Published Tuesday, October 15, 2002
on director
to fill open seat
Herald Staff Writer
After three attempts to fill a vacancy in their ranks, West Middlesex Area School directors decided to let Mercer County's judges decide who will serve out the unexpired term of former director Gary Koncar.
Board members deadlocked Monday after interviewing five candidates for the empty seat. Koncar resigned from the board Sept. 23. He cited job conflicts, personal attacks and negativity as a few of his reasons for leaving.
Directors interviewed five people who applied for the position: former school director Jonathan Fister, J. Wayne Gill, Joe Marzano, Gerald Porter and Barbara L. Sochor.
"It's going to be very hard. They are all excellent candidates," Director Walter Gelesky said before any votes were tallied.
After a little more than an hour of interviews, the board started voting on the candidates. After three rounds of voting, directors found themselves deadlocked. In each round, Fister received four votes and Gill and Marzano each received two. To secure the seat, a candidate needed the support of a majority of board members.
Director Dale Shrawder said he thought Fister would be the best choice for the board. "He has the experience and the term is only for a little bit more than a year. Experience is a big factor," Shrawder said.
Director Arlene Repko said she didn't think Fister would make a good candidate for the same reason. Fister lost his former seat in an election.
"We have to look at what candidates are bringing to the table. There are better candidates than Mr. Fister," Mrs. Repko said.
The board was faced with the decision to either recess and reconvene the meeting at a later date to continue discussions or ask Mercer County Common Pleas Court judges to decide.
The board has to fill the seat within 30 days of accepting Koncar's resignation, creating an Oct. 23 deadline. Directors could have waited until that date to petition the court to appoint someone but Mrs. Repko said she didn't think the votes would change by then.
She made a motion to turn the decision over to the judges now. Gelesky seconded the motion, which passed 5-to-3.
"You've all made our job difficult, as you may well see," Hubert told the candidates.
Since the board sent the decision to the court, anyone who wasn't interviewed Monday night and is interested in the position may submit a letter of interest the court, Hubert said.
Director Connie David said she wasn't aware that others would be allowed to apply for the position, or she wouldn't have voted to send the matter to the court. She asked the board to reconsider, but no one seconded her motion.