Hoboken government – whether in City Hall, the school district, or the Housing Authority – is in a state of transition. Even before former Mayor Peter Cammarano was arrested, the city had new leaders in every position adjusting to their new roles.
For the schools, while the search for a permanent superintendent is underway, interim Superintendent of Schools Peter Carter is finding his way.
Carter has only one year to make his mark on the district. At last week’s school board meeting, after some wrangling, the school board appointed two top-level administrators hand-picked by Carter, an “acting fiscal specialist” and an “acting interim assistant superintendent.”
Back to business
Asked to justify the fiscal specialist position, especially since he will only work four or five days per month, Carter said the fiscal specialist would be his link to the business office and the finances of the district.
Board member Phil DeFalco asked why the district needed someone to oversee the business administrator at $82 per hour, especially for just “one day a week?”
“[It’s] a key position that I need,” Carter told DeFalco. “You have to take my word for it.”
DeFalco, and board members Carmelo Garcia and Frances Rhodes-Kearns voted against the appointment but it still passed.
Business Administrator Brian Buckley was also granted two assistants by the board since he recently lost a senior accountant and an assistant business administrator. The board hired a new senior accountant at $85,000 per year and a fiscal specialist accountant at $65,000 per year to work under Buckley.
Board member Theresa Minutillo said the finance committee met with Buckley to assess the needs of his office and came up with this solution. She also said the board expects to see the district budget in October, “several months earlier than last year.”
Contract in question
DeFalco balked at the contract for the assistant superintendent and Carter rose from the audience to negotiate with him. Carter’s assistant superintendent, Walter Rusak, was slated to be paid $700 per day – without a maximum ceiling – and $75 per hour after 6 p.m. The board’s governance committee approved the contract.
DeFalco asked why there wasn’t a cap on Rusak’s salary, and called the after-hours pay “unheard of.” After a back-and-forth with DeFalco, Carter told the board they could remove the stipulation on after-hours pay, and guaranteed Rusak would be available for board meetings. DeFalco also requested a “not to exceed” limit in the contract, and the board settled on a maximum payout of $120,000.
John Madigan, a resident and parent who was recently released as a printing technician from the district, spoke out during the public portion. He asked why the board hadn’t advertised the two positions filled on behalf of Carter. Vito Gagliardi, special board counsel, said it wasn’t necessary to advertise for interim positions. (Board attorney Joseph Morano was on vacation.)
“So you can just hire anyone without being open to the public?” Madigan asked rhetorically. Madigan asked if Carter had informed the board these two positions would be needed before he was hired.
“It was discussed,” said Board President Rose Markle.
“Interesting we weren’t told,” Madigan said.
Carter had also brought Rusak and Michael Donow, the “acting fiscal specialist,” to the Plainfield district with him as an interim superintendent.
Handing over the curriculum
Outgoing Assistant Superintendent Dr. Anthony Petrosino briefly recapped a massive district curriculum overhaul in response to public criticism that he had not fulfilled a promise he made when he came to the district. He will hand over a new curriculum from kindergarten to 12th grade when he finishes his tenure on Aug. 31, along with Superintendent Jack Raslowsky.
Petrosino said the new comprehensive learning plan is “completely current with state standards” and ready to be implemented this year.
The board expects to see the district budget in October – months earlier than last year.
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He said he leaves behind a group of 40 to 50 teachers who worked on the project and are “well-versed” to adjust the learning plan if needed. He said pilot programs for the new curriculum were successful last year, and that he has periodically updated the board as to the progress of the project.
Paying the coach
At the board meeting in July, Gianni Notaro, a new assistant football coach, told the board that he hadn’t been paid despite having been hired before the summer. At that meeting the board removed a resolution to rescind the coach’s appointment. Notaro told board members he had been hired by the football coach to help with weight room training, but had never been paid. Raslowsky told Notaro that the situation could be taken care of without the board taking any action.
Despite that, days later Notaro received a letter from Athletic Director Mauro DeGennaro informing him that he was no longer employed by the district, although he has still been participating in training sessions.
And at last week’s meeting, Notaro said he still hadn’t been paid, and worse, the board was again considering rescinding his hiring.
A group of football players showed up on Notaro’s behalf, citing his dedication and the spirit he was trying to instill in the team.
The board sent the measure ending Notaro’s job to committee – they tried the same thing at the last meeting only to defer to Raslowsky in the end – and board member Maureen Sullivan told Notaro the board was only attempting to rescind his appointment on the recommendation of his “boss.”
Notaro admitted privately before the meeting that he was at odds with DeGenarro, saying the director was unwilling to pay for work rendered and was intent on removing him.
But Notaro said at the meeting, “Whatever tension there was, I believe, has been resolved.” DeGennaro was not at the meeting and could not be reached for comment. The board promised to review the situation.
Markle said at the meeting, “Things were said here that differ from what we were told.”
Timothy J. Carroll may be reached at tcarroll@hudsonreporter.com.