New school board wastes no time making changes BY DANIELLE MEDINA Correspondent BRICK TOWNSHIP - Melindo A. Persi wasn't the only one who found himself out of a job after the Board of Education held its reorganization meeting. John C. Sahradnik, of the firm Berry Sahradnik, Kotzas, Riordan & Benson, Toms River, was not reappointed as board counsel, and Thomas E. Monahan of Gilmore & Monahan, Toms River, was not reappointed as special counsel for civil litigation and special education matters for the 2008-09 school year. Instead, NicholasMontenegro, ofMontenegro, Thompson, Montenegro & Genz, Brick, will serve as the board's attorney and special counsel. "I'm back in my favorite seat," Montenegro said at the meeting. "I'm glad to be here." Board President Daniel Woska said that under the terms of the contract,Montenegro will be paid a lump-sum fee of $67,000, which covers all board business, including phone calls, attendance at board meetings, special meetings and administrative business. For litigation, in matters of special education and contracts,Montenegro will be paid an hourly rate of $145. Sahradnik was paid an hourly rate of $140 in 2007-08. "The new board has the right to pick the professionals it is most comfortable with," Woska said Sunday. "Mr. Montenegro's firm previously served the district for 13 years and his firm has been in Brick for 26 years. Both men are competent, but Mr. Montenegro is most competent and his experience as a board attorney is renowned." In comparing the fees of both attorneys, Woska said that Sahradnik's firm was paid $68,000 in 2006-07 for the exact same services. The figures from 2007-08 are not available yet. Because litigation varies year to year, it is difficult to compare costs,Woska said. The board voted 5-0 to hire Montenegro. Board members Allen Atheras and Cynthia McCarthy abstained. The board also approved its meeting schedule for 2008-09. Instead of meeting twice a month, the board will meet once, on the fourth Thursday of the month. "That was actually recommended by Mr. Persi and the administration," Woska said. "The pre-agenda was always missing something. This way gives the administration more time to prepare for the meetings." Woska said that board members and administrators will get electronic access to the agenda as it is being prepared. Once it is complete, the agenda will go "live" on the district's Web site for the public to review. "People can look at it prior to the meeting to see if there is something on there or something that is getting voted on and they can better prepare their questions," Woska said. The meetings will also move from Brick Township High School to the multipurpose room at Lake Riviera Middle School. "The acoustics are better at Lake Riviera," Woska said. "There were also a lot of conflicts with other events going on in the Brick Township High School auditorium, which is why the meetings were moved to the school library." The library has limited space and poor acoustics, he said. In 2008-09, the Board of Education is scheduled to meet on Thursdays on May 22, June 26, July 24, Aug. 28, Sept. 25, Oct. 23, Nov. 20, Dec. 18, Jan. 22, Feb. 26 and March 26. The annual school election will beApril 21, 2009, and the reorganization meeting is scheduled for April 30.