First, mea culpa: due to a production error, the message titled "TAKE BACK THE LEAGUE!" used an early draft which included the phrase "without competitive bidding" that was deleted from the message released for publication (you can read the approved message on our website committeeforgoodgovernance.blogspot.com). Mr. Barbieri says he and the board got competitive bids on the work and I take his word.
As to point 2 - current and former board members have accepted contracts worth tens of thousands of dollars from the league’s administration. Sal says "This is completely false." I say, for one, the current Assistant Deputy Director was President of the Board of Control immediately prior to being hired by the League. The position of Assistant Deputy Director did not exist before he was hired. Mr. Barbieri and another currently sitting board member in years past received consulting fees from the League for work on the building. A former board member was given a contract for a newly created position without a search for other candidates. This is not to criticize these individuals for their performance but to point out that the board has lost its compass; the selection process must be open and competitive. Always.
As to point 3 - the board shuns newcomers. The Committee for Good Governance knows well qualified candidates that were turned down without explanation while the sitting board recycles friends and family members who have already served their three year maximum term by claiming they are virginal after twelve months of abstinance.
In point 4, referring to "Message from Arthur Stein," Mr. Barbieri denies that the board has raised the directors salary over 50% from 2005 to 2010. OK, then how much was it? 49%? And why are those numbers secret? He does not take issue with, as stated in "TAKE BACK THE LEAGUE!" that in 2010, non-instructional compensation increased to more than half of all compensation, a situation which is not sustainable over the long term. While some of that money has bought new content for the League's website, most of it is going to ill-considered cronyism that an independent and transparent Board of Control will protect us against.
Point 5: board members have resigned mid term. While it is not possible to know the reasons they resigned, after studying the Leagues not-for-profit tax exemption forms, AKA the IRS 990 disclosures, from 2008, 2009 and 2010, I might have a clue. A cursory review shows gross receipts misstated, brought forward balances differing from one year to next, large losses not explained and whole sections omitted. I would not agree to sign them.
Point 6 - positions that never before existed. See above.
Point 7 - Perhaps Mr. Barbieri doesn't understand what transparency means. Transparency means that there is no operational information withheld from members. If a member asks how much money the league lost on operations at Vytlacil in 2009, you tell them; if you don't know, you find out. What transpired at the last board meeting? Show them the minutes. Which builders you solicited bids from? You tell them. About to drop $320,000 on the sidewalk? Tell them before they know to ask about it by publishing a RFP. It seems to me that Mr. Barbieri prefers to tell people off instead. Transparency means:
- Communicate regularly with members on all matters that materially affect the present and future of the League
- Post Board of Control meeting minutes, IRS financial disclosure reports and contracts entered into by the director online
Hamish Sullivan and The Committee for Good Governance
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