Board ethics conflicts waived

MILLVILLE – The Board of Education voted unanimously this week to allow all members with conflicts of interest to vote on a pending labor contract with district office administrators.

The school board cited the state’s “doctrine of necessity’ to justify the waiver. The “necessity” is that the board otherwise could not act because too few members would be eligible to vote under state ethics guidelines.

The same doctrine recently was used to allow a vote on a contract with the Millville Education Association. Half or more of the 10 board members have real or potential conflicts, which can include being related to an employee or holding positions with a union.

Millville board deals again with conflicts

Solicitor Arnold Robinson said at Monday night's meeting that members can vote on the administrators contract once the ethics waiver is publicly posted for 30 days.

Joseph P. Smith; (856) 563-5252; jsmith@gannettnj.com