PEABODY — When Ben Russell wasn't reappointed to the planning subcommittee, he brought his questions to the School Committee on Tuesday night.
But reappointment was just a phone call away, said subcommittee Chairman Edward Charest.
Russell, a father of four and an administrator in the Boston public schools, read a two-page letter of his version of events, saying he expressed interest in serving but was rebuffed.
"As an active participant in what has commonly been referred to by Mayor (Michael) Bonfanti's as a blue-ribbon panel of experts, I am caught off guard by my sudden and unexpected removal from this committee," he said.
"I urge you to keep your process public to maintain the integrity of the decisions that the School Committee will make in these difficult financial times."
An offshoot of the School Committee that includes community members, the planning subcommittee has tackled topics like class size and athletic fees.
Charest couldn't respond to the "accusations made against me," until later in the meeting.
"Now, I gotta tell you, I know I'm big and ugly but I'm not unapproachable," Charest said when his chance arrived. "To this day, I haven't received a phone call from this gentleman."
Russell had said he told the former chairman Michael Moutsoulas of his intentions to serve again, and a later e-mail from Moutsoulas didn't include Charest's contact information.
Charest insisted that the others who were named to the subcommittee were asked to call him directly and did.
"If anyone knows me, they know I don't do a lot of e-mail," the chairman said.
Charest said he disliked it because the messages were public and he can't type well.
Russell said he e-mailed the subcommittee's vice chairman, Jarrod Hochman. But Charest didn't want "third-party" requests and told Hochman to have Russell call him.
"Get the point here? One simple call," Charest said.
Besides, three other parents had phoned the chairman seeking appointment to the board. Charest said he was disappointed with the situation because it left a cloud over the group.
After the meeting, Russell said he didn't have Charest's phone number and thought his contact with Hochman satisfied the requirement to be returned to the subcommittee.
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