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Four board members rally to support T chief Grabauskas

E-mail|Link|Comments () July 30, 2009 04:44 PM

By Globe Staff

MBTA General Manager Daniel A. Grabauskas, whose position at the agency seemed increasingly tenuous this week after he was criticized by three MBTA board members, received the support of four other members of the board today.

Grabauskas was described as "responsive, responsible, innovative, and focused on improving customer service and safety" in a letter signed by members Willie J. Davis, Grace Shepard, Frank Chin, and Baron H. Martin.

"The MBTA is facing serious financial problems and challenges to day-to-day operations of the country's oldest subway system. We believe we need to support MBTA staff in every way possible if we are to deliver the best service possible. General Manager Grabauskas has demonstrated to us his leadership and his ability to move the MBTA forward over the past four years," the members wrote to Transportation Secretary James A. Aloisi Jr., who is also chairman of the board.

Governor Deval Patrick on Wednesday seemed to leave little hope that Grabauskas would stay in his job. The governor said he had serious concerns about "the competence of the leadership and the adequacy of the management" at the troubled agency. But legislative leaders, including both the House speaker and Senate president, publicly lauded Grabauskas.

Three of the board members, all of them Patrick appointees, said in a letter to Aloisi Tuesday that the Grabauskas had lost "focus and commitment" to safety and efficiency at the agency and they had lost confidence in him.

Grabauskas was appointed by former Republican governor Mitt Romney and held high-level posts in state government in prior GOP administrations. Patrick is a Democrat. Grabauskas has charged that Patrick and his administration were playing "obvious politics."