UMS criticized for 2-day retreat

PORTLAND – As the state wrestles with a severe budget crisis, the University of Maine System has taken flak for spending $8,800 for a two-day retreat this week at a resort in Cape Elizabeth.

Fourteen trustees, Chancellor Joseph Westphal, a staff member and a facilitator attended the retreat Sunday and Monday at Inn By The Sea.

Some lawmakers questioned the university system’s judgment in scheduling the retreat at a time when the Legislature is poised to cut services and lay off people to deal with a projected $1.1 billion revenue shortfall.

“I have been on the [Legislature’s Education and Cultural Affairs] Committee listening to gloom and doom, some of it coming from the higher-education side, but that just flies in the face of everything we’ve been hearing,” state Rep. Thomas Murphy, R-Kennebunk, said. “I understand the importance of those meetings and getting a turnout, but it would seem that that probably could have been done on a little bit more of a budget plan.”

Trustees’ chairman James Mullen denied that the event was extravagant and maintained that trustees are frugal with taxpayer money.

Mullen said trustees – who scheduled the meeting two weeks ago – could have met in a conference room at the University of Southern Maine. But he said the point of the retreat was to be away from the bustle of a campus and get solid work done.

The biggest expense was the facilitator, Jonathan W. Reitman of Brunswick, who was paid $3,678, including mileage. The university also paid $3,295 for four meals, snacks and coffee; $1,677 for 13 guest rooms, or $129 per room; and $150 for a meeting room for two days.

The trustees who live near Portland did not stay in the hotel, Mullen said. No spouses attended and no alcohol was served.