The Open Public Meetings Act clearly states “Adequate
Notice” means at least 48 hours. That notice must include the agenda to the extent
known.
There is evidence that Capizzi and Quatrone were aware
that the LEA contract would be voted on at the March 28, 2018 meeting. They intentionally omitted this from all
notices and agendas up until a few hours before the meeting. The Board held a work session 48 hours prior
to the March 28th meeting.
The LEA contract was not part of the agenda on March 26th. The LEA contract was never discussed at the work session,
not even as a passing thought or as an update during committee reports. The contract
was not part of the agenda posted on the district website as of March 27th
(the contracts were dropped off that night).
The contract did not appear as an agenda item on the district website as of
the morning of March 28th.
The contract appeared as an addendum on the district website just a few hours
before the meeting.
How do I know that Capizzi and Quatrone had knowledge
of the contract 48 hours prior to the meeting and intentionally omitted it
from the agenda?
- This appeared in a Record article on March 9th:
“The
school board is expected to vote on it sometime this month, union President
Allyson Pontier said.”
Allyson Pontier is Frank Quatrone’s right-hand woman. She made a statement on March 9th. It was one statement from her that actually
turned out to be true.
- I submitted
numerous emails to Quatrone, Leto, and Capizzi seeking contract
information. I wanted sufficient time to
review everything before I cast a vote.
Here is one of many emails I submitted:
- I had numerous conversations with Marc Capizzi where
I stated my concern that the LEA contract would be voted on in March and I was being
denied all materials that I was entitled.
Nobody ever stated that the contract would not be voted on in March.
The public was given less than 48 hour notice that the
LEA contract would be voted on during the March 28th meeting. I was given maybe 24 hours to review 2- 75
page contracts that were never discussed once by the Board.
Quatrone and Capizzi knew the LEA contract would be
voted on March 28th.
They intentionally concealed this until the last minute because they
wanted a package deal. They wanted their
contracts voted on at the same time so nobody can read them or question them
either. They wanted the newspaper to cover the LEA contract and pay no attention to theirs. Both Capizzi and Quatrone have
plenty to hide and plenty to be ashamed of with their contracts.
