THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, SEpTEmbEr 9, 2022 Page 5 Praiseworthy Promotions Selectmen applaud Crabtree on decision to make interim directors of youth & recreation Department and Senior Center permanent department heads By Mark E. Vogler A dogged search to fill key vacancies in town government in recent years has escalated into a major challenge for Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree and calls from elected officials to correct the situation. But Crabtree’s recent decision to promote two longtime town employees from interim department heads to permanent status this week drew high praise from all fi ve members of the Board of Selectmen. During a briefi ng at Wednesday’s (Sept. 7) meeting, Crabtree told selectmen that he had fi lled the director positions at the Youth & Recreation Department and the Saugus Senior Center. In an interview later, he confi rmed these appointments: · Crystal Cakounes as the new director of the Saugus Youth & Recreation Department. She has been serving nearly a year as interim director. Cakounes took over for Gregory Nickolas, 58, who was just a month continue to deliver the very best to our community. She has held almost every position at the center and is supported by all. I look forward to Laurie’s leadership and contribution in her new position,” Crabtree said. In his statement to the paper, he also mentioned his excitement at announcing the promotion of Cakounes as the Director of the Saugus Youth & Recreation Department. “Crystal started at the Y&R back in 2005 and has touched so many lives of our youth in Saugus,” Crabtree said. PROMOTIONS | SEE PAGE 8 Selectmen Debra Panetta and Michael Serino listened on Wednesday morning (Sept. 7) as Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree updated them on the challenges of fi lling vacant town positions. When asked what positions have been fi lled, Crabtree noted that he recently promoted the interim directors of the Saugus Senior Center and the Youth & Recreation Department to permanent status. (Saugus Advocate photos by Mark E. Vogler) short of completing his 17th year as director of the Youth & Recreation Department when he died a month after battling COVID-19. · Council on Aging Administrative Assistant Laurie Davis as the new director at the Saugus Senior Center. She replaces Joanne Olsen, a Saugus native, who had worked close to a quarter of a century at the center – the last 13 years as its popular director – when she retired at the end of July. Crabtree lauds their service to Saugus The two new town department heads have a lot in common. Both are graduates of Newly appointed Youth & Recreation Department Director Crystal Cakounes has worked in her department for 17 years – including nearly a year as the interim director. Saugus High School: Cakounes is a member of the Class of 2000 and Davis graduated from Saugus High in 1988. Both worked for more than a decade as the number two person in their respective departments: Cakounes became fulltime, working under Nickolas in 2010; Davis took over as administrative assistant in 2009. She initially began as the center’s bookkeeper in 2001. “I am thrilled to announce Laurie Davis as Director of the Saugus Senior Center,” Crabtree said in a statement to The Saugus Advocate. “As a Saugus resident and years of dedicated service to our Saugus seniors, Laurie will Newly appointed Saugus Senior Center Director Laurie Davis is a 21-year veteran of the Saugus Senior Center – with a dozen years as the second person in charge.
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