers that wanted to work to change the direction of the Town. “Unfortunately, I had to move to Plymouth to help care for my 91 year old mother-in-law with my partner. I am proud to be part of a movement that changed the direction of the town out of potential receivership into the many accomplishments since this administration took over. It was the citizens of Saugus that ordered a recall 10 years ago. “It is a strong testimonial to our way of government that the people have the final say to adjudicate issues when they are not happy. Far different from the old country where Kings and Queens execute their authority. We the people of Saugus supported the work of the Crabtree Administration.” Town Meeting Member Peter Manoogian “Many feel the recall was only about the unjust firing of Scott Crabtree, but for me it was much more than that. Prior to his hiring, Saugus was on a downward financial slide. We were on a Department of Revenue Watchlist, the Town had experienced negative free cash, there was clear and later confirmed evidence of procurement improprieties and there was unrest among the employees due to unsettled contracts. “Capital improvements to buildings and public spaces could not occur due to the constant refrain of ‘we have no money.’ The Town had been cited for dumping raw sewage into the Saugus River due to a lack of maintenance on our sewer infrastructure. Saugus needed special one year tax assessment legislation just to pay for snow and ice costs. “Flash forward 10 years and the Town of Saugus is in the best financial condition it has ever been in. We have healthy reserves; bills, including snow and ice, are paid for within the fiscal year of their occurrence and our bond rating has remained just one notch below AAA thus saving hundreds of thousands of dollars on borREFLECTIONS | SEE PAGE 3
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