RI Central - Felkner booted out of school board meeting

Although he intended on remaining active in both positions, it became apparent Tuesday night that recently elected Hopkinton councilor William J. Felkner will not be able to sit on the Chariho Regional School Committee for the time being.

The committee tried through several motions to have Felkner leave the table and take a seat in the audience with the rest of the public, which included several Hopkinton councilors. But when he would not, outgoing chairman William Day had to treat Felkner like anyone who was impeding district business.

And, after a close vote by the board to gain a consensus, Day motioned to a Richmond police officer to escort Felkner from the property.

“You’re forcing me out? On [Day’s] authority?” Felkner asked the officer, who responded with a “yes, sir” to each question.

As he was being walked out, Felkner continued to protest. “I don’t think you have the authority to do this,” he said to the committee.

Felkner then asked the officer if he could sit in the audience, but his wish was denied. “Wow, [they’re] going to violate a law [sic],” Felkner said while leaving.

The School Committee began its meeting early to deal with Felkner and whether his new status as a town councilor negated his committee seat. According to the committee’s attorney, Jon Anderson, Felkner lost his position on the committee when he took his oath of office Monday night in Hopkinton.

Anderson also addressed the fact that any votes taken with Felkner now in two governing bodies could make Chariho the subject of numerous lawsuits. “It would be better to have one (from Felkner) than many,” Anderson stated.

The committee narrowly voted to disqualif Felkner from participating until it is proven in court or by the state Board of Elections that there is no legal conflict. Day then asked Felkner to vacate the table.

“You’re making a very serious mistake,” Felkner said. “I still consider myself a member of this school committee.”

Then, the committee attempted to go into executive session, which did not happen since Felkner followed the members into their private room.

When they returned to their committee table, member Andrew McQuaide addressed the fact that something had to be done to deal with Felkner. “He has consistently refused to remove himself from this committee. We cannot do business with Felkner on this committee,” McQuaide said.

Felkner continued to argue that he had a rightful spot on the committee and that the town of Hopkinton would lose representation if he was removed.

The committee’s attorney suggested to Felkner that he make his case in a courtroom since the meeting was not the right forum to do so. “You have every right to disagree with my opinion, but the place to exercise your rights is in a courtroom and not disrupting business of the committee,” Anderson said.

At one point, committee newcomer Richard Vecchio motioned to adjourn the meeting. But that was met with a disapproving majority that felt there was business on the agenda that needed to be dealt with. “There is crucial business we need to take care of tonight,” Holly Eaves, who was later named chairwoman, said.

Supt. Barry J. Ricci reiterated that feeling. “You have bills to pay … a parent is here appealing a bus stop. There are things you should do tonight,” he explained.

As McQuaide stated that the board has an obligation to do its job, another newcomer, Deborah Carney, who won in Charlestown via write-in, argued the opposite. She said you could take McQuaide’s argument and apply it to Felkner, who she said was not being treated fairly.

Eaves attempted to solve the dispute by allowing Felkner to sit at the table, though the committee would simply not recognize him as a member. Anderson argued that if Felkner was allowed to sit there, then any member of the public could do just that in the future.