Page 14 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – Friday, November 15, 2019 SOUNDS | from page 11 The voters of Saugus have decided how they would like to see their local government run for the next two years. And it’s obvious a strong anti-incumbent wind swept through town 10 days ago – blowing away what was left of the School Committee (three incumbents, including Chair Jeannie Meredith), two selectmen and 10 Town Meeting members in its path. The replacement of the school custodians – and especially the way they were replaced by a private company with little public discussion – was at the eye of this political storm. But voters decided to keep their top vote-getting selectmen from two years ago. Debra C. Panetta, the former Chair, and Vice Chair Jeffrey V. Cicolini are staunch backers of the town manager. And Michael J. Serino, a former selectman and veteran of numerous years in town government on many elected and appointed boards, seems supportive of the town manager. So, this is by no means a reversion to the way things were before the March 2015 recall vote that led to the ouster to the four selectmen who voted to fire Crabtree and his eventual rehiring by Panetta and the four new selectmen who replaced the recalled ones. Just remember: Paul H. Allan, one of the recalled selectmen who ran this fall to get his job back, didn’t get elected. I believe the message is moderation. Voters want stability in their government. They don’t want selectmen micro-managing the manager, but they don’t want to see the manager assuming responsibilities that selectmen and Town Meeting members ought to be assuming. Voters opted for some change and want selectmen and Town Meeting to get more involved. But the message is moderate. Crabtree is under contract for several more years. And I hardly think he’s in danger of losing his job – again. He just needs to make adjustments to work with the new Board of Selectmen and new Town Meeting. And maybe he should distance himself from the School Committee, given the number of casualties linked to the replacement of the school custodians. He was among a handful of town officials who signed the contract. He’s got enough on his plate to keep himself busy and out of harm’s way for the next two years. And it looks like he made a good start with a productive roundtable discussion with the new Board of Selectmen on Wednesday night. Look for Crabtree to make those adjustments over the next two years. If he does, there is no reason why he should worry about job security. He will share credit for whatever successes the new Board of Selectmen and Town Meeting accomplish. Transparency in government Greater public access and transparency in local government looks like it will become the mantra for the new Board of Selectmen as well as the School Committee. That should bode well for the newly elected bodies. There is nothing wrong with transparency unless it’s not being practiced. The Saugus public deserves access to their local government. If the new officers don’t hold true to their promise, they will be held accountable if they seek reelection two years from now. And we’ll be watching this closely. Stay tuned. One-day delay in trash/recycling collection The Town of Saugus announces that trash and recycling collection will continue to run on a one-day delay through Saturday, Nov. 16, due to the observance of Veterans Day. There was no collection on Monday, Nov. 11, due to the holiday. Services resumed on a one-day delay from Tuesday through Saturday. Residents whose collection falls on Monday will be collected on Tuesday. Collection will then continue to run on a one-day delay for the remainder of the week. The compost site will be open normal hours, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., tomorrow, Saturday, Nov. 16. The Town of Saugus would like to thank everyone for their cooperation. Please contact Solid Waste/Recycling Coordinator Lorna Cerbone at 781-231-4036 with any questions. Veterans Day shout-outs We have a couple of noble shout-outs this week, and very appropriately with a Veterans Day theme in mind. Frequent “Shout Out” contributor Jean M. Bartolo emailed this first one to us: “A ‘Shout Out’ and ‘Thank you’ to the children of St. Mary School in Lynn for drawing the great Veterans Day cards for all the Veterans Soldiers who attended the Veterans Day Services at the Veterans Memorial Park. Each veteran received a card and the rest will be showcased at the Saugus American Legion [Cpl. Scott J. Procopio] Post 210 [44 Taylor St., Saugus].” I noticed a few veterans walking around at Veterans Park clutching one of those Veterans Day cards and with a big smile across their face in each instance. A small token, but it’s the thought that counts. The second one comes from Eugene Decareau, whose older brother – Peter J. Decareau, a U.S. Navy veteran who quit Saugus High School 77 years ago so he could serve four years during World War II – died last month around the Columbus Day weekend. “The Saugus Fire Department on the night before my brother’s funeral on the holiday weekend. Bill Cross of the Fire Department called me. They heard that we were having trouble getting an honor guard for him, and the Saugus Fire Department offered to step up and do the honor guard. It turned out that we didn’t thank them. But I still want to thank them.” As it turned out, the town of Burlington – where Peter Decareau lived for many years – stepped up with the appropriate tribute, according to Eugene. SOUNDS | SEE PAGE 16
15 Publizr Home