Sturbridge Selectman Thomas Creamer said the regional agreement that established the Tantasqua school system gives selectmen the sole authority to make appointments in case of vacancies on the school board.
STURBRIDGE – Both sides in a dispute over filling a vacancy on the Tantasqua Regional School Committee say they have the law and legal opinions on their side.
The Sturbridge Board of Selectmen voted this month to appoint Susan Waters to fill the vacancy left by the death of Francis G. Simanski.
Earlier in the month, the Tantasqua Regional School Committee voted not to seat anyone unless the appointment was the result of a joint action by the Sturbridge selectmen and the remaining Sturbridge members of the regional school committee.
Sturbridge Selectman Thomas Creamer said, “There is no question that this was a legal appointment, and there is no body or committee that has the authority to refuse to seat an individual who was properly appointed under the law.’’
Wales Selectman Michael J. Valanzola, a member of the regional school committee, said his town had an earlier legal opinion saying that in cases of a vacancy on the regional committee, the selectmen of the town with the vacancy will make the appointment in conjunction with the remaining regional committee members from that town.
Creamer pointed to language in the 1952 agreement that established the Tantasqua Regional School District, which says that when vacancies for a position of someone elected to the regional school committee, the vacancy will be filled “by the Selectmen to serve until the next annual town election.’’
“We have an obligation to adhere to an agreement. Barring a new agreement, we cannot be in conflict with the agreement,’’ Creamer said. “This is not a situation where we can pick and choose.’’
Sturbridge Town Administrator Shaun A. Suhoski said that Waters appointment is legal.
“Without question, she has been appointed in accordance with the law and the regional agreement. She has been sworn in by the town clerk. I expect and hope she will take her seat at the next meeting of the regional school committee,’’ Suhoski said.
“There has been some statement that they will not seat Dr. Waters, but that is silly,’’ Suhoski said.
Valanzola said regional school committee members have taken part in votes to fill vacancies in the past and should do so in this case.
“You need to have the input of your school committee members on who is an appropriate person to fill that vacancy,’’ Valanzola said.