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August 01, 2007 11:27 pm
Editor's notes: Box on member towns, Top state pensions in Essex County at bottom of story
Sidebar to Sweet deals for some, with Far-flung resorts draw Essex retirement board
Retirement Board paid $55,000 to Boston lobbyists
Costly Commitment: Part 2
By Chris Cassidy
CNHI News Service
— The Essex Regional Retirement Board last year spent more than $55,000 to pay a Boston-based lobbying firm to guide board-sponsored legislation through Beacon Hill.
The money went to the firm of Kearney, Donovan & McGee. So why did the board need lobbyists?
The board has filed legislation for the past six years, according to board Executive Director and Chairman Timothy Bassett. Last year, it filed 16 bills.
“They run the gamut from trying to improve benefits to trying to improve the administration of the retirement system,” Bassett said. “We have had two or three of those bills passed and signed into law, which we’re really happy about.”
Bassett said the board-sponsored bills enacted into law actually save taxpayers money in the long run.
Eight years ago, when county government was abolished, the pensions of retired county employees fell onto the shoulders of the 19 towns within the Essex Regional Retirement Board, instead of all 34 communities that were part of the county. When board-sponsored legislation corrected the formula, the 19 towns were reimbursed $1.5 million for overcharges, Bassett said.
“We think it’s worked very well and we’ve gotten good results,” he said.
But Barbara Anderson, executive director of Citizens for Limited Taxation, wondered why the board should spend money on lobbyists when it could get the same results for free with a simple phone call.
“If it’s so important, why can’t they call their state rep and have him lobby for you?” Anderson said. “That’s what he gets paid for. The board could ask for a meeting with their state reps and senators, explain the problem and let them go in and lobby for free.”
Chris Cassidy writes for The Eagle-Tribune of North Andover, Mass. E-mail him at ccassidy@ecnnews.com
Member Towns
Boxford
Essex
Georgetown
Groveland
Hamilton
Ipswich
Lynnfield
Manchester
Merrimac
Middleton
Nahant
Newbury
North Andover
Rockport
Rowley
Salisbury
Topsfield
Wenham
West Newbury
Top state pensions in Essex County
Name Town State Job Pension
Thomas Robbins Merrimac State police $134,578.44
Charles E. Noyes Andover State police $116,299.08
Paul J. Regan Rowley State police $109,392.84
Richard L. Fraelick West Newbury State police $101,787.84
George Traicoff Salisbury NSCC $101,057.28
Ronald J. Guilmette Salisbury State police $94,876.92
May Futrell Salisbury UMass/Lowell $94,248.48
Paul Bevilacqua Newburyport NECC $91,778.28
John E. Consigli Merrimac State police $91,036.80
Robert N. Weiner Marblehead District attorney $90,353.76
Christopher Armstrong Byfield Appeals Court $89,193.96
Samuel Zoll Salem Trial Court $88,844.28
David Swenson Danvers Department of Mental Health $87,073.32
John Dennis Healey Peabody Trial Court $86,201.28
Robert J. Barrows Swampscott State police $84,318.12
John J. O'Malley Salisbury State police $83,416.08
John J. Malone III Beverly State police $81,733.44
PEdward Rockett Marblehead Trial Court $80,705.52
John Peroni Salisbury NECC $80,204.52
Philip A. Cahill North Andover State police $79,372.80
Anthony Grillo Amesbury Department of Public Safety $78,396.36
Francis D. Riley Lynn State police $78,033.48
David E. Harrison Gloucester Trial Court $77,564.52
Michael T. Stella Jr. North Andover Trial Court $77,321.88
Michael J. Roche Jr. Boxford State police $77,084.64
Brian M. O'Hara West Newbury State police $76,821.48
Walter Pomerleau Rowley Department of Public Safety $76,502.76
Stephen Prendergast Lynn State police $76,283.28
Joseph L. Masterson Danvers NSCC $76,130.40
Maurice M. Carroll Marblehead State police $76,039.68
Source: State treasurer’s office
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