Mahwah Board approves consent agenda, minutes; abstentions noted on specific checks and SRO shared service
Summary
The Mahwah Township Board of Education recessed to executive session, reconvened, and approved minutes and the consent agenda (items 18a and 19a–x). Two board members abstained on minutes; one abstained on checks listed in item 18a and another abstained on the SRO shared-service item (18z). Several routine business items were added and approved.
The Mahwah Township Board of Education recessed to executive session and reconvened before approving routine business items on its Oct. 8, 2025 agenda, including minutes and consent resolutions.
Board President called for a motion to recess to executive session; the motion was moved by Mr. Gallo and seconded by Mr. Hughes. The board reconvened to public action approximately 15–20 minutes later; the reconvene motion was moved by Mr. Kismarski and seconded by Mr. Hughes.
During the meeting the board approved minutes from the Sept. 17 meeting (agenda item 17a). The roll-call vote recorded two abstentions on the minutes: Miss Janssen and Dr. Morphy abstained; other members voted yes.
The board then moved and approved the consent agenda under new business (agenda item 18, including 18a). The roll call recorded several yes votes and two recorded abstentions on particular items: Mr. Gallo announced he was abstaining on checks 121168 and 121257 listed under 18a; Mr. Kismarski announced he was abstaining on item 18z, the shared-service agreement with the township for the school resource officer (SRO) program.
Separately, the board approved a set of personnel and operating items under agenda item 19 (19a–x) by roll call with no recorded objections.
Other business noted by the board during the meeting included the addition of agenda item 18l, a transportation agreement with the Mercer County Educational Services Commission that the business office said would save money compared with private contracting; advertisement for an HVAC and refrigeration time-and-materials bid to provide on-call repairs; approval from the district auditor to dispose of records in Building 5 pending state approval; submission of final re-expenditure reports for ESEA Titles I–IV; and completion of the district's comprehensive maintenance plan.
Before adjourning, board policy for public participation (bylaw 0167) was read for the record and the board closed the public comment portion having heard no public speakers that evening. A motion to adjourn was moved by Mr. Kismarski, seconded by Mr. Gallo, and carried.
Votes at a glance: - Motion: Recess to executive session. Mover: Mr. Gallo. Second: Mr. Hughes. Outcome: approved (no public roll-call tally recorded in transcript). - Motion: Reconvene to public meeting. Mover: Mr. Kismarski. Second: Mr. Hughes. Outcome: approved. - Motion: Approve minutes (Sept. 17) (17a). Outcome: approved. Recorded abstentions: Miss Janssen; Dr. Morphy. - Motion: Approve consent agenda (18a and following). Outcome: approved. Reported abstentions: Mr. Gallo (abstained on checks 121168 and 121257 listed under 18a); Mr. Kismarski (abstained on 18z, shared-service SRO program). - Motion: Approve personnel/operating items (19a–x). Outcome: approved (roll-call yes votes recorded for listed members).
