COLTS NECK – A public hearing will be held at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 31 at Colts Neck Town Hall on a proposed ordinance that will establish an attendance policy for non-elected members of local boards, commissions and committees.
The Township Committee may adopt the ordinance following the public hearing. The ordinance was introduced on Jan. 10.
According to the ordinance, a state statute permits municipalities to “adopt … a policy permitting the removal of a member of a board, committee, commission, authority or other agency who has been absent without being excused by a majority of the authorized members of such body for the longer of either six consecutive weeks or three consecutive regular meetings.”
The ordinance pertains to the Planning Board, Zoning Board of Adjustment, Board of Health, Environmental Commission, Shade Tree Commission, Architectural Review Committee, Farmland and Open Space Committee, Historical Preservation Committee, Local Emergency Planning Committee, Recreation Committee and Business Advisory Committee.
Regarding attendance at meetings, the ordinance states that “any member of a municipal board, committee or commission may be removed from their position by the Township Committee for failure to attend meetings without justifiable cause.”
It goes on to state that “in the event a non-elected member is unable to attend a meeting for a valid reason, such as a legitimate illness or business obligation, it shall be the responsibility of that member to notify the secretary of their respective board, commission or committee that he or she will be unable to attend a meeting. An absence will be considered ‘excused’ when approved by a majority of the members of the board, commission or committee.”
As to the removal of an individual from a board, the ordinance states that “in the event a non-elected board, committee or commission member has unexcused absences, the respective board … must notify the Township Committee and affected member in writing within 14 days.
“The affected member shall be entitled to a public hearing before the Township Committee provided he or she requests the same in writing. Should the Township Committee remove a non-elected member of a township board … the Township Committee shall remove (the) member by the adoption of a formal resolution.”
The Township Committee will then fill the vacant position for the unexpired term.
Upon the introduction of the ordinance, Mayor J.P. Bartolomeo said, “These are very important boards and I think some people try things out and maybe they aren’t passionate enough about it and that’s OK.
“What I observed through some digging is that attendance is very fragmented and I think that if you choose to volunteer for something, you commit or you don’t.
“Although sometimes it is difficult to get volunteers, I would rather have a harder time getting volunteers than having the Swiss cheese in the attendance sheets that I unfortunately saw on some important boards,” the mayor said.
Committeeman Michael Viola said, “I think it’s wonderful that people want to serve on boards, committees and commissions, but there is an expectation of participation and I think it is great to have this (ordinance) in place.”
Deputy Mayor Thomas Orgo expressed concern about a volunteer theoretically being able to miss a majority of a board’s meetings during the year, but being allowed to remain on the board under the terms of the proposed ordinance.
“If you have 12 meetings a year, (a person) can miss eight and only attend four meetings a year,” Orgo said.
Township Attorney Meghan Bennett-Clark said this is the extent the governing body can take to mandate an attendance policy. However, she said each board has the right to adopt a stricter attendance policy if its members wish to do so.