Belmont responded that he regretting that happened, and “I don’t believe anyone should be cut off when they’re speaking.” He explained that not all veterans intended to take the exemption if it was passed. “I’m a huge supporter of the military,” he said. “We had people on both sides of the issue saying ‘it’s not right to pass this … it’s not fair to everyone.” Belmont was the only one of the seven-member board who abstained from the vote.

Canty asked Belmont “Where is the rest of the board?” who, he said, he reached out to, and he thanked Belmont for his “courage under fire” when answering questions.

“My letter [to the board] was not a threat,” said Cardone. “We just uninvited the administration.”

In reply to a question about a public vote on this issue, Lynch explained that some decisions can only be made by the board, and they’re not allowed to give that authorization away for a public vote.

Lynch, who also chairs the district’s communication committee, said that they would work on better communication with the public on upcoming meetings, notices and topics up for discussion.