Greenwich Board of Ed Still Without A Chairman

The clock continues to tick as the Greenwich Board of Education hasn't chosen who will lead the eight-member board for the coming year.

Twenty-one days have passed since the Nov. 5 election that saw petition Republican candidate Peter Sherr garner the most votes of the candidates on the ballot. Sherr was one of four candidates sworn in at the Nov. 21 board meeting, when ostensibly the board would elect a chairman.

There was a draw — Democratic board secretary Adriana Ospina received four votes, and Sherr, received the four Republican votes. The board agreed to postpone the chairmanship vote until the Nov. 26 board meeting at the Cos Cob School.

But at the Nov. 26 meeting, newly-elected Democratic member Debbie Appelbaum made the motion to postpone the vote until the board's next meeting on Dec. 5. The motion passed by a vote of 7-1, with Ospina objecting, according to Peter Bernstein, a newly-elected Republican board member who's acting secretary because Ospina is seeking the chairmanship.

Following the meeting, Appelbaum would only say, "It seemed to be in the best interest" to make the motion.

Sherr said, "I would've hoped it would been resolved. I think we need to proceed and bring clarity as to who's going to lead the board." He added, " It's quite clear there's a set of members who want to defer."

If the Board of Education cannot decide upon a leader within 30 days of being sworn into office (on Nov. 21), then the chairmanship will be decided by the Republican-dominate Board of Selectmen. The two Republicans — First Selectman Peter Tesei and Selectman Dave Theis — have pledged their support to Sherr.

Barbara O'Neill, who's become acting chairman by virtue of her previously held vice chairman post, refused to comment on whether she will renew her pursuit of the chairmanship.