The resignation and replacement of a member of the Board of Education is generating controversy among political parties in town.
Colleen J. Lowell, a Republican who was just elected to the board in November, resigned Dec. 22.
In a one-sentence letter to the Town Clerk, Lowell said she was resigning for personal reasons, “effective immediately.”
Fellow Republicans said Lowell resigned because she moved to Milford for a job.
However, Democrats are questioning when Lowell stopped being an Oxford resident.
Lowell was unable to be reached for comment. A publicly-listed phone number for her was disconnected.
Lowell was elected to the school board Nov. 3.
The issue arose after former Democratic school board member Deborah Sherman’s car sustained minor damage after it was struck in the Oxford High School parking lot after a Board of Education meeting Nov. 24.
Sherman went to the police, who reviewed a security camera and determined Lowell backed into Sherman’s car. Police contact Lowell, who cooperated, according to Trooper David Ives.
However, the police report listed Lowell’s address as Milford. Her car registration was listed to an Oxford address.
That raised concerns for Sherman, who, at a Dec. 2 meeting of the Board of Selectmen, asked elected officials what to do if a member of the school board does not reside in Oxford, according to meeting minutes.
There was a Board of Education meeting Dec.8.
Lowell was at the meeting. There was no discussion of Sherman’s concerns.
Republicans said town Democrats are creating an issue where one doesn’t exist.
Voting records list Lowell’s Oxford address. Town GOP Chairman Thomas Kelly said Lowell lived in Oxford — at least until sometime in December, when she called Kelly and said she was resigning from the school board and moving to Milford for professional reasons.
Republican Rose McKinnon, chairman of the Board of Education, echoed Kelly’s comments.
“The way the economy is, Lowell had to make a professional choice. Even though we are not happy, it was her choice.”
However, the controversy does not end with Lowell’s resignation.
The Democratic-controlled Board of Selectmen voted this week 2 – 1 to replace the Republican — with a Democrat.
First Selectwoman Mary Ann Drayton-Rogers and Dave McKane voted to appoint fellow Democrat Kevin Reid. Reid is an attorney and former school board member.
However, in a letter to the Selectman, six of the eight school board members — including Democrat Ted Oczkowski — asked that Republican David Vincent Penry be appointed to fill the vacancy.
Penry ran for the school board in November and received 1,784 votes. That’s 219 more votes than Reid, who also ran unsuccessfully for the board.
In addition, the school board members pointed out that the seat should go to a Republican — particularly an experienced and successful businessman such as Penry.
However, in skipping over Penry, Drayton-Rogers said Reid previously served on the Board of Education (from 2001 to 2005).
“Both are viable candidates,” Drayton-Rogers said. “It is critical that someone understands education issues at the state and local level.”
However, McKinnon, the school board’s chairwoman, isn’t buying it.
“This appointment is disingenuous,” she said. “The voters spoke in November and they wanted Penry over Reid.”
Republican Selectman David Yish tried to appoint Penry — but failed because Drayton-Rogers and McKane voted no.
Reid’s term on the school board will start immediately and run through November 2011.
