The most contentious moment of Tuesday's County Council hearing in Rockville on the proposed sale of the former Robert E. Peary High School came in response to the testimony of Drew Powell.

Powell was a 2007 candidate for mayor of Rockville who served as executive director of the now-defunct political action committee Neighbors for a Better Montgomery.

Powell called the proposed $1.9 million sale of the Peary property to its current tenant, the Melvin J. Berman Hebrew Academy, a "bad deal" for three groups: Taxpayers who he said would see county land "given away." County schoolchildren who he said "may suffer in overcrowded classrooms." And citizens who he said "yearn for fair and honest government."

In referencing "fair and honest government," Powell quoted a 2006 Washington Post article and drew cries of disapproval from audience members, the majority of whom wore green stickers in support of the sale.

The article detailed county spending of nearly $10 million to cover renovations to two former county school buildings that housed programs run by the non-profit Yeshiva of Greater Washington, whose board was at one time led by Jack Abramoff.

"Is this the same thing happening here in this cookie-cutter deal?" Powell asked.

Behnam Dayanim, first vice president of the academy's Board of Directors, diverged for a time from his planned testimony so that he could respond to Powell.

"There has been no implication of any wrongdoing in any of the aspects of the Berman Academy's relationships, conduct or of this transaction. …," he said. "To tar our school and the hardworking members of Montgomery County, parents and citizens who support the Berman Academy, with wrongdoing by people who have no relation to anything that we've been involved with here, is entirely unfair."

Councilman Roger Berliner (D-Dist. 1) of Potomac, in comments directed at Powell, said that he had "not seen any indication that the Berman Academy has acted in a manner that is anything but of the highest ethical standard.

"If you have evidence to the contrary I urge you to bring it forward. If you do not, I suggest that linking these very disparate situations in the manner in which you did does a disservice to this community and to yourself."

"I would like to respond," Powell said.

"There is no response," said County Council President Nancy M. Floreen (D-At large) of Garrett Park, who presided over the hearing.

County Councilman George L. Leventhal (D-At large) of Takoma Park said he could "understand why some elected officials and some community members might confuse the Yeshiva Academy with the Hebrew Academy," though "they have nothing whatsoever to do with each other."

Leventhal (D-At large) of Takoma Park said that he circulated a memo to colleagues "that clarified that the two are not the same in any way and that it just isn't fair or reasonable to conflate the two.

"So although it's understandable, because there are some surface similarities between the two situations, it's understandable that some might make that error, it is an error. And so while I would ask for those in the audience who feel strongly in support of the Berman Academy to understand that it's an easy mistake to make, I would ask those like Mr. Powell who make the error to understand that it's hurtful to those of my faith. It's hurtful."

"I agree with you Mr. Leventhal and Mr. Berliner," Powell said. "And I am not suggesting for a moment that there is any wrongdoing here and three minutes unfortunately — I am not suggesting that. Three minutes doesn't give me the opportunity to state that I think the Melvin J. Berman Hebrew Academy is a fantastic organization and I think it deserves to stay there under the terms of the lease. The only thing I object to is the purchase and all I'm saying is that there are similarities."

"This is not your time, Mr. Powell," Floreen said, interrupting. "And I'm going to ask you to stop because this is not your time."

"There are similarities," Powell said.

"You've had your moment," Floreen said. "Thank you very much. And when you have failed to identify the information that justifies your comment, as Councilmember Berliner has suggested, I suggest you offer this community an apology."

Many in the audience applauded.

The County Council's Management and Fiscal Policy and Education committees will discuss the proposed sale at 9:30 a.m. on Monday. The full council is schedule to vote on the proposal at 1:50 p.m. on Tuesday. Both sessions will be held in the third floor Council Hearing Room of the Stella B. Werner Council Office Building, at 100 Maryland Ave. in Rockville.