The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

Local News

January 7, 2009

Pasquerilla foes start petition drive

Move is second try to oust board chief

By Patrick W. Connelly

BROOKFIELD — They’re not, by any stretch, theologian Martin Luther’s 95 Theses.

But Brookfield residents unhappy with the school district’s management hope 88 charges against board President Joseph Pasquerilla will be enough to spur a reformation.

“If he (Pasquerilla) would lose this suit, he would be removed immediately,” Save Our Schools member Gwen Martino said Wednesday afternoon.

Mrs. Martino and other members of the group stood by in an empty storefront in Brookfield Center as residents stopped in to sign a petition supporting Pasquerilla’s ouster.

The petition is the first step in the process for removing an elected official in Ohio.

The petition lists 88 instances where the group believes Pasquerilla has acted out of line since 2005 when he took the seat.

“It’s just things that are outside of his rule as a board member,” Mrs. Martino said.

The group wouldn’t let The Herald read the petition.

The group’s attorney said only Brookfield residents could read them before they become public record when the suit’s filed in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court, Mrs. Martino said.

The instances are primarily from the past year and similar to those outlined in the group’s failed first attempt to unseat the board chief in 2007, she said.

Included are examples where Pasquerilla showed “conduct unbecoming of a board member” and vendettas against various people, Mrs. Martino said, but wouldn’t elaborate.

The charges are about ten typed pages and, according to a Brookfield resident who signed the petition, include itemized violations of Sunshine Law and board policy. Instances where Pasquerilla abused policy, conducted interviews and offered jobs without consulting with other school directors are also spelled out, the resident said.

Once filed in the court, within 30 days a hearing must take place in which a judge or jury would decide if the reasons for removal constitute misconduct.

Because the case involves board action, Pasquerilla would be permitted to use the school district’s attorney, the Ohio School Boards Association said.

He has declined to comment on the recall effort.

The petition will be available for signing again from 3 to 8 p.m. today and Friday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday in the former Movie Zone store at 394 State Route 7 SE.

Save Our Schools hopes to file it later this month and, if they are successful, Mrs. Martino said a period of “healing” can begin in the community and financially stressed school district.

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