September 22, 2008 02:03 am To the editor: This letter comes in response to Taylor Armerding's column of Sept. 14. His veiled attempt at calling myself and my fellow selectmen the "mafia" is just downright silly and completely misleading to say the least. Although I speak only for myself, I feel that the Board of Selectmen of North Andover is in no way, shape or form "shaking down" Merrimack College. What we are doing is asking a question: "Why has an annual $50,000 promise been broken to our community?" Regardless of who originally made the promise, the promise was made on behalf of Merrimack College. There was certainly enough media attention at the time that one would assume it had the blessing of those in the know, regardless of who signed the official letter. Mr. Armerding's column goes on to imply that we are inflicting a little "Catholic guilt" upon the college. Well maybe, just maybe, it is called for. This is about a promise made by a Catholic institution whose own mission statement includes the sentence, "To act as a major educational resource to individuals and for the Merrimack Valley community." Dr. Ronald Champagne, president of Merrimack College, stated in his own letter also of Sept. 14 that North Andover receives 100 out of the 8,000 hours of community service performed in the Merrimack Valley. Well lucky us, we receive less than 2 percent of all services performed. A far cry from their original promise. Now please do not misinterpret the message. North Andover's off and on financial woes do not fall on Merrimack College's shoulders but their hollow promises do. In the same breath though I recognize that having Merrimack College in North Andover is beneficial. Within my own family there are a few Merrimack alumni, my uncle was a professor there for more than 20 years and more recently I have had friends either employed by or enrolled in this fine institution. I fully understand what Merrimack College brings to the table. The business and jobs that are brought to our community are acknowledged and appreciated. This community partnership is beneficial in many ways to all residents. No one is marginalizing this fact. Nor are we asking that their tax exemption be taken away. This is not about services provided to whom or by whom. This is not about one-day liquor licenses or bulldozing for Wal-Mart either. And by no stretch of the imagination is this a "shakedown." It is however about a promise made and a promise broken to the people of North Andover. It is also about asking the question and waiting for a response other than, "conditions have changed." TRACY M. WATSON Selectman North Andover
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