'...Forgive us our corruptions, as we ignore the corrupt around us'
Cyr: Developer behind bids to weaken Cape commission
By Geoff Spillane
Posted Oct 23, 2019
Off-Cape legislators file amendments to reduce project referrals.
BOSTON — Two central Massachusetts lawmakers have filed proposals to significantly limit operations of the Cape Cod Commission, bypassing most of the Cape’s legislative delegation and igniting the political equivalent of a turf war.
The amendments to Gov. Charlie Baker’s supplemental budget legislation were filed on Beacon Hill within the past week by state Sen. Dean Tran, R-Fitchburg, in the Senate and state Rep. Jonathan Zlotnik, D-Gardner, in the House.
The proposed amendments advocate for eliminating the ability of towns in Barnstable County to make discretionary referrals for projects under 10,000 square feet to the Cape Cod Commission for review.
State Sen. Julian Cyr, D-Truro, said Tran told him Tuesday that the amendment was filed on behalf of constituent Gregg Lisciotti, president of a Leominster-based real estate and development company known for its retail centers.
“Most towns on Cape Cod don’t have the resources to conduct analysis on complicated development proposals,” Cyr said. “Fortunately, they are able to rely on the Cape Cod Commission for discretionary referrals. If (the amendments) passed, it would add significant costs to towns and provide advantage to developers.”
The districts served by Tran and Zlotnik are more than 100 miles from Cape Cod.
“This is not the first time somebody has tried to slip in an amendment to change the rules on Cape Cod for the benefit of the rich and entitled,” Cyr said. “It really makes me angry that some people have the audacity to think they can bend the rules to their favor.”
Lisciotti is a major donor to Republican elected officials and candidates in the state, including Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, and is a member of the board of directors of the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority.
Locally, he has made the maximum allowable campaign contributions to state Rep. William Crocker, R-Centerville, in 2016, 2017 and 2018, according to the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance database.
Crocker said Wednesday that he had been asked by Lisciotti to consider filing the amendment. He said he worked with House counsel to draft the language eventually filed by Zlotnik but was not prepared to file it himself, citing the need to conduct more investigation and have discussion with constituents and the commission. Crocker said he did not approach Zlotnik to file the amendment.
Lisciotti also made the maximum $1,000 campaign contribution to Tran in 2018.
State Rep. Timothy Whelan, R-Brewster, who serves on the House Committee on Ways and Means, was the first member of the Cape delegation to notice the amendments when reading through the supplemental budget filings last week.
“I brought it to the attention of my colleagues because it affects development and projects in our backyards,” said Whelan, who said he thought the intent of Zlotnik’s amendment was to take power away from the commission and Cape towns.
“It’s not customary, it’s outside of the norm, but it’s within his rights to file any amendment,” Whelan said of Zlotnik. “But I certainly wouldn’t file anything to do with Gardner.”
Zlotnik eventually withdrew the amendment during the House debate after being confronted by members of the delegation.
The Senate will debate proposed amendments to the supplemental budget Thursday.
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