Mayor's support wavers

Board OK's funds, but cites doubts

Although aldermen authorized spending another $56.3 million for a new Newton North High School, bringing the total appropriation to $197.5 million, a survey of the board last week found nearly half of its members said they don't trust Mayor David Cohen's management of the project.

"We've been burned," Alderwoman Cheryl Lappin told the Globe. "We don't trust that they'll do the right thing, and we want more control."

On Tuesday, by a vote of 17-5, the Board of Aldermen approved an additional $56.3 million appropriation for the new school, on track to be the most expensive in state history. The board had already approved spending $141 million on the project. Under fire for the escalating cost estimates, Cohen recently promised to cap project spending at $197.5 million, and to scale back the plans if necessary.

To win support, the mayor made another concession, agreeing to submit to board approval before shifting funds between line items in the Newton North budget. He had initially resisted the proposal to give the board that extra authority, saying it would restrict the administration's ability to make the quick decisions necessary for a project of such size.

Mayoral spokesman Jeremy Solomon said Cohen agreed to the concession after conversations with several aldermen who said they wanted more oversight of the project. Cohen's sole concern was potentially jeopardizing the project schedule, Solomon said, but the mayor agreed that his control of $1.5 million of contingency funds would be enough to prevent costly project delays.

Aldermen said the mayor's willingness to relinquish some control of the Newton North budget helped Cohen win the two-thirds majority he needed from the 24-member board to approve the appropriation. Aldermen Jay Harney and Amy Sangiolo were absent.

For the five board members who voted against the appropriation - William Brandel, Marcia Johnson, George Mansfield, Ken Parker, and Greer Tan Swiston - even that compromise apparently wasn't enough. Cohen's critics on the board have charged that the executive office has communicated poorly at best, and has been deceptive and manipulative at worst.

Brandel said continuing controversy over the Newton North project casts a shadow over a number of other local issues, especially the request for a $12 million tax increase, in the form of a Proposition 2 1/2 operating override, that goes before voters on May 20.

"So many people are so disappointed with the way this project has gone, at this point, they are very reluctant to buy into the initiatives that come out of the mayor's office or to support them," Brandel said.

Lappin, who said she was a vocal advocate of the $11.5 million Proposition 2 1/2 override that voters narrowly passed in 2002, is refraining from campaigning for the current request. Both Brandel and Lappin approved bringing the tax increase proposal before voters, but neither was ready to say whether they will vote for it, citing concerns over how the executive office would spend its $3.5 million share of the override amount, should it pass. The remaining $8.5 million would go to the budget for Newton's schools.

"The mayor laid out where the money will go, but then said it could change. I don't take anything at face value anymore," said Lappin.

Solomon defended the mayor's record, saying, "There has never been any malfeasance or inappropriate spending under the Cohen administration. Mayor Cohen has always tried to work with members of the board so that they feel comfortable with the level of information they have to make the decisions they have to make."

Echoing statements from several other aldermen, Lappin was quick to say that they will not oppose initiatives simply because they originate with Cohen or his office. They say their goal is to work for the best interests of the city, including asking tougher questions of the administration.

"We don't want to stop projects from happening," Alderwoman Susan Albright said. "But we want things in writing, we want there to be firm guidelines, and we want more controls in place."

The board has already sought more control over other projects, beyond Newton North.

At the board's Public Facilities Committee meeting Wednesday, aldermen were asked to approve a site plan and $1.3 million in funding to add modular classrooms at four of Newton's schools. They approved the site plan, but not the funding, and asked for certain control measures and written commitments.

"In the past, we would have probably approved what the administration asked for, but vocal assurances are not enough anymore," Albright said. Cohen "can't make things happen the way he once was able to do."

One longtime Cohen backer said more control for aldermen would not undermine his support for the mayor.

"To the extent that people are going to be more demanding of details, accountability, and assurances is wholly understandable," said Alderman Verne Vance.

"The mayor is dealing with increasingly difficult financial situations. I am doubtful anyone else would have been able to handle these issues much more effectively. He's been imperfect and taken his political hits."

Rachana Rathi can be reached at rrathi@globe.com.