Eighteen retiring employees received at total of nearly $164,000 in reimbursement for unused sick and vacation time at Wednesday's Board of Education meeting.
The biggest payouts went to two retiring administrators, High School Principal Ken May and Middle School Principal Steve Novak. May received $37,569.28, the bulk of which was for unused vacation time. Novak received $45,400, most of which accounted for unused sick time.
Teacher payouts for unused sick time are capped at $15,000, with teachers Ann Zajkowski and William Mosca receiving the maximum. The remaining payouts ranged from $200 to $9,210.
The Board also voted to hire a lawyer for an undisclosed purpose at $160 per hour. When asked what the lawyer would be doing, board attorney Nicholas Celso declined to comment, saying it could not be disclosed. Celso also could not predict the expected cost for the services, other than to quote the hourly rate.
Speculation is that the attorney will represent BOE member Carole Byrne, who according to sources is the subject of an ethics charge filed with the State Ethics Commission. Byrne abstained from the vote, as did BOE member Debbie Boyle, who is rumored to be a witness in the case.
In other action, the Board accepted the resignation of Russ Matoon, longtime technology director. Matoon will be taking a position in Essex County.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
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If that is the case why should the board of ed pay to represent Byrne for whatever she mayhave done. I think she should pay for her representation if she stepped out of line.
ReplyDeleteFactually the fee will be $160 per hour--a small difference, but the 07080 poster should get the facts straight as the rest of us in the audience heard them.
ReplyDeleteSorry, hard to hear in that gym with the fans going. That's what I thought I heard. Thanks for the correction.
ReplyDeletere: "If that is the case why should the board of ed pay to represent Byrne for whatever she mayhave done."
ReplyDeleteWhy shouldn't it? Do you really think people will run for election to the board if they have to pay for their own counsel? I suppose she should pay for the electrical costs of running the lights at the meetings as well.
Was at the meeting. Seven football coaches? We're paying $45,947 just in football coaches. Isn't that a little much?
ReplyDeleteOh, and I agree. The board should pay for Byrne, unless she loses. Then it should be her loss for doing something inappropriate.
$45,947 for the football coaches would be OK if they turned out a better program. We haven't had a good football team in ages.
ReplyDeleteI love our town's sports program and that it involves so many children. My problem is that they get paid a lot of money. Similar districts (our size) pay coaches flat rates, $2,500 without steps. We pay over hundred-thousand dollars in coaching salaries while other districts pay half that. There's on teacher. Contract year hope the board is paying attention to that!
ReplyDeleteSorry but if Byrne misspoke then she should pay for her own counsel. She's going in front of the ethics committee not the entire board. If that is even why they are hiring counsel for. This has not been stated as fact.
ReplyDeleteWhy are the meetings held in an unairconditioned gym with loud fans? Is it so the audience can't hear what's going on? Or is it so that it's so hot, people won't want attend the meetings. Why not the high school or middle school auditorium or the new Roosevelt School?
ReplyDeleteMiddle school has no air either.
ReplyDeleteWHAT I FIND INTERESTING IS THAT THE MEETING WAS ONE WEEK AGO, AND THE MEETING MINUTES HAVE YET TO BE PUT ON THE SCHOOL'S WEBSITE...
ReplyDeleteI agree. The minutes and agendas from the last few meetings should be posted. Why have they note been?
ReplyDeleteI DON'T KNOW EITHER, IT DOES NOT MAKE ANY SENSE. I MEAN THEY'VE UPDATED THE WEBSITE MULTIPLE TIMES THIS PAST WEEK. I'M HOPING THEY WILL POST THE MEETING MINUTES SOON.
ReplyDeleteTHE MINUTES ARE POSTED ONLY AFTER THE BOARD APPROVES THEM.
ReplyDeleteBUT AREN'T THE MINUTES APPROVED BEFORE THE BOE MEETING?
ReplyDeleteBUT WHAT ABOUT THE AGENDAS? THERE HAVE BEEN AT LEAST TWO MEETINGS IN JULY AND NO AGENDAS HAVE BEEN POSTED.
ReplyDeleteEXACTLY MY POINT!
ReplyDeleteVery sad they way the superintendant and the board handle the budget this past year. Even more upsetting that another loyal, hard working individual, like Russ Mattoon, was forced to look elsewhere while games were played. It seems this district is losing and forcing out good people just to bring in people that they think they can bully and control. Why is it if the Board is so smart, do they have to pay a company to find them a superintendant? Who gets the kickback on that? Maybe someone who works for Sodexho again? Anyway, Mr. Mattoon you will be missed!
ReplyDeleteSo it's been almost two weeks since the Regular BOE Public Meeting for July, and the meeting minutes have yet to be posted on the school's website, even though they've updated the site multiple times. Someone care to explain?
ReplyDeleteIT'S BEEN TWO WEEKS SINCE THE JULY REGULAR PUBLIC BOE MEETING AND THE MEETING MINUTES HAVE YET TO BE POSTED ON THE SCHOOL'S WEBSITE. CAN SOMEONE EXPLAIN WHY THEY HAVE NOT BEEN POSTED YET?
ReplyDeleteTHE MINUTES ARE APPROVED AT THE NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED BOARD MEETING. THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING IS AUGUST 18TH. AFTER THEY ARE APPROVED, THEY WILL BE POSTED.
ReplyDelete