Nahant selectman forming plan to get more cash from NU

NAHANT – Selectman Richard Lombard is continuing in his quest to get Northeastern University to pay more to the Nahant community than its proposed $20,000 scholarship in lieu of taxes.Lombard sent an email to fellow Selectman Perry Barrasso, Chairman Michael Manning and Town Administrator Andy Bisignani with a plan of action for when representatives from the university?s Marine Science Center come before the Board of Selectmen on Feb. 21.?I?m just trying to see if hopefully we can come to negotiation,” Lombard said this week.In the email, Lombard called into question how Northeastern was abiding by Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino?s new guidelines to the payment in lieu of taxes program, which calls for educational, medical and cultural sectors that own property in excess of $15 million in Boston to make voluntary payments based on the institution?s tax-exempt property value.Lombard attached to the email a list of funds Northeastern has donated to the city of Boston under the program, which added up to $367,000 in cash contributions and space donations that the school made to community groups and projects. Another attachment showed Northeastern donated $11.3 million in scholarships to “targeted Boston-native students.”Lombard suggested selectmen look into how Endicott College and Marian Court were giving back to their respective towns of Beverly and Swampscott.?We?re not asking for a lot, we?re just trying to be fair,” he said.In a third request, Lombard also urged that the Board of Assessors re-assess the tax value of the Marine Science Center at its location at East Point.?They should be paying way more than $20,000,” said Lombard on Monday. “Even the town administrator is paying $16,000 for his house, and they have waterfront property. We?re going to have that checked.”Lombard said he is receiving a lot of support from Nahant residents in trying to shed light on the school?s giving habits. “I don?t want to be the only one doing the talking, but if you look around there are a lot of people asking questions,” he said.Bisignani gave no comment on the email on Monday, except to say that “Northeastern is in negotiations with them regarding the scholarship programs, and have indicated willingness to continue with that program and perhaps expand on it.”Kait Taylor can be reached at [email protected].