Bennett Proposed to Direct ABCD, But Poor May Oppose Appointment

Arthur Garland '36, president of Action for Boston Community Development. Boston's poverty agency, last night proposed George Bennett '38 to all the vacant post of executive director for the agency, but there were signs that representatives of the poor might oppose his appointment.

The first sign of revolt at the meeting of the ABCD board of directors came right after Gartland moved that the 15-man ABCD Executive Committee be given authority to hire Bennett, who is currently manpower director of the New Haven poverty agency, after meeting with him.

Immediately, several of the 22 community representatives on the 44-man ABCD board to protest Bennett's appointment, because, they said. Bennett wanted to limit participation of the poor in planning and administering the poverty programs.

"Bennett is being forced on us," declared William Hurld of South Boston, adding that letters to Bennett were already being delivered to the ABCD office. "I think before we hire anyone, he should have to sign a statement saying he believes is participation of the area people."

Although Gartland's motion was finally approved by a vote of approximately 18 to 5, several executive committee members indicated that they would use the meeting with Bennett to grill him on his views about community participation--and might oppose him if not satisfied with his answers.

"Mr. Bennett hasn't proves to me what his position is on community participation," said Kenneth I. Guscott, president of the Boston NAACP. "He should come to Boston and defend himself before the executive committee."