School board secretary-treasurer Leonard Neal was dismissed Monday in the culmination of a long-standing “clash of personalities” with trustees.
Hus dismissal, effective on or before January 27, was approved by a 5-1 vote of the board. Trustee Lawrence Leslie of Hedley, ex-chairman of thie board, voted in Mr. Neal’s favour.
Newly elected board chairman George Armstrong of Keremeos today termed the matter “a case of personalities.”
“It’s been building up over a couple of years,” he said. “We feel the taxpayers are behind us.”
Mr. Armstrong denied that his recent temporary disqualification, along with that of another trustee, had any direct bearing on the firing of Mr. Neal. Mr. Armstrong and Charles Finch of Cawston were disqualified from holding office after an informant - never identified - pointed out that both had taxes in arrears.
Both men were re-elected this month after paying their taxes.Mr. Neal said today that he had been “caught in the squeeze of local politics.’
“I’m not happy with the matter,” he said, but declined further comment.
Mr. Neal has been secretary treasurer of District 16 for the past five years, and was a trustee for four years before that. He sold an auto court when he became secretary- treasurer.
His resignation has been submitted, he said.
A replacement has not been found yet, said Mr. Armstrong.