The Eagle-Tribune: Letter: College breaks promise without explanation
lol@haverhill
· 1 year ago
Nice letter.
Someone actually holding another responsible for thier actions. Remember the days of a handshake? Those are gone. The college made a promise, regardless of who made it, it was on behalf of the college. Instead, they, like so many in our country today, shirk thier responsibility and just blame it on anything but themselves.
Chief
· 1 year ago
I also like the fact that one of our Selectmen is asking this question of the college. The town needs people who are not afraid to ask these types of questions. A promise is a promise and your word is your word. I want our Selectmen to represent the people of the town and by asking this question I feel that Tracy Watson is just doing the job she was elected to do and I thank her for that! Tracy is proving she was the right choice to represent our community as a selectman! Please keep asking the tough questions.
Randy
· 1 year ago
Hey., Tracy ... do you understand the concept of a "gift?" Do you understand what a "donation" is? ...
It's not like the college isn't paying a bill. They pulled back a VOLUNTARY gift. The school can't afford it, so they aren't going to give gifts they did before.
Stop your crying, if your town can't survive without a $50,000 gift, then you have bigger problems.
It's MC's money, they can do with it what they wish, sorry.
Former President Santagati was a crook. Any promise he made should have been taken with a grain of salt anyway (none of his promises at MC ever came to fruition, other than a dorm building shrine to himself, what a joke).
haverhilldadof3girls
· 1 year ago
Well written letter Tracy! I agree 100% with your sentiments and your expectations for the college to be held accountable for the gifted pledge to North Andover. For Randy - a gifted pledge - such as this one from College to Community, becomes a debt the town will need to "write off" since it is money that was counted on. Just like a donor to a college annual fund who pledges $50,000. Even though it is just a pledge - it is counted on and if it is not fulfilled it becomes debt.
Does the college have the right to withhold it? Sure - just like i have the right to withhold my pledge to the college...still does not make it right or decent. For a college with a Catholic mission and foundation, it is especially questionable.
It also speaks to the financial disaster that is poised to happen at Merrimack - financially speaking the college is not doing well, so say many folks in the know throughout the Valley. And they well should have opted to keep and Augie in the Presidential role and not hired a laymen - that would have saved the school at least a $100K! If the college is not able to afford $100K dollars then that says something about the financial status of the school.
Tit for Tat
· 1 year ago
Let's take this one step step further . We get 10 people to each pledge a 5K donation to Merrimack and we then change our mind and then see how phone calls they make trying to collect.
Randy
· 1 year ago
But the college wouldn't go to the local papers crying about it. Sure, they would try to change the donors mind, but there's not much they can do. They certainly wouldn't be feeding some sob story to the media about how the children will suffer, blah, blah, blah. It's a bunch of bull doodie.
haverhilldadof3girls
· 1 year ago
Actually they would go to the media - to explain the shortfall in their annual fund. Did you not read all about their enrollment woes a cople years ago? You think that was leaked out to the paper just because it was a slow news day? They would absolutley cry foul in the media!
Pete
· 1 year ago
A gift is a gift. If I decide to give you a gift every year, it is my perogative to stop giving it to you whenever I want - no explanation needed.
If we have a contract that requires me to pay you a certain amount a year... then I have no recourse but to pay you.
But to complain because I am not longer giving you a gift... come on.
rightiswrong
· 1 year ago
You may not have to explain, but I can call you a Indian giver or worse a liar for going back on your word.
lol@haverhill
· 1 year ago
Wow, people coming out with legal definitions to defend a basic moral concept. The man made a promise, on behalf of the institution he represented, the institution broke that promise. What is hard to understand here?
If Merrimack College said something like: "This will be the last time we can do this" this would not be an issue.
bo-hoo
· 1 year ago
The problem is North Andover probably spent that "Gift" before they received it. Only happens in government. Then the people in charge don't know what to do about it. Here's a thought. Slow down on the spending. How many teachers does North Andover have vs. the number of teachers they should have? Nice school, right? Whats a school's value if you can't fund it. Typical of todays must have generation. Must have the school but forget about how to fund it later. Good column Taylor. Nice thought Tracey, but cry on somebody else's shoulder.
Randy
· 1 year ago
If my kid went out and spent all of his birthday money before his birthday, and then didn't get enough in gifts to cover what he spent, I wouldn't get all pissy at my relatives for not giving him enough.
haverhilldadof3girls
· 1 year ago
You are all missing the point of a PLEDGED GIFT. That is the problem. This is not about some whacko relative that for years has bought your an ugly tie and then stops. This is about a RELIED UPON PLEDGE from the institution to the community. Just like my relied upon pledge to my alma maters. IT IS COUNTED $$ - period. Thats what a PLEDGE CARD is - and thats why you see things like amount pledged 5.2 million, amount collected 2.8 million. The 2.4 million is COUNTED but uncollected - and if it is not collected they have a GAP! A debt! A write-off! A blemish to their fund! An overrun on their budget. No further explanation needed.
To reneg on a PLEDGE is VERY BAD FORM! If alumni from Merrimack renegged on their pledges, you'd better believe the Development Office would be HOUNDING them for the monies and stating pretty clearly - "but we have the document right here that states you've pledged $10,000 dollars." And YES - that is budgeted money and is spent through the annual operating budget. If Merrimack said - we'll HONOR the Pledge this year but we can no longer be counted on for future years, the town could plan for that shortfall. Note the use of the term HONOR the pledge - because not to do so would be - DISHONORABLE!
Chief
· 1 year ago
How many people with negative comments posted actually live in North Andover? I want our elected officials to ask these questions. This is what they are elected to do - I dont think you understand that all that is being requested is an explanation.
Jamie
· 1 year ago
And the explanation is not required. If I don't give someone a Christmas gift, there is no need for an explanation, I choose not to do it. That's my choice. If the college chooses not to give the town a gift, then that's their choice. Neither the town nor any individual has the right to demand an explanation.
Really?
· 1 year ago
But if you promise to give them the gift first and then don't follow up on it, you should call and tell them why. It's a good thing to do, especially if you have to deal with the person later on.
ipso facto
· 1 year ago
Complaining about not receiving an expected gift is ungracious at best and appalling at worst.
Anyone contemplating donating money to North Andover will note the smears given to the college and not take the risk.
Merrimack College graciously helped North Andover survive the financial chaos caused by the excessive Teachers' contract signed three years ago. Watkins and the other selectmen who've now 'bitten the hand' of friendship should not expect the hand to offered again. And now we have a new Teachers' contract that is overdue!
Jamie
· 1 year ago
An annual donation is a promise? Someone needs to take a look at a dictionary. These greedy filth with their hands out all the time are truly guilty of a shake-down. Good on Merrimack for saying sorry, no more.
haverhilldadof3girls
· 1 year ago
Oh for the love of Pete! WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT A PRESENT!! It is payment in lieu of taxes - there's a difference. IT IS A PLEDGE THE COLLEGE MAKES ANNUALLY to the town! It's COUNTED MONEY!!! The college (were it taxed ) would be paying the town HUNDREDS of THOUSANDS of dollars...which it may soon be doing if the Mass legislature gets its way. Anyway - as a gesture of goodwill to the TOWNS that don't get the tax $$ but should - the institution gives an annual amount of money. This money is PLEDGED to the college OFFICIALLY! Thus is becomes COuNTED INTO THE BUDGET!! What is SOOOOO hard about understanding this.
This has nothing to do with:
1. Poor Budgeting on the Town's part 2. Teacher contracts 3. Sanat Claus and Aunt Dorothy's Annual Fruit Cake 4. Volunteerism by college students 5. Any kind of "prestige" the college lends to the town - and PLEASE - Brooks School lends more prestige to North Andover than Merrimack College does!!
This is about HONORING a PLEDGED GIFT...and BREAKING THAT PLEDGE.
If you can't understand this - then I give up trying to explain.
Randy
· 1 year ago
Dummy
ipso facto
· 1 year ago
1. Has Merrimack College always 'pledged' $50,000 to North Andover? (No.)
2. Did Merrimack College offer the town a $50,000 payment while the North Andover Townspeople were sitting in a sweltering High School gym voting down the attempt to seize town funds used for collecting trash so as to cover the Teachers' contract? (Yes)
3. Is 'in lieu of taxes' a kinder, gentler term for 'government shakedown'? (Yes)
haverhilldadof3girls
· 1 year ago
I see your agenda - and wont bite.
1. It doesn't matter HOW MANY years they pledgeed the money - even if they pledged it only twice. A pledged gift is counted funds and to not honor a pledge is WRONG. You do know about right and wrong????
2. Merrimack PLEDGED - they didn't "offer." Yes - there is a difference...look it up!
3. "in lieu of taxes" - has absolutely NOTHING to do with government - government cannot force it, cannot mandate it, cannot ask for it. It is a PLEDGED GIFT from a private non-profit to a government entity. Does Merrimack have to give $50 grand? Nope. But when they "pledge" to do so they should keep their word.
Those with agenda's against the Town of North Andover will conjour up whatever argument you'd like. I am finished with this thread....
Randy
· 1 year ago
Merrimack did NOT go to the media about their enrollment woes --- it was leaked by someone inside the dept., trust me!
ipso facto
· 1 year ago
'in lieu of taxes' is the result of the town selectmen saying 'Gee, youse got a real nice college here. Green grass... pretty buildings. I'd be a REAL SHAME if you had trouble getting town services. I hears that sometimes there's no one around to pick up the phone at the fire station. Yup, a REAL SHAME. Ya know, ya might consider a friendly donation to make sure someone can answer the phone. I know youse 'tax exempt' and all. Maybe a PLEDGE could be arranged.'
All Comments
Someone actually holding another responsible for thier actions. Remember the days of a handshake? Those are gone. The college made a promise, regardless of who made it, it was on behalf of the college. Instead, they, like so many in our country today, shirk thier responsibility and just blame it on anything but themselves.
It's not like the college isn't paying a bill. They pulled back a VOLUNTARY gift. The school can't afford it, so they aren't going to give gifts they did before.
Stop your crying, if your town can't survive without a $50,000 gift, then you have bigger problems.
It's MC's money, they can do with it what they wish, sorry.
Former President Santagati was a crook. Any promise he made should have been taken with a grain of salt anyway (none of his promises at MC ever came to fruition, other than a dorm building shrine to himself, what a joke).
Does the college have the right to withhold it? Sure - just like i have the right to withhold my pledge to the college...still does not make it right or decent. For a college with a Catholic mission and foundation, it is especially questionable.
It also speaks to the financial disaster that is poised to happen at Merrimack - financially speaking the college is not doing well, so say many folks in the know throughout the Valley. And they well should have opted to keep and Augie in the Presidential role and not hired a laymen - that would have saved the school at least a $100K! If the college is not able to afford $100K dollars then that says something about the financial status of the school.
If we have a contract that requires me to pay you a certain amount a year... then I have no recourse but to pay you.
But to complain because I am not longer giving you a gift... come on.
If Merrimack College said something like: "This will be the last time we can do this" this would not be an issue.
How many teachers does North Andover have vs. the number of teachers they should have? Nice school, right? Whats a school's value if you can't fund it. Typical of todays must have generation. Must have the school but forget about how to fund it later.
Good column Taylor. Nice thought Tracey, but cry on somebody else's shoulder.
To reneg on a PLEDGE is VERY BAD FORM! If alumni from Merrimack renegged on their pledges, you'd better believe the Development Office would be HOUNDING them for the monies and stating pretty clearly - "but we have the document right here that states you've pledged $10,000 dollars." And YES - that is budgeted money and is spent through the annual operating budget. If Merrimack said - we'll HONOR the Pledge this year but we can no longer be counted on for future years, the town could plan for that shortfall. Note the use of the term HONOR the pledge - because not to do so would be - DISHONORABLE!
Anyone contemplating donating money to North Andover will note the smears given to the college and not take the risk.
Merrimack College graciously helped North Andover survive the financial chaos caused by the excessive Teachers' contract signed three years ago. Watkins and the other selectmen who've now 'bitten the hand' of friendship should not expect the hand to offered again. And now we have a new Teachers' contract that is overdue!
This has nothing to do with:
1. Poor Budgeting on the Town's part
2. Teacher contracts
3. Sanat Claus and Aunt Dorothy's Annual Fruit Cake
4. Volunteerism by college students
5. Any kind of "prestige" the college lends to the town - and PLEASE - Brooks School lends more prestige to North Andover than Merrimack College does!!
This is about HONORING a PLEDGED GIFT...and BREAKING THAT PLEDGE.
If you can't understand this - then I give up trying to explain.
2. Did Merrimack College offer the town a $50,000 payment while the North Andover Townspeople were sitting in a sweltering High School gym voting down the attempt to seize town funds used for collecting trash so as to cover the Teachers' contract? (Yes)
3. Is 'in lieu of taxes' a kinder, gentler term for 'government shakedown'? (Yes)
1. It doesn't matter HOW MANY years they pledgeed the money - even if they pledged it only twice. A pledged gift is counted funds and to not honor a pledge is WRONG. You do know about right and wrong????
2. Merrimack PLEDGED - they didn't "offer." Yes - there is a difference...look it up!
3. "in lieu of taxes" - has absolutely NOTHING to do with government - government cannot force it, cannot mandate it, cannot ask for it. It is a PLEDGED GIFT from a private non-profit to a government entity. Does Merrimack have to give $50 grand? Nope. But when they "pledge" to do so they should keep their word.
Those with agenda's against the Town of North Andover will conjour up whatever argument you'd like. I am finished with this thread....