Officials on easy street with free parking

Feb 23, 2010 — Boston Herald

Hillary Chabot

Feb. 23, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- Nearly 60 state transportation employees, including some politically wired hires, enjoy prime downtown Boston parking spaces daily while others nabbed free one-day parking thanks to a state-funded perk that cost taxpayers more than $125,000 last year.

The perks feature 24-hour access to the state transportation building garage steps from restaurants and the Theater District.

Among those who get the coveted daily parking privilege:

Amy Branger, who served as chief of staff under former Transportation Secretary Bernard Cohen. She currently earns $100,000 a year as the director of the office of transition management.

Karen Charles, who was hired as chief of staff for Cohen's replacement, James Aloisi. Now acting chief of staff for the transition office, she makes $100,000 a year.

Brian Murphy, a former Cambridge city councilor, who was also hired by Aloisi as the director of government affairs. He's currently deputy secretary of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation and earning $110,000.

Lily Mendez Morgan, who was a former special assistant to Gov. Deval Patrick but was shipped to MassDOT as an administrator making $125,000.

Ann Dufresne, former spokeswoman for ex-Senate President Robert E. Travaglini, now spokeswoman for the Registry of Motor Vehicles, who makes $82,000 a year.

Others taking a parking pass include civil engineers, executive assistants, a research analyst and an administrative law judge.

"People pay a whole lot of money every day to park in downtown Boston or take public transportation. Public officials shouldn't get these perks," said former Massachusetts Turnpike board member and state auditor candidate Mary Connaughton.

The transportation bigwigs park at CityPlace garage, close to hot spots such as the Shubert Theatre, Citi (NYSE:C) Performing Arts Center and PF Chang's restaurant. Without the passes, they'd have to fork over $17 for daily parking and $20 to park at night or on weekends.

Transportation department officials also paid $11,700 for stickers allowing a free day of parking for friends, special visitors or deliveries. The stickers, which are supposed to be monitored by senior staff, give the holder free parking once applied to their parking stub.

Colin Durrant, a spokesman at MassDOT, said the department recently has cracked down on the passes and stickers, slashing the sticker allowance to $6,500 a year and cutting 17 passes -- immediately after Herald inquiries.

"We're doing an audit of both the passes and the sticker program. Business as usual isn't acceptable anymore," Durrant said, adding many of those who still have passes have medical conditions or are on call 24 hours a day. Employees who have the passes are taxed on them, Durrant added.

The passes cost $1,500 a year -- a deal negotiated under the state's lease agreement, he said.

Newstex ID: KRTB-0423-42280308