Planning a community event in Concord, even one that might make the city a safer place, is no easy task.
Lisa Sprague says she found that out the hard way, after participating in the Heroin Awareness Walk two months ago in Nashua. There, the 43-year-old Center Barnstead woman, still searching for peace after the death of her brother from an overdose last May, discovered community leaders who were passionate about fighting addiction.
Sprague is planning her own awareness walk May 21 at Rollins Park. Last Thursday she paid the $15 application fee and $66 charge to the Parks and Recreation Department for use of Rollins and its gazebo.
She plans to meet with city, police and fire officials Friday, inching closer to her goal. But along the way, Sprague says red tape and a perceived disinterest by city leaders have frustrated her as she tries to draw attention to the biggest public health crisis facing the state.
She funneled much of her displeasure toward Mayor Jim Bouley, the face of Concord, who, Sprague said, never reconnected with her after an initial email more than three weeks ago. And unlike what Sprague saw in Nashua, she says Concord hasn’t stepped up with any financial backing for her walk.
“I’m trying to do this walk in memory of my brother,” Sprague said. “I want support from the hierarchy, people to say, ‘Yes, there is a problem, and we are aware of it.’ I want them to stand with me.”
John J. O’Brien was 36 when his parents found him unresponsive in the bathroom of their Malden, Mass., home on May 22, 2015. He was pronounced dead at the hospital later that same day, Sprague said, ending his yearslong battle with heroin.
Sprague and other family members second-guessed their reaction to O’Brien’s illness, worrying that they hadn’t reacted aggressively enough to help him before it was too late.
Then came the Nashua walk in March, started by a woman named Darlene Pina. She had attended a pair of weekend funerals, victims of heroin overdoses.
The Nashua walk attracted an estimated 800 people, including Sprague. The event was therapeutic, she said, helping her cope with her brother’s death like never before.
“The number of people overwhelmed me,” Sprague said.
She also noticed that Nashua, thanks to Mayor Jim Donchess, agreed to co-sponsor the event, meaning the insurance premium was waived, covered instead by the city’s policy. And once you have insurance, there are no fees in Nashua to stage a walk, said a spokeswoman in the city clerk’s office.
“When (Pina) started to see those numbers increasing, she reached out to our office to make sure she was going to have city support as she was going through the process,” said Aly McKnight, assistant to Donchess, adding that the state’s heroin epidemic influenced the mayor’s decision.
“The mayor’s office offered to co-sponsor the event, and any time a city event such as a parade or clean-up is co-sponsored, the insurance is waived.”
Sprague brought her excitement to the capital city, confident she could make similar arrangements here, with similar enthusiasm. She sent an email to Bouley, who responded on April 14: “I have been straight out, but I did reach out to the code official to talk about your event. I will be back to you ASAP when I have new information.”
Sprague, who said she never heard back from Bouley, wanted to keep the event free and accessible and was hoping Concord would waive fees or contribute financially, which she saw as a symbolic gesture of support, important in this case because of an ongoing and recent problem that has no apparent end in sight.
The price tag – insurance, police detail, miscellaneous fees – comes to about $1,400, easily affordable through a small registration fee. About 350 people have expressed interest in the walk thus far, Sprague said.
“I want the city to realize the seriousness of this,” Sprague said. “I don’t want to be disrespectful, but I want (Bouley) to partner with me and admit we have a problem and do something about it.”
Reached by phone, Bouley said he had “pointed Sprague in the right direction,” and that he “supported her efforts and applaud them.”
But, Bouley, added, “As far as being treated differently than any other cause, we have to follow the rules as they apply to everyone.”
Bouley is not a full-time mayor, as Donchess is, and is not involved in the city’s day-to-day decision making process.
Gene Blake, Concord’s health and licensing officer, said he has the power to waive fees depending on the event. “(Sprague’s) issue seems like something I might be able to,” Blake said. “But I have to know what’s going on first.”
Even City Manager Tom Aspell got involved, but the decision was made to hold Sprague to the same standards as other organizations.
Aspell said it was a minor fee and he worried the city would come off looking negative. He referred further comments back to the code enforcement department.
Later, Blake was unavailable for comment, leaving Carlos Baia, the deputy city manager for development, to answer questions.
Baia said the most expensive piece to the puzzle, the insurance premium, would likely have to be covered by Sprague, and he was unsure if the city had ever made exceptions for charitable events.
“Based on what I know, I don’t see grounds to waive the insurance requirement,” Baia said.
Meanwhile, Sprague has secured insurance, free of charge, from Grace Capital Church’s insurer, Church Mutual Insurance Co. Police detail might not be needed if the 1- and 2-mile routes around Rollins Park do not cross busy intersections or disrupt traffic flow.
Volunteers might do the trick, and that could save as much as $328, if a cruiser is needed.
Sprague wants her event to include reading material for families, speeches and appearances by public figures, plus 500 Narcan kits, explaining how the medication counteracts an overdose and how to use it.
She hopes to have final answers during Friday’s meeting. Without using police for traffic control and with insurance covered, the total cost could be about $100.
That, however, is not Sprague’s point.
“With the red tape I’ve been given, the only thing that would make me happy is to stand behind me and support me,” Sprague said. “I want not just the mayor there, but all the people who make the decisions.
“They need to get involved, and they need to wake the hell up.”
(Ray Duckler can be reached at 369-3304, rduckler@cmonitor.com or on Twitter @rayduckler.)
Editor’s note: This article has been changed to reflect that Lisa Sprague is planning a heroin awareness walk in Concord on May 21. The date of the walk was incorrect. This story was also chanegd to reflect that Sprague will meet with officials on Friday. The date of the meeting was confirmed post-publication.