Boston Herald
May 3, 2005
Massport bonus bonanza
Agency doles out $600G as fees, tolls rise
By Dave Wedge
In a return to its free-spending bad old days, Massport is doling out
more than $600,000 in bonuses to top managers despite its vow to shed its
reputation for patronage and waste.
``They need to come forward and explain where this revenue is coming
from,'' said state Sen. Steven A. Baddour, chairman of the Legislature's
Joint Committee on Transportation. ``How are they paying for these (bonuses)
when there's all kinds of talk of increases in fees?''
While hiking tolls and airport fees, the quasi-public agency handed out
bonuses ranging from $2,000 to $10,000 to 149 managers under its ``Employee
Outstanding Performance Incentive'' program.
The paycheck plums are on top of 3 percent bonuses due in July and mark
the first time such bonuses have been issued at the agency.
Massport spokeswoman Danny Levy said the agency was ``proud'' of the
bonuses.
``It's an added benefit to acknowledge the hard work of many
employees,'' Levy said. ``We felt that in order to maintain staff morale and
commitment this was the right thing to do.''
While Logan International Airport has yet to return to its pre-9/11
levels, Levy said the agency should be praised for its handling of the
Democratic National Convention and the renovation of Terminal A, which was
finished ahead of schedule and under budget.
She said the bonuses equal just 1 percent of the overall payroll for
Massport's 1,100 employees.
The bonuses signal a return to the days when Massport was widely
criticized for everything from politically connected hires to spending
sprees and a notorious ``booze cruise.''
One former Massport manager said bonuses would have been a taboo
discussion because of Beacon Hill - and public - scrutiny.
``It would not have been done for one reason - because Massport is
constantly under scrutiny for having the highest salaries in state
government anyway. So it was always a point of sensitity that we not end up
with publicity about pay,'' the manager said.
Sources said the March bonuses were the brainchild of $250,000-a-year
Massport Executive Director Craig Coy, who has vowed to beef up the agency's
productivity by wiping out patronage and hiring and retaining more qualified
workers.
Among those receiving bonuses were Coy's second-in-command, George
Hertz, who got $7,481, communications director Carole Brennan, who got
$7,378, and chief legal counsel David Mackey, who raked in $8,756.
Gov. Mitt Romney said last night of the bonuses: ``If it's above 2
percent, I've got a problem with it.''
Baddour (D-Methuen) said he plans to question Massport honchos about
the bonuses when officials come before the board for hearings next month.
--Hitting paydirt
Massport has doled out nearly $600,000 in one-time bonus payments to
149 managers. Below are some of the top bonuses to managers:
Brian McMorrow, deputy of finance - $10,000
Houssam Sleiman, facilities manager - $9,000
David Mackey, chief legal counsel - $8,756
Leslie Kirwan, administration and finance - $8,255
Francis Anglin, information technology - $7,914
Michael Leone, port director - $7,584
George Hertz, deputy executive director - $7,481
Carole Brennan, communications director - $7,378
Patricia Day, director of labor relations - $7,272
David Bannard, lawyer - $7,000
Elizabeth Taylor, administrative employee - $7,100
Robert Donahue, Massport fire chief - $7,000
Mary Jane O'Meara, director of Tobin Bridge - $6,091
Thomas Butler, community affairs - $6,755
Elaine Richardson, marketing - $6,755
Source: Massport records
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