Environmental Commission member John Dale was unsuccessful in asking the Township Committee not to tape commission meetings.
By: Linda Seida
WEST AMWELL Several members of the Environmental Commission are unhappy about having their official meetings taped.
Member John Dale unsuccessfully appealed to the Township Committee Dec. 21 to change the policy. He was the only member of the group to speak out against taping the meetings, but said one of his reasons was some of his fellow members were upset over the policy.
Members of the commission were not asked for their permission before the committee approved the policy to digitally record the meetings about three months ago, according to Mr. Dale. He said he considers the taping a "legal question" that infringes on the right of free speech, stifling open discussion among members, some of whom work for the state and are hesitant to have their comments recorded and archived, which might jeopardize their employment.
Committeeman Gary Bleacher agreed the policy could stifle discussions but upheld it, nonetheless, before offering some advice.
"If the Township Committee, right or wrong, made a decision like that, there is an obligation to follow it," Mr. Bleacher said.
However, Mr. Bleacher continued, if commission members are about to discuss something they don’t want recorded, "just make sure the tape is turned off. Say what you have to say and turn it back on. It’s been done before."
Mayor Nance Palladino seemed to immediately take offense, and she voiced an objection. "I don’t recall us ever. . ."
Mr. Bleacher interrupted, saying he was just being "facetious."
Committeeman Tom Molnar upheld the policy.
"Personally I don’t have a problem with taping it," he said. "I was for it, and I still am."
Mr. Molnar said he recalled an incident that came to light this year when minutes from a volatile joint meeting of the Planning Board and the Township Committee in October 2004 somehow later ended up with three different sets of minutes. Planning Board meetings have long been taped as required by the Municipal Land Use Law.
Recording meetings is "an excellent idea," Mayor Palladino said. "If we say something, we ought to be held accountable for it."
"The real problem seems to be archiving the tapes forever," Mr. Dale told the committee.
Later, Mr. Dale explained he was concerned there might be a repeat of an incident that occurred during the bitter political rivalry before the November election, when one candidate "went back to the minutes from 20 years ago" from Planning Board meetings and used them in the campaign.
Ron Shapella, who is chairman of the Environmental Commission, successfully ran for Township Committee against a former member of the Planning Board, Betty Jane Hunt, who also served as township clerk for more than 20 years.
"Our democratic system relies on openness and public accountability," he later said. "The actions of public officials from 1990 or last week are precisely what West Amwell residents should have a full and accurate record of. We should be clearing away obstacles that would prevent voters and taxpayers from making informed decisions, not creating them."
Mr. Dale told the committee the township is "going overboard" because the state requires only a written accounting of the commission’s minutes, not a verbatim recording.
"It’s not legally required, but a matter of policy decision by the committee," the township’s attorney, Philip Faherty III, explained.
Mr. Shapella agreed permission had not been asked of members before the policy went into effect. Still, he stands by the policy.
"I thought it was a good idea to have more accountability," Mr. Shapella said.
The recordings provide a verbatim record and easier access, he said.
"I see it as a positive that these records are there," he said.
In addition to Environmental Commission meetings, the meetings of other official groups, including the Open Space Advisory Committee and the Affordable Housing Committee, also are recorded. Also taped are meetings of the Township Committee, which began earlier in 2005.
Meetings of the Historic Preservation Committee and the Country Fair Committee are not taped.
"If you’re going to come up with a policy, it should be universal, one way or another," Mr. Dale said.

