Ethics censures for 2 on Holmdel school board
HOLMDEL - Two school board members have been formally censured, or publicly reprimanded, for wrongfully accusing a school employee and the former superintendent of criminal behavior.
School board members Ana Vander Woude and Dennis Pavlik were rebuked during Wednesday night's board meeting. The censures were recommended by an administrative law judge following an investigation that found they broke six of the 10 ethics guidelines that govern school officials.
The state education commissioner and School Ethics Commission affirmed that decision last month, prompting Wednesday's action.
READ MORE: 2 Holmdel school board members censured on ethics charges
Board of Education President Joseph Hammer read the censure resolution, which summarized the ethics violations and required they be read out loud during a public meeting. After the reading, Vander Woude and Pavlik said they were eager to move on from the four-year ordeal. They maintained they had done nothing wrong.
"No one wins," said Pavlik, who is seeking re-election in November. "What it comes down to, it was three years of wasteful, shameful time. ... I just find it very disturbing, we are going to move on now from this nonsense."
Some in the audience disputed that view. During public session, some residents called on Vander Woude and Pavlik to apologize. One demanded they resign.
Vander Woude, who is not seeking re-election to her seat, said she plans to do neither. "It’s been a very difficult time for everyone involved. To say that we were disappointed with the decision is an understatement," she said.
Judge: 2 Holmdel school board members broke rules
In 2012, Vander Woude and Pavlik raised concerns that Meryl Gill, the district's director of special services, was double-dipping and working for another district while on Holmdel's payroll. They also said now-retired Superintendent Barbara Duncan was complicit or negligent in the matter.
Former board president Barbara Garrity and Duncan filed ethics charges against the two saying they had overstepped their authority by alleging criminal conduct before an investigation was complete. A judge agreed and found Vander Woude and Pavlik provided "false impressions to the public" and made references to an unrelated child abuse scandal that "raise public anxiety needlessly."
R. Armen McOmber, the attorney representing Gill, said Vander Woude and Pavlik engaged in "slanderous and outrageous efforts to malign" Gill. "You have no regret for what you’ve done. You’ve learned nothing and it’s outrageous," McOmber added. "I was going to ask you to do the right thing and apologize for your disgusting and reprehensible conduct."
Pavlik at times grew agitated during public session, prompting another board member to urge him to calm down.
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Other members of the public lauded Pavlik and Vander Woude's actions.
"I am so proud of you for raising a concern on behalf of all us," said resident Debbie Rue.
Hammer said the board needed to move on for the sake of the district. "We need as a district to not relitigate this. We have to work together as a board," he said.
But board member Mike Sockol said it was important for all members of the board to understand there's a code of ethics they all have to follow.
"We don't have a choice as to which ones we like and which ones we don't," said Sockol. "How do you move on when the party is saying, 'I was right and I would do it again'? They want redemption, but you can't have redemption without remorse."
Resolution Censure Ethics Commission
Karen Yi: 732-643-4277; kyi@gannettnj.com