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Rockaway Borough Board approves new auditor, appoints QPA and Treasurer, accepts personnel changes
Summary
The Rockaway Borough Board of Education selected Lerch, Vinci & Bliss LLP as its auditor, appointed Dr. Giovanni Cusmano as Qualified Purchasing Agent and Timothy Havlusch as Treasurer of School Monies, and approved a package of personnel actions, all passed by roll call.
The Rockaway Borough Board of Education on July 22 approved a slate of finance and personnel actions, including the selection of Lerch, Vinci & Bliss LLP as auditor of record for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the appointment of key district officials.
The vote came as part of a consent motion that passed unanimously among members present: Mrs. Faride Hernandez, Mrs. Vanessa Dorgilles, Mr. Brian Rivieccio and Ms. Jennifer Dahl. Board President Edward Graf was absent with notice.
The resolutions approved the appointment of Dr. Giovanni Cusmano as the district’s Qualified Purchasing Agent after Dr. Cusmano completed required training; the QPA is authorized to award contracts up to the bid threshold of $53,000 and to set the quote threshold at $7,950 under state procurement rules. The agenda text cites P.L. 1999 c.440 and NJSA 18A:18A in describing those authorities.
The Board also approved appointing Timothy Havlusch as Treasurer of School Monies for the 2025-2026 school year, effective July 1, 2025, at a salary of $5,000. Mr. Havlusch later thanked the Board for the appointment and clarified the duties of the Treasurer.
Personnel actions approved in the single consent motion included acceptance of resignations (listed on the agenda: Michael Jones, physical education teacher, effective Sept. 19, 2025 or sooner; Samantha Pizzi, paraprofessional at Lincoln School, effective July 1, 2025), revised ESY positions for 2025, approval of staff professional development and travel requests, and the hire of Casey Layne as a physical education teacher at Lincoln School for the 2025-2026 year (pending required criminal-history and disclosure checks). The agenda also notes completion of the superintendent’s evaluation in accordance with NJ Rev Stat § 18A:17-20.3.
The agenda item to terminate the professional services of Wielkotz and Company for the 2024-2025 audit was listed alongside the selection of Lerch, Vinci & Bliss LLP as auditor of record.
What happens next: the Board’s next regular meeting is scheduled for Aug. 26, 2025; the agenda notes that some administrative reports and supporting documentation will be submitted before that meeting.
Quote: “Thank you for approving me as Treasurer of School Monies,” said Mr. Timothy Havlusch after the vote, adding a brief clarification of the treasurer’s role.
Authorities and procedural citations on the agenda include NJ Rev Stat § 18A:17-20.3; NJAC 6A:23B-1.1; P.L. 1999 c.440; NJSA 18A:18A; P.L. 1986 c.116; and P.L. 2018 c.5 (as referenced in personnel and procurement explanations).
