School Ethics Commission Takes No Action in Martin Matter

Less than two weeks after Parsippany in connection with the superintendent contract controversy, the matter has ground to a halt. The state School Ethics Commission sent a letter to Martin indicating that it would take no action against him.

"As far as I'm concerned, it's done, then," Martin told Patch.

In late October, Martin mailed a package to the commission containing an admission that, in his opinion, he had failed in his duty as a school board member last July by not following up after the Parsippany  of Schools LeRoy Seitz. 

Martin's statement alleged three things against himself:

1. That his "failure" to ensure that the superintendent "was being correctly compensated has resulted in a failure to comply with directives from the state Board of Education regarding Superintendent Seitz's salary. It is very clear that I am guilty of this ethics violation."
2. That this self-described failure "led to the diversion of funds from activities that would have promoted the educational welfare of the children of Parsippany-Troy Hills."
3. That his inaction "conflicted with my responsibility to ensure that Parsippany-Troy Hills school district is well-run." 

The letter sent to Martin regarding the ethics charges said the commission would not act on the matter not because of the merits of the case but because of the state of the charges.

"Apparently, the law says I have to send the form in triplicate," Martin said. 

In addition, the letter noted that Martin did not specify the sections of law allegedly violated.

"I don't know which sections of law were violated," he said. "They're the experts on that. If they couldn't see what was violated, maybe I didn't violate the law."

Martin's action against himself came days after it was learned that . The board member, new to the job at the time, said he had assumed that when the pact was voided, his pay would be scaled back to $212,500, the salary stipulated in the previous contract.

Under threat of the county executive superintendent, the school board again rescinded the contract Nov. 3 and cut Seitz's pay to $177,500.

"I checked up, this time," Martin said. "The pay cut was taken care of the very next day."

Patch saw Board President Frank Calabria and Board Attorney Mark Tabakin at the Board of Education building in the early morning of Nov. 4. Tabakin later that day confirmed that he and Calabria were there for the purpose of putting through mandated payroll changes for the superintendent.

Given that the ethics commission kicked back his charges on a clerical technicality rather than on the case's merits, Martin was asked if he will redraft his charges and attempt an appeal against himself.

"No, it's done," he said. "I'm just going to focus on making sure schools are well run. That's my job."

According to School Ethics Commission spokesperson Allison Kobus, the body does not comment publicly on filed complaints.

A spokesperson for the New Jersey School Boards Association was not available for comment.