GVI Board Members Reportedly Resign Over Wakeman Farm Controversy

Five members of the board of Green Village Initiative, a local non-profit that promotes environmental education and eco-sustainability, have reportedly resigned over controversy surrounding the renewal of Staples High School teacher Mike Aitkenhead’s contract as operator of .

As of a few weeks ago the GVI board had reportedly decided not to renew its contract with Aitkenhead, who lives in the historic house on the farm with his wife and two children, for reasons that have not been officially disclosed. That, however, resulted in a flood of community support for Aitkenhead and pleas to have him “reinstated” as operator of the farm.

In separate phone interviews yesterday, Dan Levinson, founder of GVI, and board member Sal Gilbertie said they were working with Second Selectwoman Shelly Kassen to get the matter resolved — however they declined to say whether Aitkenhead would continue to operate the farm.

“We’re hopeful we can get this whole thing worked out in such a way that everyone wins,” Gilbertie said, however he declined to go into details.

In an interview last week, Levinson clarified that Aitkenhead, who is salaried by GVI to operate the farm, “wasn’t fired — it’s that his contract simply wasn’t renewed.” He said the decision not to renew the contract was “mutual” and that the GVI board held “no animosity” toward Aitkenhead, who has “done a wonderful job of running the farm” up to this point.

“There’s no smoking gun here,” Levinson said on Friday. “This guy [Aitkenhead] didn’t do anything wrong.”

Although Levinson discussed the rationale for not renewing Aitkenhead’s contract, those comments were off the record.

On Tuesday Levinson said GVI would be issuing an official statement about the matter “over the next few days.”

According to published reports, the five board members who resigned include Marty Yellin, Cathy Talmadge, Sherry Jaegerson, Liz Milwe and Peter Wormser. A report on Westport-News states that they stepped down after GVI leaders offered Aitkenhead a new, revised contract without the full board's knowledge.

The Town of Westport bought the historic, 38-acre farm from the Wakeman Family in 1970. Most of the property, known as Wakeman Park, is now used as playing fields.

When the town signed the deal it reportedly agreed to allow the owners, Isaac and Pearl Wakeman, to live in the 19th century farmhouse on the property until their passing. Isaac Wakeman reportedly died May 7, 2000, at the age of 88, while Pearl Wakeman died in the farmhouse on the property in 2009 at age 90.

GVI leased the 2.2-acre section of the property where the Wakeman’s lived (including the farmhouse and accompanying structures) from the town for a nominal fee starting in 2008. Recently the group completely refurbished the house and restored the farm back to operating condition at its own expense.

GVI maintains numerous gardens on the property, where it teaches Westport students about environmental stewardship and eco-sustainability practices. Crops grown on the farm include tomatoes, onions, strawberries, eggplant and pumpkins, some of which are used by local restaurants.

GVI also operates a community-sharing agriculture program that sells food grown at the Stone Garden Farm in Shelton. In addition it arranges tours of the farm to organizations such as Earthplace.

Aitkenhead, a Staples High School environmental science teacher, has been managing and living on the farm since August 2010. His one-year contract ended June 30 — however GVI initially gave him and his family until the end of August to move out of the house.

Several letters to the editor published on Patch last week included pleas to have Aitkenhead "reinstated" as operator of the farm.

“Regardless of how certain GVI board members feel that the Wakeman Town Farm is doing, there is no doubt that Mr. Aitkenhead has done an excellent job running the property and is without question the best man for the position,” states a , both former interns at the farm and 2011 Staples High School graduates. “He is not only an intelligent and hardworking individual — he is passionate about his teaching and his role as our town farmer.”

When asked Tuesday whether or not Aitkenhead will continue at the farm, Gilbertie said, “All I can say is we’re hoping for a happy ending to all of this — one which will be to the liking of everyone in the community.”

Aitkenhead did not respond by press time to two phone calls requesting comment.