Parks Agency in Crisis?  

The Governor's abrupt dismissal of the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) Commissioner Kathy Abbott (as well as her Chief of Staff Pam DiBona) over snow removal reveals significant problems within the administration, and brings into question the Governor's commitment to "World Class Parks."  Has the administration provided adequate funds to maintain public safety, meet the department's mandated functions, and serve the public?

These questions will be the focus of a report released in the near future by Senator Jarrett T. Barrios, Chair of the Joint Committee on Public Safety, and Senator Pamela Resor, Chair of the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture.

In response to the turmoil at DCR, these legislators recently convened an oversight hearing of the Committees on Public Safety and the Environment, inviting lawmakers and advocates to speak about the state's ability to provide public safety in Massachusetts' parklands. 

Over thirty environmental organizations signed an open letter to Governor Romney claiming that the state's environmental spending budget cuts, which included DCR, have resulted in "compromised public safety."  Citing its support for the former Commissioner, the letter stated that the "best management in the world cannot make up for inadequate resources to do the job." 

Public comment after Commissioner Abbott's dismissal has focused on two methods of improving the capabilities of DCR.  The first is empowering the Stewardship Council, created during the 2003 restructuring of the state's environmental agencies, to serve as the oversight board it was originally legislated to be.  The second is to provide the funding necessary for DCR to accomplish its mission.

In 2003, the Governor combined the old parks management agency, the Metropolitan District Commission (MDC), and the Department of Environmental Management (DEM), and formed the Department of Conservation and Recreation.  The legislation that created DCR also created a nonprofit-styled, citizen-based board to oversee the new agency. 

The creation of the Stewardship Council was meant to protect DCR by bringing transparency and accountability to its mission.  The legislation authorized the Council to "develop an oversight strategy of park management plans, capital planning and policy development," as well as to adopt land management plans, approve division directors, and appoint an acting commissioner (Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 21).

Environmental advocates say that now is the time for the Stewardship Council to assume the authority granted by the legislature.  Bob Zimmerman, executive director of the Charles River Watershed Association, testifying at the oversight hearing, said, "DCR needs a strong group of people to hold the agency accountable while promoting its mission and advocating for the resources it needs to perform that mission."

Mr. Zimmerman added, "Without that champion, continued under-funding and finger-pointing is the likely outcome."

Jim Gomes, president of the Environmental League of Massachusetts, agrees.  "Given the severe under-funding of the Department of Conservation and Recreation, and now the sad and unwarranted firing of Commissioner Abbott, this is the perfect time for the Stewardship Council to exercise those oversight responsibilities," he said.

In recent Boston Globe articles, officials in the Governor's office continue to claim that DCR has all the resources it needs to do its job, and that all state agencies have been burdened by budget cuts during the last few years. 

But while many major state programs have been forced to decrease spending, environment agencies have felt the brunt of it.  "Among the major categories of state spending, environmental agencies have taken the largest proportional cuts since 2001," said Glen Tepke, senior policy associate at the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation.  Reports prepared by the Foundation indicate that between 2001 and the Governor's proposed budget for 2006 environmental spending has been cut over 36%, the equivalent of over forty million dollars.

Some lawmakers are actively pushing for an upward turn in these numbers.  The Joint Committees on Public Safety, and the Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture, plan to release a follow-up report that will make recommendations on funding, equipment, sidewalk clearing, and snowplow agreements.

State Representative Kay Khan of Newton has watched with concern as the parks agency suffered repeated budget cuts.  "They have been given what seems to be an impossible task," she said.  "I don't see how they can complete the projects at hand, as well as maintain the park assets we already have."

During the Senate's oversight hearing state Representative Anne Paulsen said that a real effort needs to be made to preserve and enhance park and conservation lands by giving up "the pretense that we can protect these spaces on the cheap." 

More on this issue:

CRWA's Position Papers

Stewardship Council Must Act on its Legislated Authority

Abbott Firing Will Hurt Parks and Recreation Across Massachusetts

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