After Angry Questions, BOE Refuses to Discuss Seitz Salary

Residents who were hoping to hear more about why the the Board of Education authorized paying under a disputed contract won't be getting answers anytime soon.

Anyone who asked questions at Thursday night's board meeting was told the subject couldn't be discussed because the

"We can't discuss that, it's in litigation,'' Board President Anthony Mancuso said.

Board members Michael Strumolo and Robert Crawford contend that Mancuso should have sought an agreement from the entire BOE before allowing , despite the contract being called invalid by county and state officials.

Both Crawford and Strumolo, who opposed the Seitz contract, which exceeds Gov. Chris Christie's $175,000 salary cap for districts the size of Parsippany, raised the issue at Thursday night's board meeting.

Mancuso had said at a January meeting that Seitz wasn't being paid his new salary and that he was told by County Superintendent Kathleen Serafino to stand pat.

 "You said you were instructed to stand pat," Strumolo said Thursday. "What changed, under whose advice?''

Crawford expressed frustration after board members, and acting board attorney Margaret Miller, said that they couldn't talk about the contract at all. 

Members of the public who asked about the decision were given the same answer, which resulted in some yelling and, at one point, a five-minute recess.

"I'm getting really annoyed at the way you think you can spin things to the residents in this community,'' resident Pat Pattacia said. "You're losing the respect of the residents, and you don't even know it!''

After Petaccia grew increasingly angry, Mancuso called a recess. 

He also admonished other residents when they started loudly complaining in their seats after being told the issue wasn't open for discussion.

"If you don't behave, you'll be asked to leave,'' he said.

"You're not behaving!'' resident Joe Raich responded.