BOE appoints Fred Couse Jr. as member

PINE PLAINS — The Pine Plains Board of Education (BOE) at its meeting on June 20, interviewed candidates to fill the position left vacant by JoAnn Wolfe’s recent resignation, and settled on Fred “Chip” Couse Jr. over candidates Charles Hanlon and previous board member Karen Orton.The interviews were held at 6 p.m., and the board went into executive session before the start of the regular meeting at 7 p.m.After returning from executive session the board opened the floor to public comment.Todd Bowen, one of the candidates who won a spot on the 2012-13 Board of Education during the election on May 15, was unhappy with the way Wolfe’s resignation was handled.“Why couldn’t the [appointment] wait until the new board could vote? These candidates will be working with the new board but the old board gets to place someone in the position. It doesn’t seem right,” he said.Wolfe disagreed with Bowen’s position.“I honestly never even saw it as a new versus old situation. It’s the Board of Education. There’s still members who are on now that will serve next year too,” she said.Bowen persisted, “It just seems fishy. Why the rush to put someone in the position? She’s been talking about this all year and then she waits until after the election to resign. Everyone knew she was leaving so why wait until after the election? She has missed a ton of meetings. Everyone knew this was happening. It’s a shame.”Frank Kirschenheiter, who also won a spot on the 2012-13 election at the same time as Bowen, was also apparently unhappy with the situation: “Way to bypass the election. It’s totally un-American.”Board President Bruce Kimball, who did not seek re-election, tried to clarify the issue.“When a board member resigns there are three options. You can let the seat sit empty, which is a waste. You can hold a special election, which we’ve never done because of the cost. Or you can appoint someone. This is what has been done in the past, it keeps the board full and it doesn’t cost anything. This is nothing new, it’s what’s always been done,” he said.Kimball then tried to move forward with the meeting, prompting more ire from Bowen.“Really? You’re going to just move on?” Bowen asked.Kimball stood his ground, ending the conversation on the appointment and opening up the floor for others to voice issues.After the regular items on the agenda were covered and another executive session held, the motion was made to appoint Couse and was unanimously approved.The audience applauded.BOE member Helene McQuade, who also chose not to re-run in the May 15 election, acknowledged all the candidates.“We’d like to thank all three of you. You’re all highly qualified. It was not a decision that was made easily or lightly,” she said.