New Massapequa BOE Holds First Meeting as Controversy Erupts

The first meeting of the revamped Massapequa school board seemed to go off without a hitch until the very end.

The Board held its reorganization meeting followed by a regular meeting Thursday night that started with the swearing in of newly elected board member Gary Bennett and with Bennett asking for and being denied a request to speak at the finish of regular business.

Jane Ryan, who was re-elected to a second term, was also sworn in before Maryanne Fisher was elected to be the new Board president, replacing Christine Lupetin Perrino, who lost her seat in April.

Ryan was named Vice President and the newly reconstituted board began to get down to business.

Bennett, who expressed a desire to see a more open board during the campaign, went along with the unanimous votes on all the district appointments including the vote naming Fisher president.

He did ask questions about several items on the agenda, most of which involved things necessary to keep the school district running for the summer. 

Bennett asked about the district's reimbursement for business travel mileage but was satisfied to hear the IRS sets the rates.

"I'm still learning," he said after one question.

The new board member also abstained on votes adopting minutes of prior meetings and on items involving actions taken by the board prior to his election.

But controversy erupted when the board closed regular business and came to the point of the meeting normally reserved for public comment.

"Can I get a point of order?" Bennett asked, "I want to address the community."

After some confusion, Bennett repeated the request but Fisher balked at allowing it. 

"This is not something typical, that we've done in the past," she said, asking that he discuss it in a board workshop.

Bennett stood firm, saying, "There's been a lot of misconception, particularly about me from other people about what my agenda is."

But Fisher countered, "I think that it's important that if we're going to be working as a team of board members, that we sit down and discuss the way our meetings are going to be held," she said. "I don't think it's up to one person to decide whether our meetings may change or not change.

Bennett argued that Roberts Rules of Order, which governs board meetings, allows him the right to speak when making a point of order.

But when the matter was referred to the district's counsel, she said that the president is in control the meeting.

Fisher then denied Bennett's request and opened up the meeting to the public.

Several supported the new board member.

"I am very happy that Mr. Bennett is here and I only wish that he were here sooner, because this board really does not have an open ear to anything other than what they want to hear," one resident said.

Another, who said she had taught for 31 years defended past boards saying, "I've never known any board to be fiscally irresponsible," she said.

After the meeting, Bennett said he only planned to speak briefly.

"I wanted to thank everyone for coming, thank everyone for participating and I wanted to assure them that I'll be available for their questions," he said.

Fisher said the new member's request "caught me by surprise," but said, "I'm not opposed to changing things or talking. All I ask is let's talk about it first."