Deadline Thursday for Candidates to File for Brick BOE Vacancy

Brick Township Board of Education/Schools (Photo: Daniel Nee)

Candidates wishing to fill the seat of former Board of Education member John Talty have until Thursday afternoon to apply.

Talty resigned his seat on the Brick school board in April after his recovery from open heart surgery was not proceeding as quickly as he initially planned. But weeks later, Talty’s recovery improved significantly, leading him to ask that his resignation be rescinded. A deadlocked Board of Education tied 3-3 to reinstate Talty, leading to a board vacancy to be formally declared.

Talty then went through the rare process of applying and interviewing to be appointed back to his own seat, but the board deadlocked again on his reinstatement. Board President Sharon Cantillo and members Karyn Cusanelli and Susan Suter favored returning Talty to the board, while members Frank Pannucci, Jr., Michael Conti and John Barton favored Brenda Calderone for the seat. Calderone ran unsuccessfully for a boat seat in 2012 on a ticket that included Pannucci and Conti.

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At one meeting, board members took seven votes to fill the seat during a marathon meeting, all of which deadlocked 3-3.

With the board unable to choose a candidate to fill the seat, the decision on Talty’s replacement – which could ultimately be Talty himself – will be the decision of interim Ocean County Executive Superintendent of Schools Todd C. Flora, who will conduct his own interviews.

Brick residents who wish to be considered for the seat have until 4 p.m. Thursday afternoon to apply. Those applying should submit a letter of interest and a resume to James Edwards, the district’s business administrator, 101 Hendrickson Avenue, Brick, NJ. Applicants must be a resident of Brick for at least one year, a registered voter in Brick, and a U.S. citizen who is able to read and write.

Whoever is appointed by Flora will serve until Dec. 31. The one remaining year of Talty’s term will be up for a public vote during November’s general election. Including that seat, four board seats – a majority of the seven-member body – will be up for grabs.