Greg Beck, election night, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2013. Photo: Lisa Weir
BROOKFIELD -- Full-time emergency services dispatcher Gregory Beck, who was just elected to theBoard of Education, has outraged school and town leaders who say they find offensive his Facebook post related to Sandy Hook anniversary tributes.
The outgoing Democratic school board chairman Ray DiStephan said he is so "disgusted'' he wants Beck to relinquish his seat. First Selectman Bill Davidson, who will also be stepping away from his job into a new role as minority selectman on Dec. 2, was equally appalled.
Board of Ethics Chairman Alice Carolan confirmed a request has been made for an investigation.
In response to a Newtown-based proposal for 26 Days of Kindness to honor the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary massacre, Beck's name appears below a Newtown Patch Facebook post that reads, "I shall buy my friends who are gun enthusiasts a box of ammunition for days 1-26.'' The 26 days were to begin Tuesday. Beck's post has since been removed.
"This is outrageous,'' said DiStephan, noting he was speaking as a town leader, parent and 19-year school social worker in New York state. "I'm angry, hurt and disturbed, professionally and personally.
"As a parent, I'm worried about the idea of having a person with the judgement to make such a post making decisions about their education and safety," he said. "I don't think he should be on the Board of Education. He should resign."
Republican Town Committee Chairman and Selectman-elect Marty Flynn was also offended by the post. He said, though, that he has not yet independently ascertained Beck was the author.
Efforts to reach Beck, who is 26, through phone calls to work and home, as well as by email, were not returned Tuesday.
"This is one of the most insensitive, inappropriate comments I've seen, and clearly unbefitting a member of the Board of Education,'' Flynn stated. "If it is true, he owes everyone an apology.''
As for whether it should prompt a call for his resignation, Flynn said that remains to be seen.
"I think he needs to come forward and say whether it is true, and then I would hope he would meet with his fellow Board of Education members and explain what was on his mind. It seems to me these remarks are indefensible.''
A Brookfield Party Chairman Robert Gianazza was more circumspect.
"He's entitled to his own opinion,'' said Gianazza, a former school board member just elected to the Board of Finance. "It's probably not the brightest thing to post on Facebook.''
Yet he said he cannot imagine Beck intended any harm. Rather he suspects it reflects frustration over the use of the Newtown tragedy to push for more restrictions on legitimate gun owners.
"It's time to let this tragedy go. It's painful, it hurts. Let's stop bringing it up every five minutes,'' Gianazza said. "Gun owners are particularly offended because it is unreasonable to expect everyone to give up their guns because one person went berzerk.''
Davidson said he does not think Beck belongs on the education board.
"Board of Education members have the critical responsibility of overseeing and supervising the schooling of Brookfield's children to prepare them for their future life as productive citizens," Davidson said. "Beck does not appear to be prepared to fill this high-level role in our community.''
"If the Republican Town Committee really cared about our town, they would issue a statement of apology," he said. "This matter is another major embarrassment for Brookfield.''
A statement from the Brookfield Republican Town Committee said it "strongly condemns the statements made by Greg Beck on Facebook on 11/19/13 and requests that he step down from the Board of Education in light of making them."
SOURCE:newstimes
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