Transportation Secretary James Aloisi, at an MBTA Board meeting occurring today, is moving to have General Manager Dan Grabauskas placed on paid administrative leave. Grabauskas demise as G.M. was predicted by unnamed aides to Governor Patrick in today’s Globe, indicating that Aloisi likely had lined up sufficient Board support to achieve his goal. Aloisi, in the public portion of the Board meeting, quoted Thomas Jefferson. From the Globe:

The board meeting this afternoon began with a call for civility from Aloisi, who quoted Thomas Jefferson and urged members “to rise above heated words” in an escalating row with Grabauskas.

“I will not do to others what has often been done to me,” Aloisi said during the public portion of the meeting at the state Transportation Building. “Questions about motive or character have no place in this discussion.”

Aloisi quoting Jefferson. Hmmm. Grabauskas must be toast then. They will, if successful, have to buy his contract out, because he cannot be fired for cause. Thats just my opinion, but we will see soon enough. And now the Governor will own the problems at the MBTA and have earned the enmity of the top legislative leadership he will need to help him fix those problems. I am eager to see the strategy employed by the Governor after he takes over the day to day management of the T. In particular many will be looking to see what the new management recommends with regards to the NTSB findings that Grabauskas has been so heavily criticized by the Governor about. Grabauskas was also criticized by the Governor for advocating fare hikes, which I assume new management will not be in favor of???? The Governor now owns the problem. Best of luck.