THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – Friday, October 20, 2017
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TEAM | from page 1 themselves from each other. Rather, they touted the accomplishments they achieved together – “as a team” – including their decision to rehire Town Manager Robert C. Crabtree after their involvement in a successful March 2015 recall of the four selectmen who had fired Crabtree. In his closing statement, challenger Michael A. Coller made reference to the closeknit board when he mentioned being labeled “a political novice.”“I think it’s a shallow attempt to say that I may not be ready for this field, due to the fact that I might break up ‘The Fabulous Five,’” Coller said. Selectman Mark Mitchell seized the opportunity to use Coller’s comments to promote the current board. “The Fabulous Five? I actually take that as a compliment … I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished,” Mitchell said. “The bottom line is we’ve done a great job. We have a great team in place, a great town manager, great leadership. It would be a travesty to change that. The town has never been going in a better direction. We’ve seen great success. … I’m very proud to be a part of this team,” Mitchell said. During the forum, Board of Selectmen Chairman Debra Panetta and colleagues Jennifer D’Eon, Scott Brazis and Jeffrey Cicolini each echoed Mitchell’s campaign theme of board unity and a great working relationship with the town
under the Crabtree administration. “As the former Chairman of the Board of Selectmen, I am proud to be part of a team that has moved Saugus forward,” Serino said. “My involvement includes: 1) Making the critical decision to hire our present Town Manager … When working together as a team, Saugus will always have a bright future,” he said. Cicolini declared, “Saugus pride is back.” He echoed Mitchell’s comments, saying he felt flattered by being reShown, from left to right, are Master of Ceremonies Mike Procopio, Timekepper Denise Selden, ferred to as “The Fabulous Five.” Selectmen Michael Serino, Jennifer D’Eon, Jeffrey Cicolini, Mark Mitchell, Corinne Riley, Scott Brazis, Debra Panetta, Michael Coller, and Advocate Publisher and Moderator James Mitchells.
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manager. Cicolini said he got involved in politics “to right a wrong.” Rehiring Crabtree was “a tough decision,” given how divided the town was at the time, according to Brazis. “But I’m proud we made it. The town is going in the right direction. We have the right man at the helm,” he said. As Crabtree’s lone back on the previous board that fired him, Panetta said she learned from that experience “that sometimes a minority voice is important” and about “fairness and justice.” “It’s difficult to stand alone when you don’t feel like you belong. You feel like an outsider,” Panetta said. But after reviewing the allegations against Crabtree and determining them to be “without merit,” she stood her ground. Former Selectman Michael J. Serino sought to link himself to the period of success achieved
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Selectmen Candidates’ Forum
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Here’s what they had to say
ere are some highlights of Tuesday night’s selectmen candidates’ forum sponsored by the Saugus Chamber of Commerce. Candidate Michael Coller is a member of the Conservation Commission and the Saugus Public Library Board of Trustees. “The only good thing about being a political novice is my inability to brag about the past, only make my promises for the future. I have spoken from the heart, my education, my intellect and my common sense – not from a piece of paper or a folder.” Former Selectman Michael Serino: a veteran Town Meeting Member and current Chairman of the Board of Assessors. He’s also a former chairman of the Board of Selectmen and the Conservation Commission and a Vice-Chairman of the Town Meeting Charter Committee. “As a former chairman of the Board of Selectmen, I made the critical decision to hire our town manager. Having served on the Board of Selectmen with the manager for two years, we did establish a good working relationship. Moreover, we both shared the same passion and vision for our community. I truly believed he would do a good job. Today, because of my leadership, Saugus is moving forward.” Former School Committee Member Corinne Riley: “Saugus, in particular Route 1, is overly dependent on retail shopping. With online shopping growing rapidly and brickand-mortar stores becoming less popular, Saugus is in a precarious situation. Moving from retail to professional-type services like engineering, financial and medical businesses would grow our tax base, provide an influx of high-paying jobs to the town and could also make Saugus a more attractive destination for home buyers. Wouldn’t it be nice if some of the thousands of commuters
who pass through Saugus every day actually worked here? I would like to see our Economic Development team and town leadership more proactive in attracting professionaltype businesses rather than relying on business to find us. An Economic Development program could leverage our proximity to many outstanding colleges, the city of Boston, and Logan Airport – give Saugus a huge advantage over more rural locations, and with recent zoning changes, Saugus is now poised to attract more types of business than ever before.” Selectman Mark Mitchell: “Recently we extended the contract of our town manager for five years, giving Saugus the stability it needs to move forward. There’s an old saying: ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.’ I think the biggest travesty would be to change what has been working since March of 2015 ... The town is truly moving in a positive direction with a great town manager. ... We are not done; however, we have a long-term plan for Saugus.” Selectman Jeffrey Cicolini: “This town is in much better shape today than it was three years ago. And the future is only, only bright. We have so many things that are attracting new people moving into this town with families because they can see the handwriting on the wall. I have said it many times … Saugus will become the next Lynnfield. Well, guess what? We’re already there. People are coming here in droves and they know they see a good thing. Saugus Pride is back. And I’m glad to have [been] a small part of that.” Board of Selectmen Chairman Debra Panetta: “With a sound financial future, Saugus can now look toward its future with optimism and progress. And I truly believe that this town is going in the right direction. ... I have been honored to serve as your select-
man for the past six years, and I want to continue working with our business community for a healthy and strong Saugus. I’m running for reelection because I believe that Saugus is well positioned to leverage off the initiatives now in place.” Candidate Assunta Palomba: The local real estate agent was a “no show” for Tuesday night’s candidates’ forum. Board of Selectman Vice Chairman Scott Brazis: “I consider being a selectman an honor and a privilege. And I got to tell you, working for all the residents of the town, what I try to do every time that I’m sittin’ up here is to do what I feel is in the best interests of the town. It might not be what’s in the best interest because somebody may have made a phone call to you and said,‘Hey, can you help somebody out?’ If it’s not in the best interests of the town, then I can’t go along with it. George S. Patton once said, ‘Say what you mean, mean what you say.’ I live by those words. I stick by those words.” Selectman Jennifer D’Eon: “I want you all to know I enjoy my position as selectman, and I would like to continue the progress that I know that has been made in this town. I have lived to do the impossible. I was elected to the Board of Selectmen, and that was like being hit by lightning. But then I got a hit by lightning a second time when we were able to get new parks in our town – working collaboratively – all the boards and all the different groups in town. And then a third time, I should have died of shock from all that I was struck. But we voted yes, for a new middle school and high school. And 10 years ago, I don’t think I could have imagined it, but I’ve seen it. I’m going to ask you one more time, to hit me with lightning again, because I want to continue … I would love to work for you if you would like for me to work for you.”