Letter: David Pinney Resigns From Somers Board of Education

On Monday, November 28, 2011, David Pinney submitted to David Palmer, Chairman of the Somers Board of Education, a letter of resignation from that board. The body of the letter is included here:

Dear Chairman Palmer,

Although only recently elected to the , I have had cause to revisit areas of concern that force me to choose between being a member of this board or remaining a full and active member of the Somers Housing Authority and Woodcrest Elderly Housing. Legally, I cannot do both, given that state statutes require that a commissioner on the Housing Authority not be a member of any other town board or commission.

I agreed to because there are many challenges facing the board and I thought my experience here could be of assistance. Since leaving the board in 2003, however, I have been continuously and intimately involved in the ongoing effort to provide a meaningful supply of safe, attractive housing for low income elderly and disabled citizens. I had hoped I could step away from that involvement to some extent and still be actively involved in helping assure the project’s continued success.

Recent events, such as two periods of multi-day power outages at and the reduction in winter heating assistance for the residents demonstrate the need for sustained close engagement by housing authority members to assure that the needs of the residents are appropriately met. Of even greater concern are recent indications that misunderstandings regarding how development and operations at Woodcrest are organized have and continue to prompt opposition to Woodcrest as an effort to provide for some of the neediest citizens among us. This is of particular concern when it shows up among members of town government, as it undermines town involvement in helping meet the needs of these citizens.

There are challenges of similar or greater importance facing the school board as it takes responsibility for guiding the school district in efforts to help our children prepare to effectively pursue their own well-being while also contributing to the well-being of their communities. Marshaling and directing available resources and technologies in the face of competing, often conflicting demands from federal and state mandates, decreased financial support, increased parental expectations, along with increasing reluctance among taxpayers to fill the gaps, creates substantial challenges and opportunities for the board to take up.

I was looking forward to participating in those efforts, but I cannot so both. It is with considerable regret that I hereby submit my resignation from the Somers Board of Education.

Best Regards,

David Pinney