First Selectman Accuses Democratic Town Committee of Undermining BOE Settlement Talks
Greenwich First Selectman Fred Camillo opened Thursday’s Nov. 12 Board of Selectmen meeting with what seemed like good news regarding the ongoing litigation between the Town and the Board of Education (BOE).
The lawsuit centers on Democratic members of the BOE bypassing the Selectmen's authority to fill a board vacancy—a move that even a subsequent Freedom of Information (FOI) Commission ruling found was done in bad faith by the BOE Democrats.
Mediation Attempt
Camillo announced that following a meeting between BOE Acting Chair Sophie Koven (D) and fellow board member Paul Cappiali (R), a resolution had been reached. Under the terms, BOE Democrats would acknowledge that the Board of Selectmen held the authority to fill the vacancy and would apologize for ignoring the Town Charter and creating the standoff.
Worth noting is that Sophie Koven has an impressive background as a Harvard Law graduate who runs her own mediation practice.
The Unraveling
The truce didn't last long. By midday, the Democratic Town Committee (DTC) issued a defiant statement personally attacking the First Selectman: "What's This About Fred? It's time for Fred Camillo, the plaintiff, to drop the lawsuit."
Camillo Fires Back
The First Selectman quickly responded via an official town press release, pushing back on the narrative that he was the aggressor. Camillo stated that BOE Democrats instigated the legal battle, not the Town:
"The BOE Democrats illegally hired a lawyer and threatened me with a lawsuit while refusing to seat this properly appointed member. They are the ones that escalated this into a court proceeding. Only after they threatened me and the Town did I retain outside counsel."
Between the Lines: The resolution is straightforward: BOE Democrats acknowledge they bypassed the Town Charter and move on. Dragging out costly litigation until the next election only serves political headlines, not Greenwich residents.