North Branford Town Council Addresses BOE Protocol

At the Sept. 6 Town Council meeting, council members questioned the Board of Education on several issues and inquired about its deviation from standard procedure. See other notes from the Sept. 6 meeting here. 

Contracts

Councilman Donald J. Fucci brought it to the attention of the council that members of the Board of Education revised aspects of Superintendent Scott Schoonmaker's without making a motion to do so during public meetings and without voting on the matter. 

"Can BOE members go back into contracts and make changes without going into another vote?" Fucci asked town attorney John Gesmonde. 

"As a general rule, every board and commission, at least in the town of North Branford, takes action in the aggregate and only in the aggregate," responded Gesmonde. "Any town council member has no authority unless they are seated or voting. Unless the council authorizes a member to do something on behalf of the council, any commission whenever it proposes to take action, has to do so as a body."

Caprio and Rose questioned the validity of the Schoonmaker's contract due to the illegality of implementing such changes without a vote. Rose said he was disturbed that several BOE members agreed with the chairwoman that "they could ammend contracts whenever they want."

Rose continued, "They think what they are doing is legal and correct. We as a Town Council need to see the BOE correct it or prove us wrong. Maybe they need to talk to their attorney."

Fucci suggested the changes go back for a vote, but Gesmonde advised that the council cannot ask the BOE to do that, "but hopefully clarification will go through due to this conversation."

Out to Bid

Councilwoman Rose Marie Angeloni addressed Schoonmaker concerning the recent work done on two science classrooms. Schoonmaker reported that asbestos abatement was completed as well as the replacement of old furniture. However, when asked whether or not the project went out to bid, Schoonmaker said the council should ask Donald Winnicki. 

Schoonmaker also said he didn't have any information on Project Lead the Way. 

"Well, that's why you're here," Angeloni responded.

Schoonmaker said he thought the discussion would be concerning the Automotive Program. 

Not seeing any bidding or contracts in the minutes, Angeloni told Schoonmaker that bid documents should have been prepared when the BOE voted to close the shcool.

Automotive Project

The council became divided when discussing the high school's automotive program. Angeloni argued that the program is a capital project and that there was no discussion at the capital budget hearing. 

"Why are we doing this? I think we're micromanaging," said Caprio to Angeloni, "We knew this was in their budget. I saw it on paper."

"Then why didn't you say anything?" asked Angeloni.

"Because I didn't have a problem with it," responded Caprio.

"This is an ideal, cost-effective way to do this," said Schoonmaker. "We're retrofitting based upon our needs. This is something that the town wants. The cry is to get kids who are not college-bound into the workforce."

"We gave them a set budget, how are we going to tell them what to do with their money?" asked Caprio, who then motioned to give the automotive program the 'okay.'

Angeloni said that she had no issue with the project itself, but that the project is a captial expenditure that should have been discussed and voted on during the budget hearing. 

"You tell those 72 kids and their families that they can't take this class," said Caprio to the council. "We're not giving them any money, so we might as well give them they okay."

The council unanimously approved the program. There is still no estimate on how long it will take to have both lifts, which cost about $9,000 for both, and other equipment installed in the school's auditorium. With school underway, students in the program are currently learning the book portion of the program.