April 10th, 2019 by WCBC Radio
The three member majority of the Allegany County Board of Education was chided by a constituent during Tuesday night’s public meeting for disregarding an advisory opinion of the ethics panel. At the last board meeting, board member Debra Frank produced a letter from the panel she received after having sought an opinion on whether or not board members Robert Farrell and Wayne Foote should be permitted to vote on the hire of new legal counsel. Both men are currently involved in cases against the board. At that session, Farrell, Foote and board member David Bohn all voted on the action- retaining the law firm of Geppert McMullen Paye and Getty. Bohn said that the board is not bound by the opinions of the ethics panel. During Tuesday’s session held at Braddock Middle School, Women’s Action Coalition President Joy Kroeger-Mappes was critical of the three member’s dismissive attitude demonstrated toward the ethics panel. She reiterated the opinion that Farrell and Foote not vote on matters pertaining to the attorney. Pointing out that he was not given the opportunity to present his side to the panel, Farrell said in his opinion there is no conflict of interest…
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April 10, 2019 at 10:08 am, mac said:
Does the Board of Education have some actual day to day function? Every news item concerning the board is a constant barrage of back biting, infighting, finger pointing and jockeying for power and position.
Let them go back to basics ensuring that there are enough volley balls for each playground or that the art classes have enough poster board. Then again, that may require more cooperation than this board is capable of.
April 10, 2019 at 3:05 pm, Mike Honcho said:
Imagine that local officials ignoring ethics rules?!? Shocking! The same way that you know who has friends around town and who doesn’t when you see people that embezzle from organizations to the tune of tens of thousands of dollars and get less than a slap on the wrist, what a bad day they might get community service meanwhile somebody who didn’t have generations going to Allegheny or Fort Hill gets in trouble for something minor not only getting a car straight but effectively having their lives ruined for a mistake. Think what you will but not growing up here allows for a different perspective. It would almost be funny if it weren’t for the countless lives that have been ruined because of nepotism and favoritism.
April 15, 2019 at 12:29 pm, Terri said:
WHY pay 4 a service if u don’t or won’t use their recommendations or advice!? WHAT A WASTE of School $$!
*And, in response 2 the ‘locals are 1st’ comment…Well, ur partly Right- BUT I may not know, several Area Elitists went to Bishop Walsh & it’s Definitely NOT All locals given privilege- just the few elites!