Saugus DPW Director Attubato stepping down

SAUGUS – Saugus Department of Public Works Director Joe Attubato said he will be stepping down after more than 50 years at the DPW.?I?ll be retiring very shortly in the next couple of weeks,” said Attubato. “I started here in 1961. I?ve enjoyed the job, I really have, dealing with the different issues that come in all day long. I?d like to take the time now to help my wife with babysitting our four grandchildren. I want to devote a little more time to them to let them know who I am.”At 80 years old, Attubato said he “doesn?t feel it,” noting that he hasn?t stopped moving in his long career.Attubato announced his retirement Tuesday, the same day Town Manager Scott Crabtree said Joan Regan was no longer employed as the Town Accountant.Attubato said the ongoing forensic audit was not a factor in his decision, but pointed to recent layoffs as weighing on him, noting that he hopes his departure can help bring back some of the recently departed DPW employees.?If I thought this was going to save some people from being laid off I?m going to do it,” said Attubato. “I?ll be quite honest with you, my wife has been asking me for the past year when I?m going to retire. So much has been going on with the layoffs and all, psychologically it was something I didn?t intend to have something happen on my watch, having people laid off. All that rolled up together I thought maybe this is the time to go.”A recent audit of the town?s water and sewer accounts details $1.4 million in general fund expenses being charged to water and sewer, which the audit says is a violation of municipal finance laws. Jim Powers of accounting firm Powers and Sullivan mentioned Attubato and Regan when he presented his findings to the Finance Committee and the Board of Selectmen last month.Powers said at the meeting that there were “a lot breakdowns of internal controls,” and said Attubato told him he was aware of payments to non-water and sewer employees.?A lot of people weren?t doing their jobs,” said Powers at last month?s meeting. “The DPW director said he was aware this was going on. I really can?t tell you why (it wasn?t caught). There are all different layers of accountability here.”Attubato said Tuesday that he wasn?t the only one who knew about the payments.?As far as that audit, I have no idea what it?s about,” said Attubato. “I?m not the only one that knew that. Everyone knew that. When the manager did what he did, I had no idea this was any kind of a problem. I just didn?t want to see men laid off. If he put him in the Boy Scouts, wherever he put them, as long as they?re working in the public works. Did I know that? Everyone knew it.”According to the town?s 2012 budget, Attubato was paid $82,000 this year.Attubato said a long-time DPW employee could be next in line to take over.?Right now on a temporary basis the manager has been talking with Jimmy Waugh,” said Attubato. “He?s a 30-year employee. He knows the public works system and he?d be a good person for the public.”Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].