BY JANE MEGGITT
Staff Writer

UPPER FREEHOLD - A Four Seasons resident blasted certain individuals in his development for their actions in the recent Board of Education election.

Reno Zinzarella, 77, a former 28-year superintendent of a Bergen County school district and an active participant in public education for more than 40 years, discussed his concerns with the Upper Freehold Regional Board of Education at its April 19 meeting.

Zinzarella said some members of the Four Seasons community, including resident Gerry Nathanson, formed a committee to focus on township and school issues.

"They were convinced that 387 homes is the largest voting bloc in Upper Freehold Township and they wanted to capitalize on it," Zinzarella said.

Zinzarella said he was concerned that in the recent election, Nathanson, who was also chairman of the Upper Freehold Township Republican Party at the time, "picked Wendy Gansberg to run for the Board of Education."

"He felt strongly that Four Seasons has 'x' number of houses, so we must have a representative on the Board of Education," Zinzarella said.

Nathanson acted as Gansberg's treasurer in the recent election.

When contacted for comment on the matter, Nathanson, who has now resigned as township Republican chair to run for the Republican County Committee seat, said there was "no conflict whatsoever" in his position as treasurer for Gansberg's campaign. He declined to comment any further on the matter.

Zinzarella said no board candidate should have sponsorship from a political party. He said board members have a sworn duty to represent the district as a whole.

"Board members and education are nonpartisan," Zinzarella said.

Newly re-elected Board of Education member Howard Kreiger said he could not agree more with Zinzarella.

"I intended to introduce a change to our board's policy prior to hearing his comments, asking that board members stay out of all politics in our community," Kreiger said.

According to Zinzarella, some residents of Four Seasons have been conducting a "vendetta" against the Board of Education since the passage of the middle school referendum in 2004. He said members of the committee once asked him to run for the Board of Education to help get rid of [former superintendent] Dr. Robert Connelly and to regionalize the school district.

Zinzarella also alleged that individuals in his development lied at recent community meetings and told Four Seasons residents that construction bids for the new school came in over budget.

Board President Jeanette Bressi said bids have not yet gone out for the middle school.

"I think the community should become involved and understand what is happening here, and the potential negative results," Zinzarella said.