Foster and Alderman Sean O’Donovan exchanged money for a decade

By George P. Hassett

At a public hearing this month, Herbert Foster, chairman of the Zoning Board of Appeals, said he did not think about politics when voting to approve a controversial project at 42 Craigie St. being developed by an alderman.

"I treated this like the applicant was John Smith," he said.

But a review of Craigie Street developer and Ward 5 Alderman Sean O’Donovan’s campaign finance records reveals Foster and O’Donovan have been exchanging financial contributions for a decade, with most of the money going to Foster.

Foster donated $125 to O’Donovan in June 2005 when O’Donovan was campaigning against challenger John L. Sullivan. That contribution is the only one on record where the money ends up with O’Donovan. More often, O’Donovan contributed money from his campaign account to a charity run by Foster.

Between 1998 and 2003, O’Donovan contributed $1,600 to the Scott C. Foster Fund, a charity Herb Foster set up, he said, to further research in maple syrup urine disease. Foster’s son, Scott, died from the disease at a young age.

In an interview with The Somerville News, Foster said he did not believe his financial relationship with O’Donovan conflicted with his evaluation of the project at 42 Craigie St., which faced widespread opposition from neighbors ‚Äì 120 of whom signed a petition objecting to it.

"I don’t consider a $100 donation a conflict of interest," Foster said. "I contribute to the mayor and all the aldermen too."

Foster said he would consider contributing to an O’Donovan campaign again. He also said he raised "a ton of money over the years" for his charity "from everyone in the city who was touched by Scott’s story."

The financial and political connection between O’Donovan and Foster appears to bolster claims by neighbors that O’Donovan received special treatment from the ZBA. O’Donovan could have built six two-bedroom units on the 15,400 square foot lot by right but asked that the ZBA allow him to build eight units instead. Neighbors and Ward 3 Alderman Thomas F. Taylor spoke against the project at public meetings, complaining of the project’s density, design and an increase in traffic it may cause.

Kevin Patton-Houck, a neighbor of the project and constituent of O’Donovan’s in Ward 5, said he was not surprised at the financial and political links between O’Donovan and Foster.

"This whole process has been all about politics and Sean O’Donovan’s connections. It became clear by the way he ran the meetings, that Herb Foster wanted this project to go through," Patton-Houck said.

Patton-Houck said Foster cut neighbors speaking in opposition to the project off and did not allow them time to state their opinions. "He actually yelled at someone in the audience at one meeting," he said.

O’Donovan has been mute on the issue as it has moved through the zoning process. After he won approval for his project, he refused to comment to a Somerville News reporter as he left City Hall.