State eyes takeover of Reggie Lewis Ctr.

Series of controversies at RCC

State legislators are looking to take control of the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center away from Roxbury Community College after a series of high-profile controversies last year, a move one state track official says is long overdue.

“They were supposed to be turnkey people who protected the vision of the facility, and they failed to do that, they failed miserably,” said Rick Kates, assistant executive director of the Massachusetts State Track Coaches Association.

RCC came under fire from track users and community members last fall after officials fired long-time track center director Keith McDermott.

At the same time, RCC President Valerie R. Roberson asked state Auditor Suzanne Bump to investigate financial irregularities at the center. Bump later called in Attorney General Maura Healey’s office to assist with the probe after determining the irregularities involved “alleged criminal activity.”

A spokeswoman said the attorney general’s office still is working with the college and its fundraising arm, the Roxbury Community College Foundation.

Roberson said she couldn’t discuss the attorney general’s probe but said concerns raised by the auditor were “all under control at this point.”

She also pushed back on a plan to create a new board, saying the college was a capable overseer.

“We feel like we have the administrative capacity to do a good job fulfilling the center’s mission,” Roberson said, “I have an open door policy, I don’t see where anyone who wants to have a voice does not have one already.”

Under current law, RCC’s board of trustees is responsible for management and operation of the center. But legislation filed recently by members of the Boston delegation would replace the trustees with a five-member board. RCC would still handle day-today operations, which college officials said could cause conflict.

State Rep. Russell Holmes, who co-sponsored the bill, said the new board probably would be appointed by Gov. Charlie Baker and the Legislature.

The Mattapan Democrat said the board should include community representatives and members of state track groups so that it would reflect the statewide use of the center and provide a voice for those concerned over McDermott’s firing.

“If we have a different board, folks that have been having issues can also have some type of input on who oversees the center,” Holmes said.