Rumors of Secret Emails Spark Board of Ed Debate
Alleged correspondences between some board members raise red flags for a resident and a BOE member.
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At its Thursday meeting, the Parsippany Board of Education once again revealed a simmering band of anger and a serious divide among its members.
The subject of the conflict is an Open Public Records Act request seeking a series of emails rumored to exist that some fear may show board members conducting business improperly.
Resident Robert Crawford told Patch that he is requesting the documents and received a reply from Interim Business Administrator Mark Resnick, the district's records custodian asking for 21 days to gather and examine the requested information, and then a second reply asking for another month. He said the followup added that his request still could be denied.
Asked what he thought were in the emails or if he ever saw them, the resident, a former school board member, declined to answer beyond saying that they "are emails [board member] Anthony Mancuso sent."
His OPRA request asks for copies of a number of documents reportedly sent by Mancuso covering a long list of dates and with subject lines including "recap" or "special meeting recap."
School board member Michael Strumolo brought up the matter after President Frank Calabria opened discussions for new business.
"I understand Bob Crawford has filed an OPRA request seeing some board e-mails," he said. "Do we [members] have a right to see them?"
Board attorney Kathleen Gilfillan explained that unless seeing the electronic messages was required for a member to do his or her job, then that right might not exist.
Strumolo displayed anger at the response and shared more information regarding the rumored missives.
"There are emails out there alleging there that are recaps of meetings that are sent to the Board of Education as recaps or recounts," he said. "Are you telling me, counselor, that I don't have a right to see them?"
Gilfillan explained that the documents are being reviewed by the school district's OPRA custodian.
"There is a limitation to information that even the board has access to," she said. "I haven't seen the emails. I don't know what they contain."
Strumolo raised his voice.
"They are on the computer server for the Board of Education," he insisted. "I am duly elected by the citizens of this town, and you are telling me I don't have the right to see them?"
"I don't know, but there is a limitation," she said.
"How do I get this information?"
"I don't know if you do or do not, sir," she said, not backing down. "The board is not privy to all information. There isn't a general right to information just because you sit on a municipal board."
She added that the OPRA custodian has not gathered or reviewed all the emails.
"I have a real problem with this," Strumolo said, glaring at Gilfillan. "I want a legal opinion. If more than a majority of board members are involved, would that be a violation of the Open Meetings Act?"
"It depends on the content," said the lawyer, who was then stopped short by an attempted interjection by a visibly angry Strumolo. "Mr. Strumolo, if you're going to ask the question, I expect that you will listen to the answer."
The angry board member fell silent, and Gilfillan continued.
"It depends on the information contained within the document," she said. "The OPRA custodian does not dictate what you see. You are permitted to have information that allows you to fulfill your duties on the board."
"When I was elected, one of the questions I was asked was, 'Do you want a Board of Education email account?'," stated board member Sharif Shamsudin. "I was told that because I'm a public official, those emails are OPRAble. If Mr. Strumolo says there are emails [on the BOE email server], are you saying they aren't OPRAble?"
"That's incorrect," Gilfillan said. "It doesn't matter whether it's a BOE email or a private email conversation, say, about the Yankees. If the information deals with board business, it's a government record.
"But there is a line the [state Government Records Council] has drawn between personal emails and emails dealing with government information."
"When I was a councilman, I was told we were not allowed to have multiple phone conversations because it would constitute an illegal meeting," an angry Strumolo chimed in. "I have a problem with your interpretation of the Open Public Records Act. The majority of the board were exposed to these, I hear, and you're telling me I don't have a right to see them?"
President Calabria stepped into the increasingly tense proceedings.
"You're casting a cloud here, Mr. Strumolo," he cautioned. "We're not sure about the numbers. Allow the process to go through. Allow the custodian of records to review this and then we will get a report."
The board attorney agreed.
"They will either release the docs or reject the request," she said. "We cannot interfere with the statutory responsibilities of the custodian."
"I find it comforting that we don't have the ability to invade people's privacy," said board member Deborah Orme. "We should be proud that we do not have the authority to go in and start putting at risk or making our community feel uncomfortable that we would go in and start reading emails.
"I do not need to have access to someone's emails. ... The board is not allowed to conduct board business via email. If we are not at this table together, we should not be conducting business, not even in closed session. There we discuss, but we vote in public."
"I couldn't agree with Mrs. Orme more. I concur with her about privacy," said Strumolo. "But if you're telling me the custodian will decide what I'm going to see and don't see, I think that should be challenged. He can decide what the public sees, but not what I see. Our counsel is able to see whether there is a violation and what I'm entitled to see.
"I question it was the Yankees they were discussing," he continued.
School board member Fran Orthwein took issue with Strumolo's statement that a majority of the board was somehow involved in the mystery email discussions.
"How do you know that? why do you allude that?" she asked. "Until you know the facts, you shouldn't allude to what people know or don't know."
"I'm questioning," Strumolo said.
President Calabria offered board members no answers as to what the rumored disussions entailed. He later told Patch that he has seen no e-mails and has no idea what these discussions were about or if they ever happened. He did, however, offer his colleagues some advice.
"If you don't want to see it on the headlines of the New York Times, don't write it," he said. "What we're being told may not be the case. That's why I'm going to sit down with the attorney to discuss it. Maybe we need to reissue [our e-mail policy].
Let's make sure we have our particular rules in order. We don't want to test the waters. We want to make sure.
"I just want to make sure we are following the letter of the law," Strumolo said. "Mr. President, I am asking you to turn this over to the attorney to investigate."
"Certainly, no problem," said Calabria. "I will take under advisement what you said and sit down with the attorney to ensure we are complying with the law."
ANGELA
6:22 am on Monday, October 15, 2012
http://www.cjnj.org/ - ANYONE INTERESTED SHOULD CONTACT JOHN PAFF WHO IS A FIERCE ADVOCATE FOR OPRA
Monica Sclafani
9:37 am on Monday, October 15, 2012
Angela - what are you implying by siting this website? Mr. Crawford's requests are still being considered and the BOE lawyer is now involved.
ParResident
7:42 am on Monday, October 15, 2012
Really!!!!
Kevin Brancato
8:59 am on Monday, October 15, 2012
I see. It's okay for Strumolo to have his little outside meetings with Golderer, Martin and Shamsudin. Then ask each other which way to vote while at the dias at meetings but Mancuso can't send an email.
Shame on you and Crawford.
clyde donovan
3:27 pm on Monday, October 15, 2012
3:10 pm on Monday, October 15, 2012
It appears Mancuso could have violated the state's Sunshine Law. The state Attorney General needs to investigate.
http://www.shamong.net/vertical/Sites/%7B23FE350B-4C74-4538-8594-9B75E8AB3E35%7D/uploads/%7B6E1F1F17-C2D8-4169-BD05-13C0DAA7ED0A%7D.PDF
Kevin Brancato
5:28 pm on Monday, October 15, 2012
Clyde, maybe he did but for Strumolo to cry foul is hypocritical and hilarious. He holds meetings of four at the diner in public all the time. I think you're right the AG should investigate what's going on. I'm no Mancuso fan but the door swings both ways I would certainly be interested to see who would go down should that happen. I think the results might be interesting to all the taxpayers.
VietNam Vet
11:11 pm on Friday, December 21, 2012
Kevin do you know for a fact that they are meeting and discussing school business? I know Mr. Strumolo and I haven't seen him meeting with these people in any meetings, so how do you know this, do you sit outside his place all day and keep an eye out for someone?
g
12:11 pm on Monday, October 15, 2012
"The subject of the conflict is an Open Public Records Act request seeking a series of emails rumored to exist that some fear may show board members conducting business improperly."
Do we want to follow in the footsteps of Bell, CA?
The City of Bell has become the poster child for bad government. Exorbitant salaries, lavish pension benefits, a looming default on $35 million in city bonds, and illegal property taxes have all come to light recently. And as a result, taxpayers across California are focusing new scrutiny on their own local officials.
The biggest long-term threat to taxpayers and budgets is the pension crisis. Bell City Manager Robert Rizzo was raking in a salary of nearly $800,000, and a total compensation package of more than $1.5 million that included benefits such as 28 weeks worth of vacation and sick time. That puts taxpayers on the hook for over $600,000 a year for Rizzo’s pension—for the rest of his life—when he retires.
The Bell scandal is a microcosm of a new class struggle—in California and across the nation—between taxpayers and government employees. Government employees have become the new privileged class.
Warning to Parsippany residence
clyde donovan
3:26 pm on Monday, October 15, 2012
The police dept. in Parsippany has the same scheme going on as the government workers in Bell, California.
clyde donovan
3:01 pm on Monday, October 15, 2012
The state Attorney General should be investigating the Parsippany School Board. There should be a grand jury looking at the evidence.
John M
5:40 pm on Monday, October 15, 2012
Remember, we need to vote out Calabria, Neglia, and not vote for Mancuso. One of them is bad enough. These are the people who disregarded the people of Parsippany and gave Seitz a new contract even though the majority of people were against it. We're still paying legal bills for their back door maneuvers. We need to clean house.
Michael Brancato
6:20 am on Tuesday, October 16, 2012
John, a year ago I would have agreed whole heartedly. Given the alternative presented, I think we would be worse off with Strumolo in charge than Mancuso. If you think there's too many "back door maneuvers" now, just wait.
VietNam Vet
11:33 pm on Friday, December 21, 2012
John, I so agree with you, we need to clean all the members that have been on the board for many years, because it seems there is a lot of corruption going on with these older members and it looks like Mancuso is leading it and speitz IS the POSTER boy in this town.
g
5:58 pm on Monday, October 15, 2012
The Parsippany government cabal at work.
the despotic Government employees have become the new privileged class. Their motto: I will do whatever I want, I don't owe you a thing.
George L. Blair
6:19 pm on Monday, October 15, 2012
There goes Bob Crawford and his buddy Strumolo again. Just being obstructionists of the highest order. Always looking for trouble. Last week it was the path, now emails. I beginning to think that as long as these two are involved with Board business we are never going to get anything done. Who is going to suffer, the kids of the Parsippany. Get a job Crawford and leave these people alone. You are not on the Board any longer, run for dog catcher or something. One day Mr. Stomolo, is going to raise your voice at the wrong person.
Hank Heller
2:16 pm on Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Mr. Blair,
What does... "we are never going to get anything done"... mean to you? We have talked at those meetings and your issue has always and clearly been to support Mancuso, Seitz, Neglia and all who will assure you of getting the ball fields turfed and the sports environment finished as you believe it should be done. Period. Whomever does not agree with you in full is... against the children, you have said. I am sorry you feel that way because there are many diverse opinions of value in this town.
Your last comment in the blurb above sounds like a threat, Mr. Blair. I hope you do not mean it as a threat or a warning. We do not all have to agree in order to be civil to each other. And the Police wouldn't like it.
Speaking for myself, I think Bob Crawford, Mike Strumolo and many others are real heros to the people of Parsippany. They have the courage and character to speak up on many important issues in this town. They are not "one issue" warriors and they are working to help "the kids of Parsippany", the taxpayers of Parsippany, the Seniors of Parsippany and all the citizens of Parsippany. Sorry you don't see it that way.
By the way, how come you weren't offended when your Mr. Mancuso yelled at and tried to intimidate me at my first meeting of the Parsippany BOE? Perhaps I was on the wrong side of an issue that you support. See you at a BOE meeting soon, I am sure.
Bob Crawford
7:17 pm on Monday, October 15, 2012
George
Thanks I have a job and should I decide to run for dog catcher I will be sure to reach out to you for your support. Before any of us barks up the wrong tree why don't we see what the emails reveal. If you want to support the fight against obstuctionism why don't you encourage the BOE to authorize the BOE lawyer to release the emails so that we can all decide for ourselves.
As for the path the Mayor appears to have agreed to work with the Superintendent to resolve an issue that the Superintendent identified as being dangerous a year ago. Why the path won't be fixed until the end of November when the temperatures could drop below freezing is anyone's guess but let's not look a gift dog in the mouth. As always George it's a pleasure to hear from you and as far as getting anything done, come on, at the last BOE meeting you waxed quite eloquently as to how much was getting done by the Superintendent
George L. Blair
8:09 pm on Monday, October 15, 2012
Furthermore, I hope on your job it doesn’t require any teamwork, because you and Stomolo don’t know what the word means.
VietNam Vet
8:22 pm on Monday, October 15, 2012
It sounds like a cover up going on here from the BoE attorney down to speitz and calabria. If a board member says he needs to see these e-mails, I'm sure it for a good reason and I urge the Mayor[If he wants to be re-elected] and the BoE attorney to make sure these things are released, they should be public knowledge.
Scott Dean
10:10 am on Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Kevin, It is well known that many of the local politicians gather at the local diner, I wonder why you deflect the story here about possible wrongdoing of Mancuso ? Strumolo has taken his shots I would say, Are some of the leaders so untouchable that they can not be held accountable as Strumolo is asking?. Liked or not he is asking the questions that deep down you would love to be answered!
George L. Blair
10:21 am on Tuesday, October 16, 2012
VietNam Vet
Is this issue about emails really that important? What do you think will be found out? I will tell you, nothing of any significance except somebody said how much they don’t like Stomolo. I am more concerned about no Halloween Party for the kids. I know my daughter loved going to the big high school for trick or treating. I would want to know the issues as to why our teachers don’t have a contract. I wonder if our obstructionists are at work again.
VietNam Vet
11:56 pm on Friday, December 21, 2012
George, I haven't been on here for some time now but I'm sorry that your daughter can't go to a trick or treating party on my dime or all the other taxpayers in this town. I am worried about my taxes going up all the time because of speitz always looking to spend more money, he is no better than this idiot you elected in Wash. The seniors in this town are glad that we have someone who is looking out for us, we all know that Mancuso and sietz and Neglia and Calabria are all in this together and seem to owe your pal spietz. I for one would like to know why our taxes have to keep going up and yet the board says they don't have enough money and they have a surplus of over 5 million and no body is concerned where all this money is going.
Bob Crawford
10:51 am on Tuesday, October 16, 2012
George
Given what you stated above you have either seen the emails or been told what's in them. If that is the case please confirm and let us know who told you. If that individual was a member of the BOE or the Administration then the information he/she shared with you should be shared with the rest of the public given the fact that an OPRA request has been made.
Thanks
George L. Blair
11:40 am on Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Bob Crawford
For the past few hours I have been wondering just what type of job you do have. I am sure it is not around people, because your people skills are non-existence. If is around people I am wondering if your superiors are aware of your atrocious behavior towards the school board.
Believe me, if I did know what was in those emails you would be the last person I would tell. Get a job
Carol M.
8:49 am on Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Mr Crawford your hypocrisy is sickening. Why don't you tell everyone how you obtained copies of the emails through unsavory means and how you and Mr Strumolo are now in desperate effort to get them released through an appropriate mechanism so that the people of Parsippany don't learn of your sleazy techniques and behavior. I missed the last boe meeting and didn't get to see Mr Strumolo's attempt to exceed his authority but I've heard all about his embarrassing multiple, asked and answered And before you start tossing around your usual distractions in some attempt to route the conversation in another direction I'll preempt you, my name is Carol and I too know people and have involved friends. Though I don't live across the street from a boe member or down the road from a former member, I have no hesitation to pick up the phone to ask questions to learn both sides of a story and what I heard about this one is too much. I hope everyone eventually gets to see that both you and Mr Strumolo will do what ever it takes in your quest to hurt others or gain recognition or power, no matter what line has been crossed and that lack of integrity is the base of all you do.
g
6:47 pm on Thursday, October 18, 2012
Carole M:
Mr Crawford your hypocrisy is sickening. Why don't you tell everyone how you obtained copies of the emails through unsavory means.
If you know how Mr. Craford obtained copies of the emails, please tell us.
If you don't tell us, then we can assume you don't know and you are presenting a devious scenario in which you are trying to destroy a persons reputation.
Shame, Shame, Shame.
Hank Heller
1:47 pm on Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Messrs. Kevin and Michael Brancato,
I have been at most of the BOE meetings over the past 3 years and have never seen either of you at those meetings. I am wondering if you get your information about what is happening at the BOE meetings from your relative, Fran Orthwein. I know that she is staunchly on the side of Mancuso, Seitz, Calabria, Neglia and Orme et al, but other than being Fran Orthwein's relative, why do you support a group that has done so much damage to Parsippany, it's reputation, it's school system and the taxpayers? What has been well taken care of has been the friends and families of Neglia and Calabria. Dr. Seitz has also done much better than seems reasonable. Of course, not being on the "inside" I am sure I do not know anything like the "real deal".
Michael Brancato
6:06 am on Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Well, Mr. Heller, all I can tell you is this: while I agree that the BOE under Mancuso was poorly run at best and disastrous at worst, and am no fan of the man, you need to ask why a person like Mike Strumolo wants to be on and run the board. You have to wonder why he would spend so much money to load it up with people he knows will vote with him. Read between the lines, and as Deep Throat said follow the money and ask yourself if you think those people are working for the best interests of the township. Sometimes the devil you know is better than the one you don't. After so many years of one group stacking the board in their favor and the results you pointed out, we are now facing another trying to do the same thing. This is not inside info, it's pretty obvious if you're paying attention.
You're right, you haven't seen me at the meetings, but I do read the Patch, Mr. Heller, and I do read the minutes, and all I ever see from Mike Strumolo is grandstanding and rabble rousing. If that's what you think will help Parsippany at a time like this, go ahead and keep supporting him.
Scott Dean
2:41 pm on Tuesday, October 16, 2012
The integrity of this current board has to be questioned.yet when questioned publicly they dont answer or defer to an attorney. For the kids platform is getting so old in this town and a complete farce.
Hank Heller
10:41 am on Wednesday, October 17, 2012
#1
Mr. Brancato,
I get the fact that you do not like Mr. Strumolo. I get the fact that you likely get most of your BOE information from your relative, Fran Orthwein. I don’t have a problem with any of that. Here is what I do not understand from your comments above: why do you think Strumolo’s reasons for sitting on the BOE is less honorable than Fran Orthwein’s or for that matter, Calabria, Neglia, Orme, Mancuso or even the many people who sat on that BOE in prior years? Strumolo has lived in Lake Hiawatha for his whole life, I believe. And, I know he has a young son in our school system. Isn’t that enough honorable reason for Strumolo to want our school system to be run well and our taxpayers to be fairly represented?
The truth is that everyone sitting in any elected office has good reasons for spending their time away from their homes and families. Some of the elected officials seek only to exercise good intentions, some of the elected officials seek personal benefit along with their good intentions, some of the elected officials just seek personal benefit. It is up to each of us to determine for ourselves what our current candidates really value. Then we should vote our beliefs.
Regarding your comment about "stacking" I know you understand that unless one has a majority of the votes aligned with them on the BOE, one can not accomplish ANYTHING with the current majority. Either you join with Calabria/Mancuso/Seitz or your are marginalized. Period!
Hank Heller
10:54 am on Wednesday, October 17, 2012
#2
Mr. Brancato,
Based upon my personal studies by attending and asking questions at the BOE meetings, I believe that any change in membership of our current BOE is a good one. You are right in your comment that Mancuso was a very bad choice to lead our BOE. But it must be remembered that Calabria, Neglia, Orme, and Choffo were almost always in lock-step with Mancuso’s dictates. Check the voting records and you will see that I am correct in this comment. And, unfortunately, Fran Orthwein was usually not far behind in following Mancuso’s leadership. That exists to this day with the exception that Mancuso has been exchanged for Calabria. No difference in direction, just a change in style. That is why I will vote for anyone else but the current people running for reelection. The Mancuso/Calabria/Seitz leadership of this BOE needs to be changed, in my opinion, for the good of our students, teachers/other school employees and the citizens of Parsippany. And, when new people are elected to the BOE, if they do not do a much more responsible and effective job at leading Parsippany’s BOE in better directions, I hope you will join with me in voting those people out of office too! That’s what we have to do in America and Parsippany. Instead of “We The People” sitting home and just watching television, we need to get up and out and learn if our elected officials are doing the right job for all of us. Then, vote your conscience.
George L. Blair
11:53 am on Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Hank,
From the first time I talked before the Board I have advocated teamwork, positive reinforcement and civility. It became apparent to me that Bob Crawford, Pat and her friends were not willing to try any of those methods to get things done. I have watched time and time again as they have tried to bully this Board and Dr. Seitz to get their way. I do not like bullies who try and push people around.
Additionally, in the education profession the word professionalism is preached from the very first education class. Bob Crawford hollered at an administrator at a Board meeting when he was on the Board. This was the most unprofessional act I have ever heard of in education. Since then my contempt for him has increased threefold. Now Strumolo is hollering at the lawyer for the Board. This is another act of unprofessionalism, bullying and rudeness that causes my stomach to cringe. He is the one you should be preaching to about civility. I wasn’t at the meeting where you claim Mr. Mancuso holler at you, but I do know this about Mr. Mancuso, he is not a bully. He and Dr. Calabria are the ultimate professionals.
Hank, I don’t threaten people, I believe strongly in you get more done by working together then you can by arguing all the time. But know this, I will stand up and voice my opinion when it comes to people trying to force their way on other people.
George
Hank Heller
1:00 pm on Wednesday, October 17, 2012
George,
I don't know about the time you heard Mr. Crawford "holler" at an administrator nor when you heard Mr. Strumolo "holler" at a lawyer because I did not witness it. We have each spoken strongly (at times) at BOE meetings because we have strongly held beliefs and were frustrated with the events and behaviors we witnessed at BOE meetings.
Additionally, I have seen the disrespect and lack of kindness that the majority leadership of the BOE has shown over the past three years to minority members and the public. So, while I do not condone bad behavior on anyone's part, I can understand how one member might become upset and/or frustrated with another member or counselor. It shouldn't happen, but it can. I have seen the eye-rolling, smirking and obfuscating behavior by many of the majority BOE members first hand. I have seen earlier BOE attorneys treat people in disrespectful ways. The current BOE attorney has been a paragon of professionalism, in my opinion.
I respect you. However, I do not agree with your assessment of current and past BOE leadership's behavior patterns and professionalism. You have gotten up and spoken plainly of your support for Mancuso. You have said you support him because you've known him for years and he "knows what I want". I remember hearing you say that at the first BOE meeting I saw you at. I understand supporting people on your "side". But I do not agree with is supporting your "side" no matter what. I also do not like force.
H