Looking to fill two vacant spots on the West Bristol School Building Committee, the panel’s remaining members recently requested the city pick two prominent politicians to take the slots.
The panel is seeking the appointment of former City Councilor Ellen Zoppo and unsuccessful Republican mayoral candidate Ken Johnson to flesh out the panel tasked with finding a site for a new 900-student school in the western part of town.
“I think they’d both be excellent,” said Cliff Block, a freshman Democratic councilor who serves as the liaison to the Board of Education.
Chris Wilson, a school board member who serves on the building committee, said the two would be good choices.
Tom O’Brien, the school board member who has spearheaded the effort to build new schools in town, said that Zoppo has an expertise in the area that would be invaluable.
Block said there is nobody who knows the district, the schools and the players better than Zoppo, who served on the council for three terms before giving up her seat this year in an unsuccessful bid to capture the mayor’s job.
It is unclear whether Mayor Art Ward, who defeated Zoppo in a primary and Johnson in the general election, would back either of the two for the volunteer positions. But both contenders have substantial support on the council.
“It would be a great position for Ellen,” Block said.
Block said that Johnson is excited about the school plans and would make an terrific choice.
The West Bristol committee recommended putting a new kindergarten to eighth grade school on a former sand pit owned by Scalia Construction off Barlow Street this fall. But the council shot down the proposal and sent it back to committee.
O’Brien said he would like to see Wilson figure out if there are any sites that four of the seven council members could agree on for the new school.
The school board plans to open two new schools within the next four or five years and to shutter four older ones: Memorial Boulevard Middle School and three elementary schools: Bingham, O’Connell and Greene-Hills.
The other new school is tentatively slated to be built on the former Crowley auto dealership on Pine Street, next door to the existing Greene-Hills School. The old school would be torn down when the new one is finished.
City councilors may take up the school committee vacancies when they meet Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall.
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Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
43 comments:
Schools are important but not as important as the parks and that is where Zoppo belongs.
But I am sure Ward would prefer to see her and Johnson taking heat on West Bristol so he doesn't have to. Kinda like his council terms - others standing up to take the brunt of the beatings while he stood in the back ground.
NO WAY! I will be definitely doing TIVO on that Council meeting.
I heard Zoppo told the committee she was not interested but they still put forward her name. Why are they bothering? Are they trying to make this political to embarass the mayor?
Zoppo's kids go to public school and she undoubtedly knows the district and has the integrity to do the right thing - her inability to tell the truth and not what people want to hear cost her her seat on the Council and the Mayor's chair but we need more of that in this town. I would think this would be a good choice but I doubt the thugs who suported Artie will let him do this since they are still out for blood.
Why would Ken Johnson be interested in this? I can see Zoppo having an interest and expertise, but Johnson? I thought his kids were out of school.
Zoppo never went to public schools.
Its too bad she's not concentrating on her $50,000 a year job at the Family Center. She's AWOL.
These are two outstanding recommendations. Kudos to the selection committee. Mayor Ward said at his inauguration ceremony that it's time for ALL to come together for the betterment of the city. I can think of no better way than to approve both to the West Bristol School Building Committee.
if zoppo and johnson aren't interested then they would say so - seems as though the undermining of the ward administration has begun by the zoppo/johnson coalition
Looks like Wards democrat party friends are still trying to stick it to him, by promoting two possible 2009 mayoral contenders, both of whom would not feel bad to see Artie squirm.
Zoppo has the credentials, but I do not see what Johnson has to offer.
Of course, it could be helpful to Johnson in his Real Estate business.
1)I take some serious offense to the use of the word "thugs" to describe Arts' supporters.I am NOT a "thug!"
2)I was NEVER "out for blood", as you implied.
Tim Gamache, why do you think it's all about you? You're not a thug, you're just an apologist, and you turned on Ellen to support Ward for no other reason than him being a veteran.
But other Ward supporters close to the campaign are thuggish bullies and others were flunkies who took cheapshots at his opponents right before each vote, and the Bristol Press gave their dirty tactics prime coverage while failing to do the same for Artie's dirty laundry.
People are interested in controversy and scandals and failings by politicians, they make for good and easy journalism, and Ward as Mayor is guaranteed to make the local news reporters' jobs easier and more fulfilling by providing opportunities for plenty of juicy articles, and maybe sell a few more newspapers too.
These are good appointments and I am sure the Dems have kissed and made up by now.....right?
Good point to the poster from 7:22am. Did anyone but me notice that the FOI complaint against Zoppo got dismissed and was only covered in the Courant? Steve, when is the Press going to write the last chapter about this story that started here?
Re the FOI complaint: Planning to cover it next week when the commission makes its decision. I asked for a copy of the preliminary recommendation to post on here but did not receive it.
Sounds like someone's thuggish bullies and flunkies are still alive and well...tsk, tsk, tsk...can't we all just get along? Mayor Ward has been doing a great a job (I know, I know, it's just killing some people). The campaign is over. The majority have spoken. It's all water under the bridge now. Instead of rehashing the past ad nauseam, let's try to pull together for the City and do something positive for a change! Geez guys, it's almost Christmas (Chanukah, Kwanza, etc.),let's all play nice.
I'm sure that if Ken and Ellen are interested Art isn't going to stand in the way of their appointments to the committee.
Gamache, by the sounds of some of these posts, the Zoppo-groupies (FHA members no doubt) are rallying against you. How do you like them now?
I am sure zoppo would make a good choice if she is not interested she needs to shout it out loud not just let the rumer mill go unchecked, if johnson gets in all the people in the park and divinity area better reserve thier trucks now because they will be moving
"Looks like Wards democrat party friends are still trying to stick it to him, by promoting two possible 2009 mayoral contenders, both of whom would not feel bad to see Artie squirm."
How do you figure Republicans Ken Cockayne and Chris Wilson are "Wards [sic] democrat party friends"?
Ward is doing a great job? the only thing he's done so far is cash is new, big paycheck.
12:16
Check the past.
See where these people stood on other issues: Cockayne sure went along with Zoppo on most Park issues, as well as other isues.
Maybe some democrats still want "anyone but Art".
Actually, it sounds like Wilson, Cockayne and Soucy were the committee recommending the names and they are Repubilcans. Very interesting local dynamics.
Cockayne is known is be in synch with Zoppo, Soucy was and is a big Diamantis fan, and Wilson, well Wilson is just out of touch.
Wilson hs done little on the BOE, and seemingly has no concept of reality.
I say, not only watch out Art, but watch out Bristol.
They all need to grow up with 100% of the posters on this blog. Either that find another form of entertainment.
Soucy is a big Zoppo fan too. Everyone knows where Johnson and Zoppo were on this issue so what's the surprise?
My money is that the mayor will do anything in his power to not have these brought up on Tues. night and the West Bristol committee will be left to stew for another month.
We would be lucky to get Zoppo and Johnson. These committees are thankless and require a lot of time and energy. If you don't get the right mix of people and some strong personalities to stem the absurd, then nothing gets done.
Zoppo was on the library building committee and other than the Ken Karle house issue, that is a great project.
Were there any problems with it? If so, I certainly didn't hear of any.
This is a big fork in the road for the Ward adminstration. Take the high road and do the right thing for the city, or take the low road and continue to be insecure about what other people bring to the table. He will doom himself with that attitude. Ellen is an asset to anything she becomes involved with.
If Ward caves in, the school will be on Park Street, will be delayed for some time by acquisition, costs will be higher, and it isn't the best educational site.
We must learn to focus better, and not try to solve one problem at the expense of another.
Also, logic dictates that if Park street is considered, the Boys Club will weigh in and want to be part of the location and process, which puts Zoppo in a sticky position.
Good angle. Maybe that's why the rumor is out there that Ellen said no because of the Boys Club issue. It makes sense that the Boys Club is involved in the West End. Is that a conflict is she does not have a financial interest?
Is Art going to perpetuate the small inclusive group of "good old boys and girls?, or is he going to to open it up to parents and everyday citizens?
Also, Will Johnson be eligible to help with the relocation and therefore benefit financially? Will he be there in the beginning and then step back for financial and conflict reasons as he did with his involvement with the energy thing?
And, if either will be running for mayor, will that not politicize the process?
Why should the Boys Club be closely involved in building a public school? They should have nothing to do with it, just like they shouldn't have had anything to do with the original Downtown plan.
ward should just bring up two more names, instead of these two political back-packs.
Because they need to move, they serve more people from that area, and they do have many school related programs.
Ellen can add to that committee otherwise: what does Ken Johnson bring to the table?
Look at Art Ward's numbers - he squeezes out a win with 300 votes in both the primery and in Nov. after 14 years on the Council and to add insult, most people stayed home instead of voting. Not exactly an overwhelming endorsement of people wanting him as mayor. I wish I was a statistician - what is 52% of a 32% turnout against 0% of 66% who stayed home. I don't know the math answer but the short answer is neither Ellen or Ken are getting on anything in the next 2 years.
Huge decisions like where to put a huge new public school should not depend on or be affected by the needs of the Boys club.
positions of people like block and o'brien show that the rift between the "d's" is still very much existing. did anyone, soucy, cockayne or wilson, ask ward's opinion or is this supposed to be just a "republican thing?"
Politics prevails, at the expense of the students AND the taxpayer.
And, Ward ain't going to resolve it.
Only the people can, when they get fed up enough!!!
This is how it works according to City Ordinances; When a School Building Committee is formed, the Mayor is required to appoint a member of the city council to serve on the Building Committee. Former Mayor Stortz appointed himself to serve on the Building Committee. The Chairperson of the Board of Education appoints a member from the Board of Education. Finally, the Chairperson of the Board of Finance appoints a member from the Board of Finance to serve on the Building Committee. Hence, the first three committee members were Stortz, Wilson and Soucy.
The City Ordinance also states that these three members choose the other six members to serve on the committee based on specific criteria outlined in the City Ordinances.
There was 1 resignation and 1 spot had not been filled. The election came and went, Stortz lost his spot on the Committee and Mayor Ward appointed Ken Cockayne.
That's the basic genesis of a School Building Committee. In Bristol, School Building Committees are comprised of nine members. The West End Committee has only seven members. Therefore, Cockayne, Wilson and Soucy are required to submit two names to the Council. The Mayor or the Council does not submit names. They vote up or down on the names submitted to them.
I may not necessarily agree with the process, but that's what the ordinances state.
Thank you Craig.
Of course Stortz would appoint himself. He had to micro-manage everything and thats why nothing got done.
Stortz appointed himself as a Councilman, perfectly legal and appropriate.
He did his job, worked with BOE and BOF to nominate balance of Committee.
The Committee did their job, they reccomended what they thought was the BEST EDUCATIONAL site to the Council, who had their own agenda, played politics and rejected that site.
Can't see why, other than for political reasons, you say Stortz didn't do his job.
You want the mayor to run the city, but don't want him/her involved.
You don't make sense to me.
Word is that Ken Johnson is now the president of Municipal Energy, again.
Gee, is anyone surprised?????
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