I am writing in response to an article published in the Standard-Times on June 3, entitled "Financial, artistic obstacles sink city fishing memorial." which featured the progress of our Fishermen's Tribute Fund monument to be constructed at Fort Taber in New Bedford.
As President of the Fishermen's Tribute Fund, I feel I must respond to Mr. Joseph Inglesby, whose submission of a granite eastern rig boat was chosen as our design. It was stipulated in our Call to Artist, that the chosen artist would have to negotiate contract with FTF as a final step in the process. The first and most important issue is that our efforts to build a monument have by no means come to an end. Our committee continues to work diligently to make this project a success. In fact, on July 18 we will be hosting our 5th annual Fishermen's Tribute Fund 5K run/walk, which begins and ends at Fort Taber. Check for details of the race at www.fishermensmoument.org. Also check for information of adding your own piece of the memorial with personalized bricks to bring notice to a loved one, or just to honor the fishing community. During negotiations we explained that we would like to solicit in-kind donations for our community and had been offered the base to be built as a donation from a local mason, as well as the use of heavy equipment at no cost for part of the construction of the monument. Mr. Inglesby not only would not accept the use of in-kind donations to mitigate the cost of the project but also insisted that none of the work be put out to bid and made available to local craftsmen. He insisted he work exclusively with his colleagues, each one at a hefty price. He also refused to allow the FTF to put out to bid the cost of the granite. He required that the granite used to build the monument be purchased from his partner. Considering that Mr. Inglesby had stated that his fee would be 15% of the total cost of the project we found a conflict being limited to one vendor, and working with only his team, Any increase in price would merely allow him a larger profit margin, expecting us to approve a "blank check" project, When we asked for more finite figures, he also requested, and was denied by committee to be compensated for his time in presenting his cost analysis. The cost analysis was required in our Call to Artists, and that the cost of the submission be presented to the FTF Committee.. This is when he presented an adjusted cost of just over $1.2 million, bringing the figures down from the more than $2 million he had brought to the table in estimates. At this point he held strong to not allowing us to mitigate the cost, or to involve our local community and the much needed jobs that the monument will create. Mr. Inglesby's comment that "This is not a backyard project.." is a perfect example of the air of superiority that he brought to the table. He took it upon himself to meet with Mayor Lang, after our committee had clearly stated that until negotiations were completed he in no way was authorized to meet with Mayor Lang as a representative of the FTF. He immediately set up a meeting with the Mayor and presented his views with none of our committee members present. Here was a man speaking for our organization who had not even been hired by us. FTF is a 501C3 corporation, with members who have worked for the last six years toward the completion of our monument. We are responsible for all legal matters for the committee, but to an even higher degree to the people of our community.. This project belongs to all the people of our great port City of New Bedford. It's true that we have no prior experience in this type of work, and admittedly we would change our process a bit, given opportunity to turn back time. Our decision made by our committee, not to work with Mr. Inglesby, was more than correct under the circumstances. We have earned the support of many people in OUR community. It is true that we haven't raised the million plus Mr. Inglesby demands; however, I am confident that once we successfully complete the selection process we will begin the process of pursuing grants from many resources available. So you see, our mission is not "SUNK'. We will continue to work diligently to find the right artist, and the right design to work with and for our committee and community. I can only hope that Mr. Inglesby's comments will not dissuade people from our community from supporting this much deserved tribute to our fishermen and families, and our entire fishing community. Deb Shrader