Opinion

Nelson Benton: Councilors jockey for position

Nelson Benton
Published: August 8, 2008

There are signs a couple of Peabody city councilors may be spoiling for a fight in November 2009.

Dave Gravel is looking to take a leadership role on the increasingly contentious issue of employee health coverage, while fellow councilor-at-large Ted Bettencourt appears ready to give the matter of downtown rezoning the push it so desperately needs.

Stating that the lack of progress on the zoning issue "has put handcuffs on our city," Bettencourt is urging his colleagues to complete its review of the various proposals put forward by the Bonfanti administration.

"Until we do, we're going to be stuck in the mud downtown," he added, speaking literally as well as figuratively, since part of the mayor's plan involves measures aimed at relieving the flooding problems in Peabody Square.

Meanwhile Gravel is calling for a review of the city's costly health insurance program. He hasn't gone so far as to suggest workers pay a greater share of their premiums (they pay only 10 percent now), but has questioned whether councilors, as part-time employees, should be eligible for the expensive benefit.

That may have been a not-so-subtle jab at Bettencourt, a lawyer, who is among the five councilors who are enrolled in the city plan. (Gravel took advantage of the city program when he was a member of the School Committee, but did not resume his coverage when he was elected to the council in 2007.)

Bettencourt, who has consistently topped the ticket in the at-large race, and Gravel are both viewed as potential candidates to succeed the incumbent mayor, Michael Bonfanti, should he decide against seeking a fifth term.

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Those elected officials who do purchase their health insurance through the city have long taken comfort from legal opinions stating that having accepted the provisions of a state law making them eligible back in 1959, that eligibility cannot be revoked except by new legislation. Thus city councilors can tell voters angered over the generous perk: "We'd love to do something about it, but our hands are tied."

But wait, there's a 1993 Massachusetts Appeals Court decision involving the town of Ware indicating the council could indeed remove non-union employees from the list of those eligible for this benefit. Don't hold your breath.

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The North Shore Economic Alliance, based at Salem State College, managed to escape Gov. Deval Patrick's budget ax.

Members of the local delegation summoned the votes to override the governor's veto of the $250,000 item in the FY 2009 budget that was to get the new economic development agency off the ground.

Before anyone cheers too loudly, it should be noted that of the $122 million in cuts the governor made, all but $15 million ended up being restored either through overrides or a supplemental budget the Legislature passed in the waning days of the session.

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North Shore Community College President Wayne Burton, who spent hours on Beacon Hill last week to make sure his school's spending requests stayed on track, left the Statehouse with an amusing tale to tell — at his own expense.

Walking down the stairs in the balcony that overlooks the House chamber, Burton tripped and came close to falling over the rail. Many were alarmed, but according to Burton, Lynn Rep. Bob Fennell laughingly told colleagues his friend simply wanted them to think he might jump if NSCC didn't get the money it was counting on.

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As one Barack Obama supporter observed: What a difference six months make. Back in January you could have had your picture taken with him for free. The same thing, plus a piece of birthday cake, was $28,500 per couple Monday night in Boston.

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Nelson Benton writes weekly on North Shore politics.