[B]URLINGTON — The City Council has agreed to grant School Superintendent Yaw Obeng an indefinite exemption to the city’s residency requirement.
In a 9-3 vote Monday night, the council adopted a resolution proposed by the School Board to allow Obeng to continue to live in South Burlington provided he remain in his current home.
Burlington requires most of its department heads and the school superintendent to reside in the city.
In 2015, the City Council gave the newly hired superintendent three years to relocate from Ottawa to Burlington. However, when he eventually established residence it was in the adjoining city South Burlington.
On May 3, School Board Chair Clare Wool requested the extension on behalf of Obeng, arguing that he had maintained a “sufficient connection” to the community, which was the intent of the residency rules when they enacted.
Wool also said Obeng was seeking to become a U.S. citizen and said having to move during that process would create a significant hardship for him and his family.
Councilor Jane Knodell, P-Central District, who sponsored the resolution, said Obeng was doing a good job and that residency exemptions often come down to a “judgment call.”
“As I consider where we are, where the schools are … if the council votes no, what would we really accomplish?” she asked.
However, Councilor Joan Shannon, D-South District, was skeptical. She said the only reason to request this exemption was because the terms of the last exemption were not fulfilled.
“When we granted the first waiver, Mr. Obeng was moving,” she said. “He was not commuting here from Canada where he lived. We knew he’d be moving to the community and we were assured that he would move to Burlington.
“And with that, it was very reasonable to give the waiver,” Shannon said. “But Obeng did not choose to buy a home in Burlington, he chose to buy one in South Burlington.”
Shannon also said the reasons Wool offered for granting the exemption were dubious, especially in arguing that Obeng was constantly connected to the community through text, email and social media.
Shannon said that was not the kind of community connection that was intended when the residency clause was implemented.
“If these are the standards to which we apply our exemption,” Shannon said, “I don’t really see why anybody would live in the city.”
Shannon questioned Obeng directly as to why he was requesting an extension and why, when he relocated, he bought a house in South Burlington instead of Burlington.
Obeng replied that he had not been informed of the residency requirement when he took the job.
Shannon then read from a letter written by former chair Mark Porter stating that Obeng intended to establish his residency in Burlington, which was a key factor in why the council voted to allow a temporary exemption for him three years ago.
“It seems like there were discussions between you and Mr. Porter, or you and the board saying that you would move here, was that not the case?” she said.
Obeng responded that he had not been made aware of the requirement nor had he spoken to Porter about it.
Shannon was joined in voting against extending the exemption by Sharon Bushor, P-Ward 1, and Max Tracy, P-Ward 2, who said they did so in part to remain consistent in opposing other residency exemptions.
During the public forum, one community member urged the council to reject the resolution.
“If he is going to be making decisions here, his kids should be a part of the school district,” said Mayumi Cornell, whose daughter attended Burlington schools.
Other members supporting the proposal said they were pleased with the work Obeng has been doing.
Correction: The vote was 9-3, not 6-3 as reported earlier.
