LYNNFIELD — After a spirited discussion, the School Committee took no action on Town Moderator Joe Markey’s efforts to appoint Lynn Public Schools Director of Health and Wellness Mike Geary as the town’s School Committee representative of Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School (Essex Tech).
Markey wants to replace Gary Hathaway, whose three-year term is up this year.
Markey said he interviewed “a couple of people” before settling on Geary after coming up with a “litmus test.”
“I looked at two things on what would be a great School Committee member,” Markey said. “A person really needs to align with the values of our district and look to Lynnfield’s future for their students. The second criteria I came up with was (to) have the right experience.”
Committee members wasted no time expressing their concerns, chief among them a possible conflict of interest on Markey’s part (who served as a volunteer hockey coach under Geary for three seasons at Essex Tech, and a paid assistant coach under Geary at Wakefield High until about a year and a half ago). They also cited Geary’s failure to list the Essex Tech coaching position on his resume.
The committee also highlighted Hathaway’s outstanding reputation.
“You mentioned one of those points is having a person who has the values of Lynnfield to be the representative on the Essex Tech School Committee,” said Chair Rich Sjoberg. “You’re saying that the current person does not meet those values?”
Sjoberg proceeded to read a letter of endorsement of Hathaway from Essex Tech School Committee Chair Mark Strout on behalf of Riccio, himself, and the entire committee.
“Hathaway has been a valued School Committee member (and) has served your community admirably on our board for many years,” Strout wrote.
He said Hathaway has served as vice chair of the Policy Committee, and also serves on the Finance Committee — a committee that oversees a $30-million budget.
Strout noted Hathaway’s involvement with the Essex Tech Foundation, raising “tens of thousands of dollars and providing much-needed scholarships for our most needy students. Further, Gary’s seniority has provided stability to our very large committee.”
The letter asked that Hathaway be given “every consideration.”
“Gary Hathaway has worked tirelessly for (Essex Tech) and Lynnfield and I am sure if you were to act favorably on reappointing Gary, that you will certainly not be disappointed.”
Sjoberg went on to ask Markey in view of the statement he made about someone who would further represent Lynnfield values, “how do you compare that?”
Markey said Sjoberg “misheard what (he) said.
“I think that that letter is great,” Markey said. “Mr. Hathaway has served honorably and has done a good thing, but I think change is a good thing… change and getting new people involved is a great thing.”
Committee member Jamie Hayman pressed Markey.
“We have a well-respected person in Gary Hathaway who has the support of the superintendent and School Committee. So the litmus test is change for the sake of change?”
Markey had a different opinion.
“As a town moderator who is an elected official… I have a better understanding of what the children in Lynnfield and what parents in Lynnfield and constituents in Lynnfield want as opposed to a superintendent who doesn’t live here and a board who doesn’t live here.”
He said Hathaway “may” have done a great job, but Geary is a “seasoned” administrator.
Sjoberg, Hayman and committee Vice Chair Stacy Dalstedt questioned why Geary didn’t include the Essex Tech coaching job on his resume.
“You listed your time in Lynn and you list your time as a hockey coach currently in Wakefield,” Sjoberg said. “And here you come before us tonight hoping to be appointed to the Essex Tech School Committee but you don’t list on your resume your previous appointment at Essex Tech.”
“It’s very tough to list all the previous employment that I’ve had,” Geary said in response. “I’m definitely not intending to mislead you. It’s very difficult to list them all.”
Geary added that he left to take a “higher-up position” at Wakefield.
Dahlstedt said Strout’s letter was “glowing” and Hathaway has done a “phenomenal job.”
“He comes with the respect of the superintendent and all the committee members,” Dahlstedt said. “Mr. Geary, your resume is impressive and you present some great skills. But I do question why there’s no reference to Essex Tech. I understand you are saying it’s the most recent experience. However this is your interest in obtaining a position on the Essex Tech School Committee so it seems odd to me why there is no reference to (it).”
Regarding a conflict of interest, Hayman cut right to the chase.
“Have you consulted with the State Ethics Commission or filed a disclosure with the town clerk indicating that you are a former employee of Essex Tech and you are appointing your former boss who was also an employee of Essex Tech to the board that oversees Essex Tech? That feels to me like a total conflict of interest.”
Markey said he was a volunteer coach at Essex Tech and was never compensated. He said he coached under Geary at Wakefield High but left due to his full-time law practice.
“We have a well-respected committee member and you have a moderator who was, whether it’s a volunteer or employed, at Essex Tech which without a disclosure, the conflict of interest is pretty clear,” Hayman said. “I don’t know why you left, I don’t know if your contract was renewed or if it was voluntary or involuntary. But the total failure to talk about any of this (has me) struggling.”
Committee member Kate DePrizio said she doesn’t see a conflict, but nonetheless suggested at the end of the meeting that Markey should contact the State Ethics Commission.
Dahlstedt said she believes the relationship has potential for a conflict of interest.
Committee member Phil McQueen recused himself, saying Geary is one of his supervisors.
