Board candidates face off on nepotism issue
Nine hopefuls vying for three available seats share views at forum
BY JESSICA SMITH Staff Writer
Astep-down, a showdown and more than one "quiet down" punctuated statements made by candidates for three seats on the Old Bridge Board of Education during a forum Monday night.

During opening statements at the PTA-sponsored forum, candidate Solon Fotis voiced his issues with the current board.

"They tried to sell us a Visa commercial," Fotis said of last year's school budget, which he said inspired him to run. "They said, 'For the price of a cup of coffee, we can educate your child, and that's priceless.' You deserve better than that."

Fotis also took issue with this year's proposed budget, as well as with Superintendent of Schools Simon Bosco receiving a 14 percent salary increase under a new contract.

"That's outrageous. It's unacceptable," said Fotis, who ran unsuccessfully for Township Council last year.

Despite his impassioned statements, Fotis said he feels there are enough other viable candidates whom he can support. He announced that he would step down from the race.

The nine other candidates present - 12 filed for the three available seats - discussed their individual stances on a number of issues throughout the evening. One topic that emerged twice was the question of nepotism. Board President Frank Piccillo and board member Fred Colabella, the two incumbent candidates, have family members employed by the district.

Piccillo said potential qualified employees should not be discriminated against because a relative sits on the board. He went on to say he is able to vote in 90 percent of board decisions, responding to comments from other candidates who said board members with relatives employed in the district cannot function fully in their capacities.

Colabella, whose wife works in the school system, said he too only has to recuse himself from about 10 percent of board votes. He defended his integrity in making decisions as a board member.

"[My wife] had gotten the job probably 14 years before I decided to run," Colabella said. "I vote my heart, and I've always voted my heart."

Mark Palehonki, owner of M.T.V. Driving School in the township, said those best qualified for positions in the district should be hired for them, but favoritism should not enter into the equation.

Candidate Owen Henry, who sits on the township Planning Board and Environmental Commission, said he is against boardmembers having family employed by the district, adding that if there were an ordinance against the practice, he would support it.

"To run for reelection when amember of your family is working for the board is a selfish act. I wholeheartedly disagree with it," said Henry, who like Fotis ran unsuccessfully for Township Council last year.

Board hopeful Donna Andriani, a science teacher, also said she would support such an ordinance. She said that while she would rather steer clear of conflicts of interest presented by board members with family working in the district, she does think hiring should be based on qualifications.

Another candidate and former board member, Frank Weber, pointed out that there are currently four members of the nine-member board who have family employed by the school district. Like others, Weber said he would stand behind an ordinance if one were introduced.

However, rules governing nepotism on the Board of Education would not come from an ordinance, as the board does not have the power to create one. Also, the Township Council could not approve an ordinance regarding nepotism on the board, as it is beyond its jurisdiction. Rules regarding nepotism in the township, which were cited by candidates on Monday, were created byMayor JimPhillips in an executive order on his first day as mayor.

"If you are an elected official or department head, then no member of your family can be hired in Old Bridge Township," Phillips said. He noted that those with relatives already working for the town were grandfathered in under the new rules.

Weber, who has made several unsuccessful bids to return to the board, said his major concern with nepotism is its reduction of board members' ability to fully participate in the decision-making process. For example, he said, five people were excluded from negotiations on Bosco's new contract because of conflicts. Three of the four board members taking part in the negotiations were new to the board, Weber said, which he did not see as fair to them, or particularly good for the negotiating process.

"When you're negotiating, you try to have a level playing field," Weber said.

Stan Gendlin, a candidate and student of public relations at Rutgers University, also disagreed with board members remaining in their seats when family members are hired by the district.

"As soon as that happens, the board member should resign," Gendlin said. "Essentially, they're just a vegetable on the Board of Education. They're wasting your time and my time."

Retired from a career in private manwww. agement, candidate Pradyuman Patel said .it is difficult to make a hard and fast decision on whether a qualified individual should be excluded because of their relative's position on the board. For himself, however, he took a no-tolerance stance.

"The day they applied, I'd quit my job [as a board member]," Patel said.

Candidate Laura Harvey, a member of district PTAs and member of two board committees, agreed with Patel, saying she would step down in such a situation.

"You should let your conscience be your guide," Harvey said.

Candidates JosephMancini and Teresa Baran were not present atMonday's forum.

Coverage of Monday's forum and a further look at the contest for seats on the Old Bridge Board of Education will continue in the April 10 issue of the Suburban.