Mayor Martin J. Walsh announced that he will seek a new cabinet-level development czar as well as an independent audit of the controversial Boston Redevelopment Authority — but watchdogs said his first step should be to staff the agency with top-notch professionals in the field.
Walsh told the Herald yesterday he will appoint an economic development cabinet chief overseeing the BRA and submit state legislation to reorganize it — a bill he hopes to submit before the end of this fiscal year.
“It will all be moving around the same time,” Walsh said. “I’m assuming the cabinet position will be in place before the restructuring of the BRA.”
Joseph Slavet, former head of the Boston Municipal Research Bureau, said Walsh would be wise to hire development professionals to lead the BRA and head up the new economic development cabinet position overseeing the agency — something he said was lacking in the former executive director, Peter Meade, and the current acting chief, Brian Golden.
“Peter Meade was not a professional development guy. He was essentially a public relations guy,” Slavet said. “Golden is not a development guy. He’s a former state representative.
“The developers had initiated cozy relationships with BRA staff, and there was no professional development expert at the top looking at these decisions.”
Walsh said he first wants to commission an independent audit of the development agency.
“I think this is great news because the BRA should be subjected to a full-blown audit, including a forensic audit,” said former Inspector General Gregory W. Sullivan, now research director at Pioneer Institute.
“The BRA should be reformed because it has been operating with autonomy without appropriate accountability. It’s an open invitation for influence peddling.”
Sullivan, who has criticized lucrative tax breaks handed out to favored developers under former Mayor Thomas M. Menino, suggested Walsh seek an audit from an outside agency with subpoena power, such as the IG’s office.
“I would encourage him to make sure the investigators have real teeth,” Sullivan said. “The key is that the reviewers should be arms length, unconstrained and with full access to the information.”
City Council President Bill Linehan called Walsh’s proposal to give city councilors a BRA board seat “exciting.” The mayor now appoints four board members, while the governor has one representative.
“I think it’s a true reflection of the new mayor’s ability to want to work with the City Council,” said Linehan. “It’s a new approach. It’s open and transparent.”
But Slavet said he doesn’t understand why Walsh would want to give up some of his BRA appointing power to a city councilor — who he said could use the new authority to stop urban renewal developments in his or her district.
Former Boston City Council president Larry DiCara said Walsh’s BRA reforms have a good shot at passing Beacon Hill.
“All of that is only possible with some legislation, but Marty certainly understands the Legislature,” said DiCara, who now represents developers at the Nixon Peabody law firm.
“I think what people are looking for is certainty in the development process and if this is the way to get there, I think the business community will be supportive.”
