The Boston Globe from Boston, Massachusetts • 16

I 16 THE BOSTON GLOBE FRIDAY, JANUARY 29, 1988 Gty department's payments apparently bypassed bid rules MBTA's advisory board focuses on parking shortage -v. Ytk -a? sZ 'fm ft': I It By Peter J. Howe Globe Staff An official of an MBTA watchdog group yesterday said the shortage of parking at stations for riders has become the single most important problem facing the transit agency. "I have never had so many people all talk to me about one issue like they have been on parking," said Anne M. Lamer, executive director of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Advisory Board.

The board, which monitors MBTA finances and service, represents the 78 cities taxed to subsidize the authority. "It doesn't matter whether it's commuter rail or rapid transit, north, west or south. Everybody is talking about it. It's like a pot ready to boil over," Larner said. Discussion of the parking shortage was the focus of yesterday's advisory board annual meeting.

MBTA statistics show that every parking facility on the four rapid transit lines fills up daily, except for the garage at Alewlfe station in North Cambridge on the Red Line, which is 80 percent full and growing, and parking lots at three stations along the Mattapan high-speed trolley line, a section of the Red Line. About 12,000 parking spaces are available at commuter rail stations, but the line carries 29,000 riders a day. At some stations, demand for parking Is so intense that illegal parking on side streets has become a serious problem, officials said. Charles B. Steward, the MBTA's assistant director of construction for development, said officials recognize the severity of the problem acknowledging It is dls-couraging rldershlp in some places and are planning several large parking areas and expansion of existing sites.

Included are 1.000-car garages in downtown Lynn and at the former Saugus landfill site, a 1.000-space expansion at Quincy Adams, a 502-car garage in Attle-boro, and a 758-space facility now under construction at a new Forge Park stop in Franklin near Interstate 495. But Steward warned that in many cases, building added parking can take more than a year because of land needs and facilities design. yy 1 Motormen on Blue Line air concerns about safety my signature on it, It probably came through as a routine thing." Unaware of family relation Reld said he had not been aware that contracts were required for the vehicle repairs, or for the work by Joseph Rogers. Nor did he know, he said, that Joseph and Thomas Rogers were brothers. He said so many papers required his signature that he did not know the details of a lot of what he signed.

Lewis Auto Center is now closed, replaced by Parkway Plaza, a retail-office building developed by Lewis. Rogers as assistant commissioner signed the initial permit for the construction Job. The work given to both Lewis Auto and Joseph Rogers began three to four months after Thomas Rogers Joined Inspectlonal Services. Neither had done any city work as vendors for at least 13 years before that, according to auditing department records. Although Reld was acting commissioner in 1984.

Rogers was seen as the most powerful force at Inspectlonal Services prior to the hiring of William Sommers as commissioner In June 1985. Francis Costello. Flynn's press secretary at that time, three years ago was quoted In response to demands from Inspectlonal Services employees for Rogers' ouster as saying that Rogers "was not sent Into Inspectlonal Services to be a nice guy. but to bring change to a department that badly needed changing." Rogers, now 53, arrived in the middle of a federal probe of corruption In Inspectlonal Services, begun during the administration of former Mayor Kevin White. Aggressive reputation With Instructions from Flynn to shake up the department.

Rogers gained an aggressive reputation by cracking down on laggard employees and helping the FBI investigation, which ultimately led to the Indictment of 13 employees and 16 other persons. While his assignment was bound to arouse antagonism, his critics charged he was tyrannical and capricious In his dealing with department employees and some citizens. Concern was expressed at that time by several city councilors about Rogers, with Joseph T. Tler-ney calling him a disgrace and "an embarrassment to the city." But the administration stood by him. and Costello said a year after Rogers Joined the department that he was "a hard-working public servant who Is bringing needed changes to the department." Peter Welsh, who Joined Inspectlonal Services recently as executive director, said yesterday he checked department files and the 4 vav.

a V4V ROGERS Continued from Page 13 Even If It had been a legitimate emergency, which Conley said ap peared doubtful, the second Job would have required a contract. The state conflict-of-interest law prohibits public officials from acting In their Jobs to benefit members of their Immediate families. Thomas Rogers would appear to have violated that provision if he hired his brother, or, if in his role as assistant commissioner, he asked someone else to. Conley said the work given to Lewis Auto also appeared to vio late Flynn policy of requiring that agencies use contracts when giving out work that is repetitive or anticipated. He said he did not know whether FtnCom will inves tigate, but Implied It might not on the basis that the employee In question is no longer there" and the payments are several years old.

"Those types of things should be caught in the auditing department." he said. The city auditor. Leon Stamps, could not be reached yesterday for a response. Most of the signatures on the service orders authorizing payments to Lewis Auto and Joseph Rogers appear to be those of James T. Reld, who was acting commissioner of Inspectlonal Services for nine months before retiring In early 1985.

Rogers denied any wrongdoing in a brief telephone interview yesterday. He said he knew of no Inspectlonal Services payments to his brother, and he denied that he was a friend of Edward F. Lewis of Westwood, owner of Lewis Auto. Asked whether he had spoken on behalf of a bid by Lewis Auto for a Class 3 automotive Junk dealer's license at two public hearings In 1985. Rogers replied.

"I attended hearings but I never, ever stood up and defended that man." Testified about property When he was refused the names of sources who had said Rogers and Lewis were friends. Rogers hung up. saying. "Then I don't want to talk to you any further. Goodbye." In an Interview last November, Rogers acknowledged testifying before a board of police captains about the Lewis property but said he had been subpoenaed as an Inspectlonal Services official.

He said he attended a July 1985 Conservation Commission hearing at which Lewis Auto's bid was discussed, but said he was there "as an observer, an Interested citizen, that's all." But Thomas W. Stanton, a Hyde Park resident who attended the commission's hearing as president of the Falrmount Neighborhood Association, yesterday said Rogers "made a passionate speech on Lewis' behalf" before about 25 Hyde Park opponents of Lewis' plans at that meeting. Reld. the former acting Inspectlonal Services commissioner, was asked In a telephone Interview If Rogers had asked him to sign the service orders. "I don't recall him asking me to sign anything in particular." Reld replied.

"If It's got Sovary Ling (left). Sopheary Thach in ineir new nome in uransion, K.I. R.L is end of an odyssey, start of Cambodians dream 1 1 Globe staff photoBill Grwne and Koksal Kim prepare dinner ships In Cambodia alerted Rep, Chester Atkins (D-Mass.) work with Thai officials to obtain the freedom for the family members still In the refugee camp. Sau and his wife engineered the Immigration of their family to this country to escape the tyranny of the Khmer Rouge government which harrassed the family for 13 years because he Is a teacher and was suspected of hating commu nlsm. "We are very happy to be In America, but we did not come here Just to be happy," said Sau.

re laxed In dark blue slacks and a white shirt with red stripes, open at the neck American style. "We wanted our children to live In a free country and to find a good education." he said, with the Interpreting help of Solakhana "If you have a good education, you can find a good life afterwards. The family Is adjusting well to their new environment, said Tong. who visited them for three days and phones them frequently. "I think the new culture, the language, the schools and finding Jobs and a permanent home are worries for them.

Tong said In a telephone Interview from her Chelmsford home. She's optlmls tic that they can adjust to life In New England as completely as she herself has done. "They are not used to electric Ity In the home, and all the telephones." Tong said." And they came from a tropical cllmat where gardens grow all year. My mother tells me not to go outdoors because I'll freeze. They'd never seen snow until the other night.

I called to tell them about It. They were excllcd and went out to feel It." LARGE SUPPLY AVAILABLE SLIGHTLY HIGHER FAMILY Continued from Page 13 Two-year old Rathselma Kim. born In a refugee camp, worked diligently at her half-eaten apple as she walked about the room. Some grownups listened to a stereo playing Cambodian music. Four women sliced peppers, cleaned celery, and cut meat In the kitchen beneath a plaque with the message: "God made us a family.

We need one another. We love one another. We forgive one another Two Cambodian men cut dry wall In the basement for bedrooms they are building to help accommodate the enlarged family In the home. The grandparents, two of their daughters, and their husbands and children have lived here since Jan. 19.

when they arrived at Logan Airport In Boston. The home Is owned by Sovary Ling, one of Sau and Bunyln's daughters, and her husband. Song, a school teacher. The Lings, who came to this country eight years ago. have Invited their relatives to stay with them until permanent living arrangnients can be made and their relatives' adjustment to New England's climate and culture Is secure.

Song Ling says the family can stay with them as long as they need to find work and save enough money to get their own homes. For those who do not speak English, adult classes are planned. Employment should be available In clothing or Jewelry factories here, he says. Another sister. 17-year-old Tong Chlv.

lives with foster parents In Chelmsford. Her moving essay about her family's hard Hon Is expected to continue Into next month. The accident occurred along a sharp right curve at a point where visibility Is no more than 100 feet. A repeater an amplifying device used to make sure radio signals carry to the ends of the line -was moved last month from Revere Beach station to the Orient Heights car barn In an effort to improve reception. Gens said.

A second repeater Is to be Installed outside the entrance to the tunnel near Maverick, he said. But drivers said moving the repeater has not Improved the signal and has created a "dead spot" near Beachmont station. Gens said that between Jan. 19 and Tuesday, safety officials tested radios on all 70 cars in the Blue Line fleet and found that all were working properly. He said officials have received only three reports of broken radios on the Blue Line In the last six months.

Employee safety complaints also concern riders who leave eastbound trains at Airport and Suffolk Downs stations and Jump off the platform to walk across the tracks as a shortcut to either the Jeffries Point neighborhood or the race track. The motormen said manage ment has Ignored repeated re quests that a fence be Installed or more guards assigned to preveni people from walking across the tracks. "It has been our experience that wherever we've attempted fencing throughout the system It has been Ineffective. Gens said Gens said Inspectors and MBTA police will be asked to mon itor the short-cut problem more closely. He also noted that at both stations, trains operate from an overhead power line and not a third rail, and that while It Is un safe for people to cut across the tracks, they are not In danger of electrocution from a third rail.

He said there have been no reports of Injuries Involving people crossing the tracks. The Blue Line Is the most light ly patronized of the rapid transit lines, carrying 40.000 riders a day between Bowdoln Street down town and the Wonderland dog track In Revere. Six percent of all air passengers headed to Logan use the line. Despite the complaints from some motormen. the Blue Line Is also considered the most efficient and reliable, with train break downs less frequent than on the Orange Line or the problem-pl gued Red or Green lines.

"ARE When I met Rust Koesler. toft-spoken, gentle man from the South thit summer in Alaska, I whooped "i that a Titiey?" and he hollered 'Art Russ, who hat canoed, Tlley-hattbd, some of North America's more spectacular riven had 'dyed' hit 3-year-old T3 in the Colorado River, and painted Nav80-like design on the band We became friends on wonderful, tale, eleven-day rafting adventure (Sobek Eipeditiont) on the Tatshenshinl River, Alex Tiiiey qui v.l Many PtKktt BLUE LINE Continued from Page 13 1924. The rest of the MBTA's signals are electric. It was at a time when signals were out that a Boston-bound train carrying 70 persons crashed Into a second train stopped on the tracks near Wood Island station. the next stop Inbound after Orient Heights.

Three employees and 13 riders sustained minor Injuries. "It Is a pneumatic system, and one of the problems with It Is. glv-en moisture In cold weather, you I can have problems with that sys- tern," Gens said. He added that signals are designed to be "fall-'. safe" and revert to red If any function develops.

Because the signals were out the afternoon the accident oc-; curred. trains on that stretch of line were operating under verbal orders given by the dispatcher 1 downtown. Operators were told not to drive faster than 10 m.p.h. The driver of the train that crashed into the stopped train told reporters that, at the time of the accident, her radio was not work-i Ing. She said the guard, who rides In the third car.

said his radio was working and that he had heard the dispatcher give their train per-; mission to proceed. "Radios are a major problem all the time." said one motorman. "The day of that accident the radios were all screwed up." Gens, however, said that "all eight cars Involved had their radios tested by the safety depart-; ment and were found to be func- tlonlng." Gens declined to elabo-Irate. except to say the investlga- 1 1 1 irao? IF YOU DON'T NEED WATER IN YOUR BASEMENT AFTER HEAVY RAINS OR DURING SPRING THAWING CALL THE EXPERTS TODAY. DON'T WAIT.

rntt ESTIMATES NEW ENGLAND BASEMENT WATERPROOFING INC. Botton Irocttofi on I ie I fw T2O-HO0 ses soet ouoh Wo'CtUM 481-6602 752-5501 RAINY DAY PEOPLE "IS and 111 NCC0HAM STREET Nw1on Highttndt. 02181 To O'dor by pione (614) 964-041 nn i run UU HnCHU MY BASEMENT (call ornca ver Mir 674-1BBS WE ARE THE 7 Tn mul Black leaders Dukakis, white officials oa Sarin resjK)iise city contract office but was unable to find out how Lewis Auto and Joseph Rogers got their work. Welsh made this comment, "We have every Intention of continuing the progress that was made under commissioner Sommers and have made great strides In putting systems Into place that will Insure that proper procedures will be followed and that the public will receive the services they deserve." MBTA station. In 1982.

William F. Atkinson, a black, was chased by several white men and ran onto the subway tracks, where he was killed by a passing train. Councilor Charles Yancey chester-Mattapan) charged that Suffolk County District Attorney Newman Flanagan dragged his feet In prosecuting the 1982 case and added that he would prefer that Attorney General James Shannon handle this case. David Rodman, executive assistant to Flanagan, dismissed Yancey's statements and said the district attorney has a strong record of prosecuting civil rights cases. He also said Flanagan helped New York City officials Investigate the death of a black man who was chased by whites In the Howard Beach section of Queens.

"Mr. Yancey Is shouting off a little too fast before he thinks." Rodman said. The black officials said yesterday they would prefer that racial attitudes In Boston change, but they stressed that strong prosecution of racial Incidents is a necessity. "If black people waited for a change In attitudes, they'd still be slaves." said Rep. Byron Rushing (D-South End).

"IS" COLOR TVS ATTACK Continued from Page 13 towns across the country. "But Boston seems to be consistent In Its demonstration of racism and particularly In Its violence." she said. "We hope that this recent Incident Is not an attempt to set the tone as this housing Initiative Is about to be Implemented." Hicks said, referring to Flynn's efforts to Integrate three housing projects In South Boston. She urged city officials to launch an advertising campaign, much like the "Say No To Drugs" campaign, to reinforce the message that fair housing Is the right of every citizen In Boston. James Jordan, a spokesman for the Boston Police Department, said the number of civil rights Incidents Investigated by the Community Disorders Unit has declined since 1978.

He said 600 Incidents were Investigated In 1978, 157 In 1986 and 150 In 1987. "The type of things that we saw In Savin Hill, where there was violence, have become less common." Jordan said. Several of the black officials drew parallels between the Incident last Saturday night and a fatal attack In 1982 at the Savin Hill win SOME MODELS 1 DAY ONLY Jan. 30 10 A.M.-5 P.M. REPLACEMENT GUARANTEE Day's Inn Burlington ft 4 '1 It TV A ISM Middlesex Turnpike Wheeler Road Exit 32Boff Kt.

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