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May 11th 2008

Dirt Flies In Garden Debacle

By Dan Sapir
(February 13, 2003)  It is hard to imagine what a roar could be emanated from the authorization of $200 of town funds to the Kingston Garden Club Earlier this month, the Selectmen voted 3-2 to provide the small stipend to assist with purchases for materials used in the Adopt A Space Program. The issues involved are both small and large and very little deals with the good work of the Garden Club.

First, a little about the community based organization. They are a member of and under the auspices of the Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts. As such, they function under very strict rules in accordance with their state affiliation. Their stated purpose is “To increase knowledge of gardening, nature, horticulture and related interests. It is a learning and working club with associated community commitment.” The Adopt a Space program concerns itself with the administration and maintenance of multiple traffic islands, which stand at 22 and growing.

The club also associates itself with the Regional High School horticultural program and provides oversight and educational assistance. The group, almost 10 years old, began with several handfuls of women and has grown to 60 in numbers, there is one male member. The Town approached the Club years ago and asked if they would be willing to take over the Adopt a Space program. In the spirit of community, they agreed. They are a model community volunteer group and certainly intend no harm with their activities, yet they have been harmed of late. Let us examine these unfortunate circumstances.

Selectman George Cravenho, who should know better, participated in the eventual 3-2 vote to expend municipal funds for the club. His wife Elaine is a founding member of the group and serves as treasurer. George should have either recused himself from the vote or pointed out the facts and then participate with the vote. Instead he remained silent and cast what was ultimately the deciding vote. George is a political warhouse who knows the rules and decided to play Jimmy the Dunce. His excuses were poor and frankly, embarrassing. He said there was no conflict because he was not a member of the club. False premise to be sure. He also said we’re only talking $200. It’s not the dollar figure, it’s the principle. And George knows that.

This was not a time for arrogance. The Conflict of Interest Laws prevents officials “from using or attempting to use their official positions to secure for themselves or others unwarranted privileges of substantial value that are not properly available to similarly situated individuals.” The law sets the dollar definition of substantial value at $50, certainly within the $200 range. The law goes on to discuss “appearances” of conflict “that creates a reasonable impression that any person can improperly influence or unduly enjoy their official favor, or they are likely to act (or fail to act) because of kinship, rank, position or undue influence by any party or person.” All this could have been avoided had Cravenho stated the appearance of conflict prior to the vote and then participated. It is rumored that Elaine is considering stepping down as treasurer of the Garden Club. She is a capable and competent individual. Why should she?

Resignation is a harsh action when all one had to do was disclose.

Then there’s Richard Cretinon. Last season he was a no show for his two Adopt a Space locations leaving others to do it for him. At last weeks meeting he said he would donate signs to mark the plots. He said the same thing two years ago and it never happened. Although he owns a sign shop, the signs marking his two plots were produced by another sign company. Richard makes grandiose public statements that often fall apart privately away from the TV cameras. So much for sign donations.
Mark Beaton was opposed to paying out town funds of any amount during a depressed economy. He knew it could be an unpopular decision, but that’s Mark, a political purist.

Dick Kenney, as we have said many times, will support anything that carries a gaggle of potential votes. 60 is not a bad number for Kenney to embrace toward his own political ambitions and powerbase.

Olly DeMacedo’s involvement is a bit more complex. He voted not to provide the funds. He voted the same way last year when the vote was 4-1. He tells us that the precedent is a bad one and has nothing to do with the Garden Club. He tells us that the Sampson Fund is a better place to go. He also insists that he never “tipped off the press” as to Cravenho’s conflict of interest issues as many in the Garden Club believe. He said that having been “fired” from his Adopt a Space three years ago carries no ill will. He points out that he donated $500 to the Club in June of 1999, after he lost his Main Street/3-A point position. He said it was given to assist in the creation of the garden in front of the police station. The Garden Club does not dispute this fact. They did however, point out that the gift was made on an anonymous basis until “Olly chose to disclose it himself” according to one Club member.

With regard to the Sampson Fund, there are those that remember that DeMacedo himself received public monies from that very fund in 1996 to create a park to be known as Bradford Gardens. A year later Olly received another $5,000 from the Sampson Fund for the beautification of Green Street. He sold T-shirts for $10 at community events to promote the project. Bradford Gardens never happened but one individual brought in a shirt to remind us of the funding drive. Several people have sought, through the Observer, to ask Olly what ever became of the money? We asked him that and he said a full accounting is possible through the Accounting Office and the Sampson Fund itself, of which ironically enough, he is a member by virtue of being Selectman Chairman.

Some Club members suggest DeMacedo is operating under a double standard and is in no different position then they when it comes to public money being used for a community based good. DeMacedo says he doesn’t mind the scrutiny. To put the Bradford Gardens issue to rest, we will follow up on this matter next month.
There you have it, the anatomy of a tempest in a garden pot. Often these issues form the nucleus of small town politics. Alliances are created and dissolved over matters that may, on surface, appear trivial but matter deeply to those involved. One can only hope all parties can move past the temporary wounds that become inflicted while the issue boils, simmers, cools and evaporates.

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