Board member’s abuse of power is unacceptable
January 23, 2009
by Richard Bauries
The Monadnock Region School Board, October 21st meeting was chastised by Anika Clark of the Sentinel and right on target; the School Board had it coming. The continuing back door and secret politics by certain board and Administration SAU 38 members will no longer be tolerated by the public or the Monadnock School’s Taxpayers Association (MSTA).
School Board member Karen Cota of Roxbury the Facilities Committee Chairperson for the past several years brought forth the motion both to establish and then fund a new school district position of Project Manager at a cost to the taxpayer of $76,300. which up to now has been a limited outside consulting position. This was done on a default budget that disallows any new financial contractual positions to the district. Ms. Cota created the new Project Manager position in light of her recommendation as Facilities Chairman with the co-operation of fellow committee member William Felton. She then put forth two multi-million dollar construction warrant articles, which will go to the voters in March, 2009. A $12 million warrant for renovations to the Middle/High School and a new $18 million Middle School. Ms. Cota was also not interested in having any public hearings on taxpayers funding the $30.6 million construction projects.
We now know that Karen Cota applied for the new Project Manager position herself, and did not resign her seat on the School Board until after it was brought forth publicly. Also to be noted, the School Board never made any announcement of this issue at its previous meeting even though several members were aware of the application of Ms. Cota. Nor did the Facilities Committee, which she chairs, mention it in the minutes of the meetings. More evidence that minutes are being sanitized by committee chairman and the administration, with the exception of the Finance Committee.
What is sad regarding the above factual information is that Ms. Cota secretly applied for the position herself, while a sitting board member, which is using her authority and position for personal financial gain. This abuse of public trust, known as “Ultra Vires”, (Latin for beyond powers) which would connect with “Pecuniary Benefit”, any advantage in the form of money or favors for economic gain.
Ms. Cota has mentioned publicly at different meetings, that she has no health care insurance, no retirement plan, and in fact could not pay her property taxes in full. However, abuse of her position on the School Board is not a justified manner to obtain compensation and benefits from the taxpayers of the district.
Ms. Cota resigned her position on the School Board only after it was brought forth publicly at the last School Board meeting (Oct. 21st) that she had applied for the Project Manager position. It was all hush-hush until then. The fact that Ms. Cota may be the least qualified for the position does not alter the fact that her credibility has been damaged, along with some members of the School Board and Administration.
Ms. Cota has had little respect or regard for RSA 91A, the Right to Know law and the Open Meeting Law during her tenure on the School Board and as Chairman of the Facilities Committee. In fact, during the October 16, 2008 Finance Committee meeting, she made comment that the public should not be allowed to ask so many questions. This is a very dangerous path for the School Board members to go down. If Ms. Cota is voted into the position in a default budget, with possible abuse of power for personal economic gain as a member of the Monadnock Regional School Board, it would be easy to assume the voters would look at this as a conflict of interest.
This is a most difficult situation for the MRSD, coming when many educators in the district feel that we have turned the corner with a positive attitude. The School Board decision on this matter will go a long way with their creditability among the voters.
Richard E. Bauries
President, MSTA
124 Sawyers Crossing Road
Swanzey, NH