LACEY – For the second time in one month, members of the township’s Board of Education had to adjourn their meeting and reschedule it for a hybrid session several days later that be a mix of a live meeting and virtual.
The reason the January Board reorganization meeting and the January 20 session were canceled both involved attendees, including new Board member Salvatore Armato, refusing to wear a COVID protective mask which are required to be worn in school buildings per an executive order by Governor Phil Murphy.
During the latest meeting, audience members gathered at the Lacey Middle School auditorium and the division of those who wore masks to those who refused was apparent.
The session lasted roughly five minutes and Board President Frank Palino asked his fellow board members whether the meeting should continue. In light of the violation of mask wearing, the meeting was adjourned and rescheduled to a mixed virtual/live format four days later at the same location.
“Several individuals will not put on their masks and are not complying with the executive order,” Palino said, calling for a motion to adjourn the January 20 meeting early.
Palino was appointed as this year’s board president during the rescheduled virtual meeting held a week after the aborted reorganization meeting. He filed court charges against Armato, members of his family and a few others who refused to wear a mask during the first reorganization meeting.
Some residents feel Palino’s actions went too far while others applauded the move in an effort to curb other disruptions of Board meetings. An online petition was created via change.org that called for the new board president’s ouster.
Among those facing charges in municipal court is parent Jessica DeLucca who Palino filed a police report on following the January 6 BOE reorganization meeting claiming she didn’t wear a mask. DeLucca told the Asbury Park Press that she did wear a mask during that meeting but people seated near her didn’t.
Palino signed the charges which involve disorderly conduct during the threat or imminence of danger in any emergency that jeopardizes the health, welfare and safety of the people; violating an emergency order (by allegedly not wearing a mask).
The charge also adds that by not wearing a mask it disrupts meetings with intention to disrupt or halt a legal meeting or gathering. Those found in violation of the charges could face a fine of up to $1,000 and up to six months in jail.
Palino said during the rescheduled virtual meeting where Armato was sworn into office and where he assumed the role of Board President, that Armato’s penalty was more severe as he was a Board member.
He added that in both cases, live meetings were canceled due to those who did not wear the masks in violation of the executive order and that it threatened other attendees’ well-being in that anyone COVID positive could spread the virus.
Another resident facing charges by Palino is Richard Bidnick, who previously was chairman of Lacey Citizens for Responsible Government, a citizens group. He and DeLucca intend to fight the charges in court.
Some of the maskless audience members cheered Armato after they left the meeting and held an impromptu gathering outside.
Palino didn’t comment on the cancelation of the night’s meeting. It did not appear that those present without masks would be issued new or additional charges at that time. Previously, Palino vowed to provide the names of those maskless to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office.
Armato told The Southern Ocean Times that “unfortunately I can’t speak. Only the Board President can speak, there is a lot I want to say.”
“We are in support of not wearing a mask,” one man who did not wish to disclose his name said.
Deidre Bahooshian, who was wearing a mask, told The Southern Ocean Times, “I don’t agree with masks. I don’t think they really work but I don’t agree that harassing board members for an executive order that were put in place by the governor.”
She added, “if these people had any guts they would go there and pull this nonsense.”
“I feel everyone has a choice and you should have a choice. We can even follow other CDC guidelines like a restaurant or any other social gathering. We can keep six feet distance apart but I’m not going to have someone like Palino have a power trip toward certain people with disorderly conduct summons,” Kristin Niel said.
“I started the petition (to oust Palino),” Niel said. “I think there are other ways we can come to a mutual understanding and space out everyone. These rooms aren’t that packed that it would be that big of an issue. If people can go to a restaurant and sit at a table together and take their masks off to eat, I’m sure we can sit and space out the same way. We aren’t talking in each other’s faces.”
“If you want to come and wear a mask, wear a mask. I’m for options. If you want to wear it, I’m not going to say ‘don’t,’ but I’m not going to be told I’m wrong because of how I feel. I’m not a dog, I’m not going to be muzzled,” Niel added.
Her friend Mary was shy about providing a last name and said she feared retaliation by Palino with charges. She also echoed Niel’s sentiments about having a choice in mask wearing.
Donna Niel, who spearheaded weekly protest meetings in front of the Lacey Township Hall on Saturday mornings last fall with other residents and supporters, said “we have had enough, let’s keep this momentum going.” Those protests concerned various topics that she said involved the removal of civil liberties across the country.
Outside the school building, residents discussed the idea of the hybrid meeting which Armato explained to them involved those who would be wearing masks being able to be inside the live meeting while others would attend online. One resident commented that the hybrid meeting idea, “was a step in the right direction.”
