NAHANT — Vice Chair Rich Lombard said he would be addressing Northeastern University representatives about the scholarship money they would be donating to the town when they come before the selectmen Feb. 21.
Lombard had said at a meeting on Dec. 6 Northeastern University should compensate Nahant for the 40 years its Marine Science Center has operated from East Point, and the $20,000 scholarship wasn’t enough. At Thursday night’s meeting, Town Administrator Andy Bisignani said the amount of the scholarship was already a committed number and wouldn’t be changed despite whatever argument Lombard would give.
“I’m going to tell them to keep it,” said Lombard. “After 45 years, this is disgraceful.”
Lombard said Northeastern should have pitched in funds when Nahant was forced to cut its art and music programs for the last two school years. “They knew we cut art and music out of the school budget,” he said. “They could have stepped up to the plate and sent out art and music teachers, even if they were just students.
Chairman Michael Manning pointed out that it wasn’t the university’s responsibility to provide teachers to the public school.
Lombard went on to say it was “disgraceful” that Northeastern had charged the Johnson School $500 for a demonstration for its students a few weeks ago.
“Talk about abuse,” he said. “These people are getting away with murder, and they know what’s going on. They could care less about Nahant. All they care about is expanding their campus over there. That’s why they’re coming down.”
Lombard said he wanted to invite the whole town to the meeting on Feb. 21 to address the representatives. “We should be fighting for every nickel and dime for the kids in town,” he said.
Kait Taylor can be reached at [email protected].
