Jersey City residents spoke out Wednesday night against a City Council resolution that would leave it to voters to decide on whether to convert the city’s elected Board of Education into one appointed by the mayor.

Over 100 residents filled council chambers with 75 of them planning to speak during the public comment portion of the the city council meeting.

The city council is hours from voting on the resolution, which some residents are calling a power grab by Mayor Steve Fulop.

Yvonne Balcer said that long ago the board was appointed which became corrupted and the reason the state took over the school district.

“I do agree with the mayor about the problem with the school,” Balcer said. " I do believe he is a part of the problem."

Daryn Martin requested the council discuss the mayor’s record on appointing others to positions. He referred to the appointment of former Gov. Jim McGreevey and Sudhan Thomas to the Jersey City Employment and Training Program.

“Did that turn out well? No,” Martin said. " We are going to watch who votes yes here and in 2021 we will see because you got to run for reelection."

Daryn Martin spoke against the resolution to add a public question to convert the elected school board to an appointed bodyJoshua Rosario

Fulop called the transition a necessary change. He referred to the many controversies the Jersey City Board of Education has faced over the past year, including federal and state charges filed against former board president Thomas and a projected budget shortfall of $150 million.

Board member Joan Terrell-Paige made controversial remarks about the city’s Jewish population following the mass shooting at a kosher market, leading to calls for her resignation. She has ignored those calls and has yet to comment on the matter.

Thomas was charged by state authorities with accepting $35,000 worth of bribes in the form of unreported election contributions. Weeks later, federal authorities accused Thomas of embezzling funds from the Jersey City Employment and Training Program when he served as its acting director last year.

If the resolution is approved and voters opt to convert the school board to an appointed body, it would be the first time in 16 years that a New Jersey school district makes such a change. Only 14 of the state’s 600-plus school boards have members who are appointed by mayors, rather than elected by voters.

Sabrina Harrold, a city employee of 29 years, cited that the city has to give the new school board a chance as some of them just began their terms, referring to Lorenzo Richardson, who was elected the school board’s new president last week. She asked the council why wasn’t this done a year ago.

“They are more than qualified probably more than qualified than anybody that will come before you guys to be appointed,” Harrold said. “Why just now was this idea brought to the table? It’s not fair.”