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Penfield board removes superintendent contract amendment from consent agenda after debate
Summary
The Penfield Central School District board voted to remove a proposed amendment to Superintendent Dr. Potter's contract from the consent agenda; the motion passed five to two amid objections centered on whether the removal was handled publicly and consistent with process.
The Penfield Central School District board on June 9 moved to remove an amendment to Superintendent Dr. Potter's contract from the meeting's consent agenda and approved an amended consent agenda without that item.
The motion to remove the amendment was made and seconded during the consent-agenda period. The board chair announced the result as five in favor and two opposed. Board discussion leading up to the vote included claims that a majority of the board did not want the amendment on the agenda and that board member Dr. Elamine Turner had opposed removal efforts prior to the public session.
In a closing statement later in the meeting, the outgoing board president defended the earlier executive-session discussion that led to the proposed amendment and said the item had been placed on the public agenda at counsel's direction. The president said the earlier executive-session discussion had resulted in a unanimous consensus and that his objection to the off-agenda removal was procedural: "My concern was the process," he said, arguing that any decision to remove a publicly posted agenda item should occur in open session.
Board members who moved and seconded the motion argued it was within the board's authority to amend the agenda during the public meeting. The transcript does not record full names for all yes-or-no votes; the tally was announced but individual votes were not consistently attributed in the public record.
The transcript shows the board proceeded with other business after the consent-agenda vote, including approval of routine financial reports and several motions for facility and administrative authorizations.
The meeting concluded with the chair's farewell remarks and an adjournment at approximately 8:00 p.m. The transcript does not show a subsequent formal reconsideration of the removed contract amendment during the public meeting.
The board's action removes the item from tonight's public agenda; the transcript does not specify whether or when the amendment might return to a future agenda.
