Tempers Flare Over No-Vote Oceanport School Budget

Jay Coffey's oversized copy of the Oceanport Board of Education's meetings policy made a point but not a change, as the board again opted to do away with voting on the school budget (when it increases less than 2 percent) during their regular meeting at a packed Maple Place Middle School cafetorium Thursday evening.

Coffey, a lawyer by trade, enlarged the meetings policy to underscore his belief that the board was wrong to eliminate the budget vote during a workshop meeting last week, as the policy states:

 The Oceanport board holds two board meetings per month:

1. A workshop meeting when the board members assemble to learn of new business of the district through discussion, administrative and committee reports.
2.  A regular meeting when the board will take action on the items discussed at the workshop meeting.

Board Vice President Colin Soyer responded, telling Coffey nothing prohibited the board from taking action during a workshop meeting.

"This is your opinion, and this is not a court, and you're not in front of a judge. There is nothing in the law that we did wrong," said Soyer.

Board attorney R. Armen McOmber agreed.

"There's nothing in the open public meetings act that precludes a board from acting during workshop meetings," said McOmber. "The agenda for the workshop was posted three days before the meeting, and the agenda for that meeting had clearly marked that the resolution would be voted on that night."

Though not admitting any wrongdoing, the board agreed to hear nearly two hours of public comments on the matter (with a halftime show honoring students and showing parents how to use the district website's new parent portal feature), with many vocal pleas from residents opposed to the change. After the comments, the board took another vote to ratify the resolution, passing it 7-2.

Voting in favor were Board President Kelly McGowan, Vice President Colin Soyer, board members William McVitty, Christopher McCrae, Joan Osgoodby, Spencer Carpenter and Ted Gammon. Mark O'Neill and Madeline Badalaty voted no.

O'Neill spoke out extensively before the vote, echoing Mayor Mahon's fears of a no-vote school budget raising taxes automatically over the next four years.

"The administration has the right now to raise the budget $180,000. That's a lot of money," O'Neill said, calculating 2 percent of the 2011 budget. "I think the budget will go up exactly 2 percent to the penny. "

Mahon briefed the public on his concerns at the beginning of the meeting, saying that if the decision were up to him, he would choose to keep the elections in April and vote on the budget.

"Savings achieved through shared services may not be returned to the taxpayers but instead remain in budgets to fund other items, all without the budget being subject to a vote by the public," Mahon told residents before heading off to the borough council meeting convening simultaneously.

Board member Christopher McCrea voiced a different opinion on the matter, saying that any budget increases would go toward maintaining the quality of the schools.

"Why do you move to this town? Those of you who have children in this school, do you think having great schools keeps your property values up? Do you think that's why people want to stay here, want to live here, want to raise their families here? Or is it because the budgets get slashed, half the teachers go, we've got no band, we've got no play?" McCrea asked.

"Almost 90 percent of our budget is personnel and healthcare. There is no discretionary money. The 2 percent is going to people who educate and mold our children. Do you want them to have zero percent increases forever? Do you think they'll stay here? It's a balance that the governor has put forth and I think it's a good idea. I'm keeping my vote."