The decision not to re-appoint former district clerk Carol Pane was one of the more contentious issues of the Elmont School Board re-organization meeting last month.

Trustees Frank Ragona, Lorraine Ferrigno and Michael Jaime were in favor of re-appointing Pane to the position. However, trustees Aubrey Phillips, Elsey Mecklembourg-Guibert, Pamela Byer and Carol Parker-Duncanson voted not to re-appoint Pane. The district clerk is a board appointed position each year.

Phillips, Guibert, Byer and Duncanson were prepared to move forward with the appointment of Hilary Yates to the position. Ragona, Ferrigno and Jaime did not feel they were a part of the decision not to re-appoint Pane and appoint Yates and thus a controversy ensued with Ragona asking the other trustees, "What gives you the right to make decisions on your own without speaking to each and every one of us?"

This month, the board has decided on a district clerk and it is neither Pane nor Yates. The board appointed Celestine Lloyd to the position by a 6-0 vote. Ferrigno did not vote because she was not at the meeting the board voted on the appointment.

Lloyd used to work in the central administration offices of the district. She will begin on September 1. Until that time, Annette Sullivan will remain acting district clerk.

- Joe Rizza