SAUGUS — The fabulous five. It was a nickname for the current Board of Selectmen some candidates embraced while others used to be derogatory.
“There’s an old saying ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,'” said selectman Mark Mitchell.
Residents heard from eight of the nine candidates appearing on the ballot for a seat on the Board of Selectmen in a debate at Saugus Town Hall Tuesday night, hosted by the Saugus Chamber of Commerce.
Incumbents Debra Panetta, Scott Brazis, Jeff Cicolini, Jennifer D’Eon, and Mitchell debated with challengers Michael Serino, Michael Coller, and Corinne Riley.
Assunta Palomba was not present.
They were challenged to speak on several topics, many business-related, including whether they would approach the state for additional liquor licenses to further develop Cliftondale Square and Saugus Center, and whether they would support a ban on placing recreational marijuana facilities in town.
All agreed they would support the ban, many citing the recent findings of a survey administered to the town’s middle school students that revealed many more than expected have, or believe they could have, access to drugs.
Panetta pointed out, and several echoed, that 53.3 percent of Saugus voters were not in support of legalizing recreational marijuana. She called the results of the survey scary.
“I don’t believe having a recreational retailer in our town at this time is the right move,” she said. “It’s not just about the image of Saugus, it’s about the health and well being of our community. Would there be new money coming in? Sure. But there would be with any new business.”
Riley added that any money the town would receive from hosting the facility would not be worth the children that could turn to using marijuana because of a shop’s presence in town.
She also said she’d like to see Route 1 transformed into more of a place for professional businesses, rather than retail, to bring in jobs, taxes, and people to use restaurants and hotels.
When asked about a difficult decision each of them has made, D’Eon referenced a recent decision in which the board turned down a business seeking a special permit.
“When it comes to special permits, they last forever,” she said. “I went home and thought about it — and it’s always difficult — but it was what was ultimately best for the town and for the future.”
Brazis said his most difficult decision was to bring back Town Manager Scott Crabtree after a recall election that followed his termination.
“This town was divided at that time and it was divided because he was fired by the previous board,” said Brazis. “It was a tough decision to make but three years later I would make it again.”
Panetta said her most difficult decision came during the recall as well. She said she asked the previous board to reconsider their decision to fire Crabtree. She investigated their allegation and realized they were without merit, and she chose to stand by him.
“It was uncomfortable and people took sides,” said Panetta. “I think over the past three years that wall has come down. I made the right choice standing by our Town Manager.”
Serino said his best decision was hiring Crabtree in the first place.
“Today, because of my leadership, Saugus is moving forward,” said Serino.
Coller commented that a board of elected officials shouldn’t agree on all matters.
“We don’t run as one,” said Coller, who stressed the importance of having five members with five different thoughts. “It’s a democracy.”
He said his candidacy came across to some people as a “threat to break up the fabulous five.”
“You can call us the fab 5 or whatever, I’m proud of the fab 5,” said Mitchell. “We respect each other. We respect the citizens of Saugus. We don’t talk down to people. Fabulous 5, call us whatever you want, bottom line we’ve done a great job. The town has never been going in a better direction and I’m very proud to be a part of this team.”
Cicolini said he felt the same way as Mitchell.
“I love the comment ‘fab 5,'” he said. “One town, one team. The future is so very bright.”