On Nov. 17, I was sworn in to the Hopkinton Town Council. I’m also a member of the Chariho Regional School Committee.

On Nov. 18, Bill Day, the outgoing chairman of the latter committee, had me removed from that seat, claiming my service on the Town Council presented a “conflict of interest” (“Ethics board won’t hear Chariho case,” Nov. 21).

Whether the committee has the authority, or even justification, for this action is now a matter for a judge to decide, but for Mr. Day to claim that I have a conflict of interest is the epitome of hypocrisy.

A quick review of the Transparency Train Web site ( www.transparencytrain.org), which contains every budget, payroll, employee contract and check register for each town and school in Rhode Island, shows that Mr. Day’s wife and son both work at Chariho. Furthermore, Mr. Day’s employer also receives compensation from Chariho for his work assisting an individual with special needs working at the school.

Are we to believe that service on two governing bodies representing identical constituencies presents a conflict of interest but someone whose entire family is supported by the school does not?

As a matter of fact, there are several other committee members with similar conflicts. Indeed, the current chairwoman, Holly Eaves, is going to school right now to become a teacher, and the vice chairman, Bob Petit, is related to Chariho’s director of administration and finance.

Since Mr. Day was able to redefine “conflict of interest,” perhaps he has redefined hypocrisy as well.

BILL FELKNER

Ashaway