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MINUTES
BOARD OF EDUCATION
Special Meeting – March 29, 2004
Riverhead High School Auditorium
PRESENT: President, Mrs. Mary Ellen Harkin; Vice
President, Mrs. Nancy Gassert; Mrs. Kathleen Berezny; Mr. Timothy Griffing;
Mrs. Lori H. Montefusco; and, Mrs. Marypat Takacs.
ABSENT: Mr. Timothy Hubbard.
ALSO PRESENT: Dr. Robert Pinckney, Mr. Joseph Ogeka,
Mrs. Peggie Staib and Ms. Carol Perkins.
President, Mrs. Harkin,
opened the meeting at 6:35 p.m. with the pledge of allegiance to the flag.
A motion was made by Mrs.
Gassert, seconded by Mrs. Montefusco, to appoint Mrs. Berezny as Acting
District Clerk
Yes
6 No 0
Motion
Carried.
A motion was made by Mrs.
Gassert, seconded by Mr. Griffing, to recess to executive session to discuss personnel.
Yes
6 No 0
Motion
Carried.
The Board of Education
recessed to executive session at 6:36 p.m.
A motion was made by Mrs.
Montefusco, seconded by Mrs. Takacs, to return to open session.
Yes
6 No 0
Motion
Carried.
The Board of Education
returned to open session at 7:44 p.m.
There were about 8 people in
attendance.
Pledge of Allegiance
-Kathleen Berezny
-Approved
Recess to
Executive Session
Return to
Open Session
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Minutes
Board of Education
March 29, 2004
Page 2
Board President, Mrs.
Harkin, announced that the Board of Education would recess to executive session
to discuss the budget.
Members of the community
expressed the legality to discuss the budget and exclude public
attendance/input.
A motion was made by Mrs.
Gassert, seconded by Mrs. Takacs to recess to executive session for the purpose
to determine direction of the meeting and whether or not the budget review
would be discussed in executive session or open to the public.
Yes
6 No 0
Motion
Carried.
The Board of Education
recessed to executive session at 8:05 p.m.
A motion was made by Mrs.
Gassert, seconded by Mrs. Takacs to return to open session.
Yes
6 No 0
Motion
Carried.
The Board of Education
returned to open session at 8:34 p.m.
Mrs. Harkins announced that
the Board would once again recess to executive session to discuss only
personnel issues as it pertains to substantial personnel costs proposed in the
preliminary budget. No general
budget issues would be discussed.
She further stated that the
budget in its entirety would be available before the April 20th
board meeting and would also be posted on the website: riverhead.net.
Mrs. Montefusco informed the
community that the preliminary budget initially submitted by Dr. Pinckney
called for a 17% tax levy increase which was unacceptable to the Board of
Education and now required personnel issues budget related to be discussed.
Recess to
Executive Session
Return to
Open Session
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Minutes
Board of Education
March 29, 2004
Page 3
Mrs. Takacs stated that
justification to add or not add positions directly relates to personnel issues
that are executive session topics.
There were 29 positions cut
from the previous year’s budget that have adversely impacted the ability to
educate the children; and, building principals have requested restoration of
some if not all of them.
A motion was made by Mrs.
Gassert, seconded by Mrs. Berezny, to recess to executive session to discuss
personnel matters to discuss personnel issues as they directly relate to the
proposed 2004/05 budget.
Yes
6 No 0
Motion
Carried.
The Board of Education
recessed to executive session at
8:45 p.m.
A motion was made by Mrs.
Montefusco, seconded by Mrs. Gassert, to return to open session,
Yes
6 No 0
Motion
Carried.
The Board of Education
recessed to executive session at 9:20 p.m.
A motion was made by Mrs.
Gassert, seconded by Mr. Griffing, to amend the agenda to include the following
resolutions:
1.) WHEREAS, the Board of
Education of the Riverhead Central School District is proposing the acquisition
of a 1.437-acre parcel, partially developed with a parking area, and located to
the north of the existing Phillips Avenue School; and
Recess to
Executive Session
Return to
Open Session
Amend Agenda
-Add: Lead Agency
Designation
-Add: Adoption of
Negative Declaration
-Approved
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Minutes
Board of Education
March 29, 2004
Page 4
WHEREAS, the acquisition
of the subject parcel would enable the District to continue utilizing the
existing parking thereon, and will increase the District’s flexibility in
playground and athletic field sitting on the Phillips Avenue School property;
and
WHEREAS,
the subject parcel will buffer the school property from the industrial
subdivision to the north; and
WHEREAS, using the Short Environmental Assessment
Form (Parts 1 and 2) and other documents and materials referenced herein and
comparing same with the thresholds set forth in 6 NYCRR §617.4 and §617.5, the
Board of Education has determined that this project is an Unlisted Action; and
WHEREAS,
pursuant to 6 NYCRR Part 617, coordinated review is optional and was not
undertaken by the Board of Education; and
THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED, that, the Board of Education of the Riverhead Central School
District hereby designates itself as lead agency pursuant to the implementing
regulations of the State Environmental Quality Review Act, specifically 6 NYCRR
§617.6, with respect to the proposed acquisition of property on Phillips
Avenue, Town of Southampton, Suffolk County, New York.
2.) WHEREAS, the Board of Education of the
Riverhead Central School District is proposing the acquisition of a 1.437-acre
parcel, partially developed with a parking area, and located to the north of
the existing Phillips Avenue School; and
WHEREAS, the acquisition
of the subject parcel would enable the District to continue utilizing the
existing parking thereon, and will increase the District’s flexibility in
playground and athletic field sitting on the Phillips Avenue School property;
and
WHEREAS,
the subject parcel will buffer the school property from the industrial
subdivision to the north; and
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Minutes
Board
of Education
March
29, 2004
Page
5
WHEREAS,
Parts 1 and 2 of the Short Environmental Assessment Form (EAF) were completed
and consultations were initiated with the New York State Office of Parks,
Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) and the New York State Department
of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC); and
WHEREAS,
the Board of Education of the Riverhead Central School District has designated
itself as lead agency pursuant to the implementing regulations of the State
Environmental Quality Review Act, specifically 6 NYCRR §617.6; and
THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the Riverhead Central School
District, as lead agency for the action contemplated herein, after review of
the proposed action, 6 NYCRR Part 617, and the EAF, hereby determines that the
proposed acquisition of a 1.437-acre parcel and continued utilization of same
for parking, is an Unlisted Action; and
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that based upon the information contained in the EAF, the
Board of Education of the Riverhead Central School District, as Lead Agency for
the action contemplated herein, and after due deliberation and review and
analysis of the EAF, and the criteria set forth in 6 NYCRR §617.7, determines
that the proposed action will not result in significant adverse impacts to the
environment and hereby adopts the annexed Negative Declaration.
Yes
6 No 0
Motion
to Amend Agenda Carried.
A motion was made by Mrs.
Gassert, seconded by Mr. Griffing, to approve the following resolution:
RESOLVED, that the Board of
Education of the Riverhead Central School District accepts the Memorandum of
Grant Conditions between the Riverhead Central School District (grantee) and
The Parent-Child Home Program, Inc. (grant administrator) in the amount of
$30,000 for the grant dates of September 1, 2003
to July 31, 2004.
-Approved
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Minutes
Board of Education
March 29, 2004
Page 6
Yes
6 No 0
Motion
Carried.
A motion was made by Mrs.
Gassert, seconded by Mr. Griffing, to approve the following resolution:
RESOLVED, that on the
recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, the Professional Personnel
recommendation be approved per Supplemental File Personnel Report and is
subject to Board Policy #9310:
Emergency 20-Day
Conditional Appointment
Trevor Hewitt – Music
Teacher, Pulaski Street School, effective
3/30/04-6/25/04.
Yes
6 No 0
Motion
Carried.
A motion was made by Mrs.
Berezny, seconded by Mrs. Gassert, to approve the following resolution:
RESOLVED, that on the
recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, the Civil Service Personnel
recommendation be approved per Supplemental File Personnel Report and is
subject to Board Policy #9310:
Appointment
Michelle Ceparano –
Substitute Bus Driver, effective 3/30/04.
Yes
6 No 0
Motion
Carried.
A motion was made by Mr.
Griffing, seconded by Mrs. Gassert, to approve the following resolutions:
1.) WHEREAS, the Board of
Education of the Riverhead Central School District is proposing the acquisition
of a 1.437-acre parcel, partially developed with a parking area, and located to
the north of the existing Phillips Avenue School; and
Professional
Personnel
Recommendations
-Approved
Civil Service
Personnel
Recommendations
-Approved
Lead Agency
Designation
-Approved
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Minutes
Board of Education
March 29, 2004
Page 7
WHEREAS, the acquisition of
the subject parcel would enable the District to continue utilizing the existing
parking thereon, and will increase the District’s flexibility in playground and
athletic field sitting on the Phillips Avenue School property; and
WHEREAS,
the subject parcel will buffer the school property from the industrial
subdivision to the north; and
WHEREAS, using the Short Environmental Assessment
Form (Parts 1 and 2) and other documents and materials referenced herein and
comparing same with the thresholds set forth in 6 NYCRR §617.4 and §617.5, the
Board of Education has determined that this project is an Unlisted Action; and
WHEREAS,
pursuant to 6 NYCRR Part 617, coordinated review is optional and was not
undertaken by the Board of Education; and
THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED, that, the Board of Education of the Riverhead Central School
District hereby designates itself as lead agency pursuant to the implementing
regulations of the State Environmental Quality Review Act, specifically 6 NYCRR
§617.6, with respect to the proposed acquisition of property on Phillips
Avenue, Town of Southampton, Suffolk County, New York.
2.) WHEREAS, the Board of Education of the
Riverhead Central School District is proposing the acquisition of a 1.437-acre
parcel, partially developed with a parking area, and located to the north of
the existing Phillips Avenue School; and
WHEREAS, the acquisition
of the subject parcel would enable the District to continue utilizing the existing
parking thereon, and will increase the District’s flexibility in playground and
athletic field sitting on the Phillips Avenue School property; and
WHEREAS,
the subject parcel will buffer the school property from the industrial
subdivision to the north; and
-Approved
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Minutes
Board
of Education
March
29, 2004
Page
8
WHEREAS,
Parts 1 and 2 of the Short Environmental Assessment Form (EAF) were completed
and consultations were initiated with the New York State Office of Parks,
Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) and the New York State Department
of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC); and
WHEREAS,
the Board of Education of the Riverhead Central School District has designated
itself as lead agency pursuant to the implementing regulations of the State
Environmental Quality Review Act, specifically 6 NYCRR §617.6; and
THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the Riverhead Central School
District, as lead agency for the action contemplated herein, after review of
the proposed action, 6 NYCRR Part 617, and the EAF, hereby determines that the
proposed acquisition of a 1.437-acre parcel and continued utilization of same
for parking, is an Unlisted Action; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that
based upon the information contained in the EAF, the Board of Education of the
Riverhead Central School District, as Lead Agency for the action contemplated
herein, and after due deliberation and review and analysis of the EAF, and the
criteria set forth in 6 NYCRR §617.7, determines that the proposed action will
not result in significant adverse impacts to the environment and hereby adopts
the annexed Negative Declaration.
Yes
6 No 0
Motion
Carried.
Mrs. Harkin announced the
scheduling of a field trip to Albany on April 27th to further lobby
state officials for equitable state aid and revamping of the state aid
formula. The event will be a bus
trip to Albany beginning at 7 a.m. in front of the High School. Anyone interested in attending can
contact the District Office.
Questions can be directed to her at geohark@yahoo.com.
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Minutes
Board of Education
March 29, 2004
Page 9
A motion was made by Mrs.
Gassert, seconded by Mr. Griffing, to adjourn the meeting.
Yes
6 No 0
Motion
Carried.
The meeting adjourned at
9:52 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathleen Berezny
Acting District Clerk
Adjournment