PORTSMOUTH — Ray Davis, saying he can no longer justify taking a part-time salary for what’s essentially been a full-time job, will leave his position as coordinator of the …
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PORTSMOUTH — Ray Davis, saying he can no longer justify taking a part-time salary for what’s essentially been a full-time job, will leave his position as coordinator of the Portsmouth Prevention Coalition on June 30.
“The scope of the job in Portsmouth has grown beyond 20 hours a week,” Mr. Davis said Tuesday in explaining his decision to step down. “I’ve been in this position as coordinator for seven and a half years. The office is in my house. I own almost all of the equipment. Because I don’t make enough money — I make no benefits — I had to take on other work. I have all the certifications you can get in substance abuse education and I can’t afford to live here on that.”
Mr. Davis isn’t leaving substance abuse prevention behind, however, as he’s staying on as assistant director of the Newport County Prevention Coalition, the regional network that includes Portsmouth. That’s also a 20-hour position.
“I’m also doing some consulting things and I’m also a working musician,” said Mr. Davis, who sings and plays bass in The New 40. “I’m not 28 anymore.”
The job with the regional coalition is more manageable than the Portsmouth position, which entailed “hours and hours” of speaking to the Town Council, School Committee, legislators, parents and others, Mr. Davis said.
“There are more responsibilities— the nuts and bolts — of making the (Portsmouth) coalition functional that I don’t have to do with the (regional network). I’m thoroughly invested in what we’ve got going in Portsmouth and I’ll do everything I can to make sure things in Portsmouth continue to improve, through the work we do in the (regional coalition),” he said.
Mr. Davis added that Rebecca Elwell, the Newport County director, and Polly Allen, a member who has children in Portsmouth schools, are also “firmly invested in Portsmouth.”
More funding needed
Mr. Davis said he’s become increasingly frustrated over the years by the lack of financial support for local prevention coalitions. “The prevention coalitions are created by a state law, but the state doesn’t contribute one penny,” he said.
The town has been more supportive of the local coalition, “much more than many other communities,” but could still do more by making the coordinator’s job a full-time position with an office, he said.
“The Town Council needs to realize that social service needs are not a luxury,” he said. “It’s not just about tying purple ribbons on mailboxes. It’s a lot more than that. Our kids are the most important thing we have in this town. The job has just gotten so much bigger than what it was and it needs a new structure.”
Mr. Davis said he was grateful for the community support as well as the hard work carried out by other Portsmouth coalition members. He singled out the panel’s chairwoman for special praise.
“Thank God for Marianne Raymo. I could not have done anything without her — and she’s a volunteer and so are the other people on that coalition,” he said.
Town Council President Keith E. Hamilton said he was happy that Mr. Davis would still be involved in local prevention efforts. “Ray’s stepping down from the operations, but I don’t think he’s going anywhere,” he said.
Mr. Davis said he will always be an advocate for Portsmouth. “It’s something I feel passionately about or I wouldn’t be doing something about it in the first place.”