A fight over a single Board of Education seat has dragged on for nearly a year, cost taxpayers at least $200,000 in legal fees — possibly more than $500,000, according to Democrats — and just took a sharper turn with a new motion asking a judge to disqualify the defendants' own law firm.

When Republican BOE member Karen Kowalski resigned in July 2025, state law gave the board a month to fill her seat with a same-party replacement, or the Board of Selectmen could step in. The board's Democratic majority called a virtual emergency meeting in October and appointed someone — but gave the public only minutes of notice, far short of the 24 hours Connecticut law requires. The very next day, First Selectman Fred Camillo and the Board of Selectmen appointed a different Republican, Paul Cappiali, to that same seat.

The Freedom of Information Commission ruled unanimously that October's meeting was "null and void," calling it a "self-made emergency." Camillo also sued in Stamford Superior Court to have the board's appointment declared invalid — though Cappiali went on to win the seat outright in November's election, which Democrats say makes the whole lawsuit pointless now.

The board deadlocked 4-4 on June 22 over whether to keep negotiating. Accounts differ on why: one board member said continuing the fight "doesn't benefit taxpayers," while Democrats say Camillo rejected an earlier settlement offer and sent his own counterproposal straight to the Republican board chair, who then sat on it for 12 days before revealing it just hours before the vote.

A motion filed July 8 alleges conflicts of interest serious enough to disqualify the law firm representing BOE Chair Michael-Joseph Mercanti-Anthony and Cappiali. No ruling yet, and no hearing date has been set. The board, meanwhile, oversees a $207 million budget — 38% of the town's total spending.