fresh air - Quaboag Current

PAGE 4 A Turley Publication • www.turley.com I Thursday, February 9, 2012
- opinion -
editorial
Raving about
Durant’s rant
It was quite refreshing to hear our newest local
legislator, state Rep. Peter Durant (R-Spencer),
openly call for an investigation last week into
public funding of the nonprofi t hybrid, Rose Fitzgerald
Kennedy Greenway Conservancy in Boston.
As previously reported in the Boston Globe, the
Conservancy is responsible for oversight of the 15acre
public park linking the North End to downtown
Boston. It has been reported that fi ve executives of
the Conservancy each now make well in excess of
$100,000 annually, with hefty bonuses and vacation
time, too.
With so much scrutiny and almost liturgical calls
for ethical and fi nancial reforms atop Beacon Hill
after a slew of House Speaker scandals – as well as
incredibly tight municipal state aid projections - one
would think this type of fat cat patronage would be
a thing of the past. And this is the same Conservancy
that is attempting to create a voluntary tax among
abutting business owners to help boost park revenues.
It makes this page wonder how many other examples
of shady state budget meets non-profi t partnerships
exist like this? When pushed by the media,
the Conservancy’s Executive Director Nancy Brennan
– who received a whopping $20,000 raise to her
$185,000 salary last July - refused to release the salaries
of her fellow minions, forcing Transportation
Secretary Richard A. Davey to seek them through
more forceful means.
Given the urban park is just 15 acres, what the
hec do the fi ve executives actually do each day to
justify their earnings? They aren’t out there cutting
grass, planting fl owers, and sowing the seeds of summer
programming. The Conservancy already has a
$5.5 million budget for that - $2 million of which
comes straight out of the Department of Transportation
budget and your state withholding taxes.
“I understand the economic benefi t this park
provides for North End businesses, and if it was a
completely privately-funded entity, as was originally
intended, the amount the Conservancy pays its personnel
wouldn’t be an issue,” said Durant.
Our state representative makes an excellent
point.
The fact is this organization relies heavily on
public funding and has the audacity to believe there
should be no oversight or accountability of how the
public’s money is spent. As Durant stated, oversight
alone of this parcel totals almost $45,000 per acre
and that does not include the salaries of the other
35 employees of the conservancy employed in the
maintenance of the park. Those are the ones who
actually do most – if not all – of the work there.
Durant deserves high marks, as a new legislator
who does not walk in the inner circles of Beacon Hill
– yet – to push for a full investigation and seek additional
copies of the fi nancial statements of the Rose
Kennedy Conservancy.
Not surprisingly, the park sits just above the now
submerged Central Artery tunnel – another fi tting
example of pork barrel spending. Make no mistake:
the Greenway park – once a controversial argument
among politicians about who would actually run it
- is a beautiful component of downtown Boston.
However, the only real green in this oasis is lining
the wallets and purses of overpaid and underworked
executives who scoff at the notion of public scrutiny.
The park’s overall management should be shifted to
the domain of the city parks department, or state
Department of Conservation and Recreation. Otherwise,
the park’s public funding arm should be severed.
When we talk about fi nancial abuses and overextended
privileges to non-profi ts at the state level,
this is exactly what we mean.
@QuaboagCurrentTownCommonNewspapers.com
Letters to the Editor
Hearts for Heat warmed
by your generosity
TO THE EDITOR:
Community Helping Community; that was the dream
of Cindy Shea, founder of the original Hearts For Heat
organization several years ago. Support from North
Brookfi eld residents and local businesses exemplifi es
this most fundamental and compassionate premise.
When asked, North Brookfi eld Savings Bank,
Quabaug Corporation, Berthiaume & Berthiaume, the
NB Teachers Association No. 406, McGrath Insurance,
Country Auto Body, Lamoureux Ford, Thomas Cahill
DDS, Robert King DVM, and Country Bank provided
substantial donations. And as a result of the annual appeal
mailing, charitable giving from individuals has exceeded
expectations.
Our 4th annual Spaghetti Dinner fundraiser was
the best ever – again because of the support of the community.
The Hayden Masonic Lodge co-sponsored the
dinner; their team of volunteers knows exactly how to
put on a spectacular meal. “How can we help” is Hannaford
Supermarket manager Dianne Lincoln’s recurrent
response to every request for assistance. The store
donated the food and paper items essential to this event.
National honor society students lent a hand selling raffl
e tickets, pouring drinks, and cleaning up. The PTO
helped with advertizing and held their annual Movie
Night immediately following the dinner.
The raffl e table was bursting with offerings donated
by the following organizations and businesses: Brookfi
eld Orchards, Cormier Jewelers (Southbridge), Jim’s
Pizza, Lamoureux Ford, N. Brookfi eld House of Pizza,
Salem Cross Inn, St. Jean’s Package Store, Statz Sports
Pub, Shawn Adams/Peter Glanville, and Charlotte
Hoogasian. Always a big draw, Bose Corporation once
again donated a Wave Radio. This year brought additional
excitement with the gift of “Opening Day” Red
Sox ticket from Wally and Michele Connor, founders
of Socks for Siberia, a nonprofi t organization that supports
orphaned children in Siberia.
Christine Kiraly transformed the cafeteria into a delightful
eatery and with the addition of live music by
local favorites “The Otters,” the evening was magically
transfi xed; no one wanted to leave. We are most grateful
that the band has offered their service, again free of
charge, for next year’s fundraiser.
Personally, I am most grateful for fellow NB Hearts
for Heat board members Michelle Petraitis, Ellen Smith,
Judy Manning, Louise Bouchard, Tom Lewandowski,
Joe Zegarra, and Patricia Zegarra, whose dedication allows
the organization to exist. Then Bob LaFlamme and
Crowley Fuel completes our efforts with their commitment
to helping residents in need.
Yes, this is truly community helping community; together
we can make a difference. We raised $2,600; every
cent will be used provide emergency fuel assistance
to North Brookfi eld residents. Thank you all.
Suzanne Lewandowski
President-Founder NB Hearts for Heat
All aboard the Arc!
TO THE EDITOR:
The Center of Hope (now, with our new name,
Center of Hope Foundation, Inc. and a nationwide
campaign branding the 732 Arcs in the country with
the same logo) would like to take this opportunity to
thank our surrounding communities for the fantastic
support given to our agency for our 55th anniversary
year. People from all walks of life used our many
services and businesses, donated to our causes and
participated in our fundraisers. When everyone is
so busy, it is heartwarming to have the support of so
many. As you know, with hard economic times, we
have to advocate for every dollar we get towards supporting
our individuals and families to have the most
independent and fulfi lled lives possible. Our folks are
becoming vital parts of our communities, giving back
through their work and volunteerism. Members of
our communities are always welcome for a tour to
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Tim Kane
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