Law requires all meetings open for public comment

By jennifer dome
Staff Writer

By jennifer dome
Staff Writer

SOUTH RIVER — Will residents still want to speak to the governing body when there are no cameras rolling?

Maybe not, say some officials.

Still, they took note at a recent Borough Council meeting of new state legislation approved by Gov. James E. McGreevey. The law requires that "all meetings of public bodies … be open to the public at all times."

This would be a change for many municipalities, including South River, where the public is not normally permitted to comment at the Borough Council’s business and committee meetings.

The council’s public meetings, which are the only ones that are televised, include a public comment period. The public is also permitted to comment before the council votes on ordinances, and it can speak to the Zoning and Planning Boards while those bodies deliberate on building applications.

However, the new legislation states that "a municipal governing body shall be required to set aside a portion of every meeting of the municipal governing body, the length of the portion to be determined by the municipal governing body, for public comment on any governmental issue that a member of the public feels may be of concern to the residents of the municipality."

The legislation does allow for some exceptions, such as discussions about an individual’s private records, collective bargaining agreements, employment or purchasing agreements.

The council directed its attorney, Thomas Roselli, at its Sept. 23 meeting, to get a better interpretation of the law. The governing body also honored the bill at the business meeting, opening the floor for public comment for the first time.

Council President David Sliker said he is concerned that having public input throughout certain meetings, such as subcommittee or budget meetings, could make for a bumpier process while officials "hash things out."

"I think it would slow up the process," Sliker said.

Mayor Robert Szegeti said he doesn’t believe many borough residents will take advantage of the public comment portion of business meetings since they are not recorded for television like the public meetings are.

In the past, if a member of the public wanted to address an issue at a business meeting, he or she could contact borough officials ahead of time and be placed on the agenda, Szegeti said. However, most people wait to speak at the public meetings, he said.

"It’s something about the camera," Szegeti said.