jgiordano@rsmercury.com | | Board members Jim Marzeski (left) and Jeff Stone, discuss their dislike of the Mercury and the newspaper’s coverage of the school district at last Wednesday’s board of education meeting. (Photo by Janine Giordano) | |
The Richfield Springs Mercury is still one of the Richfield Springs Central School District’s official newspapers following last Wednesday’s board of education meeting. Resolution One on the Action Items agenda was a proposal to rescind the Mercury as one of the district’s official newspapers. After an executive session that lasted nearly a half hour, Board of Education President Tom Shypski announced the resolution would be tabled pending further discussion. Residents waited for nearly a half hour for last Wednesday’s Richfield Springs Central School District (RSCS) board meeting to continue after Superintendent Robert Barraco called for an executive session at the start of the meeting. When the board returned, Resolution One on the Action Items agenda proposed last month by board member Jeff Stone to rescind the RS Mercury as the district’s legal paper, was tabled for further discussion. At the end of the meeting, board member Jim Marzeski made reference to an editorial written by the Mercury regarding the State Environmental Quality Review procedure. He defended the board even though, he said, referring to the editorial, they are “the foxes in the hen house.” Marzeski then addressed the previously tabled resolution, noting that the board worked diligently on the (bus garage) proposal but it was time to move on. He also suggested that the board keep the resolution on the agenda to entice the Mercury to provide better coverage of the school district and attend more board meetings. Jeff Stone said, “I ditto Jim’s remarks about the Mercury. Everyone knows our comments about the Mercury and how we feel about the Mercury.” According to minutes of the Feb. 28 meeting, Marzeski “referred to various articles in the Mercury and is of the opinion these articles contain negative implications.” The minutes also stated that “at the reorganization meeting in July, he will not support designating the Mercury as one of our official newspapers.” Stone is on record seeking to “rescind the designation of the Mercury as one of our official newspapers.” Former legislator Alex Shields spoke at the board meeting, referring to the Fourth Amendment, which guarantees the right to freedom of the press. He then acknowledged the board, stating they have a thankless job, and he thanked them for their patience and public service.
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