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09/26/2017 04:20 PMCiting "bullying tactics" Colby O'Rourke, the chairman of North Branford's Board of Education (BOE) for just over a month, has resigned today, September 26, effective immediately. O'Rourke also withdrew her name from the November, 2017 municipal election ballot, on which she had been listed as a Republican running for re-election to the BOE, according to the North Branford Town Clerk's office.
The Town Clerk's acceptance of O'Rourke's letter of resignation confirmed O'Rourke's decision to immediately resign from the BOE, a board on which she has served for the past three years. On August 17, 2017, the BOE elected O'Rourke as chairperson following the resignation of former BOE chairman Phillip Dahlmeyer, who had moved out of state.
O'Rourke began her tenure as BOE chair during a contentious period in local politics flaring up under the glare of one citizen's efforts, gathered through more than 20 Freedom of Information Act requests, to show documentation reflecting potential discrepencies in policy, practice and procedure involving some town government departments as well as the BOE and some past chairs. Most recently, the Town Council began an investigation into some of the allegations regarding the BOE and Superintendent of Schools (see recent stories here).
In her letter of resignation, O'Rourke stated, in part, "I have been a victim of intimidation tacticks, told to vote a certain way or 'insert a threat,' and most recently received an email that appeared to suggest that decisions I make as Chairwoman are made because I am scared that my children would be retailitated against. The actions and words of many people I am tasked to work with are abusive and slanderous. Most recently, when I (and the rest of the Board of Education) were called an 'accomplice' to perceived crimes in a public Town Council meeting...I hope and pray that the Board of Education can move forward and that the Town council, and the people of North Branford can stop the bullying tactics and focus on what is truly important - moving our Town forward."
Earlier this month, on September 15, BOE member Deborah Prunier resigned, with a one-sentence letter reading "Effective September 15, 2017, I am resigning as a Board of Education member." Prunier, a Democrat, was not running for re-election in the November 2017 municipal elections.
According to Town Clerk Lisa Valenti, the Town Council is tasked with appointing members to boards and commissions when resignations are tendered. O'Rourke's term expires Nov. 14, 2017.
Prunier's seat, which expires in Nov. 2019, will be filled by Town Council appointment through the November 2017 election. In the event that seat remains open following the election, the Town Council would need to appoint a person to fill the remainder of the term, through 2019, explained Valenti.
The BOE is comprised of seven members, with five members needed to constitute a quorum.