Towns Oppose Proposed Changes to Meeting Laws

The Watchung Borough Council has already staked a position against two bills in the legislature that seek to update the Open Public Meetings Act, and more area governing bodies are almost certain to join.

The measures—Assembly bills A-2426 and A-2425—were introduced by Teaneck Democrat Gordon Johnson, and contain changes to the language of the laws governing requirements for all levels of government, as well as schools, state commissions and other authorities to disclose actions and plans to the public.

But Warren Township Clerk Patricia DiRocco, who gave a presentation on the legislation to a May 9 meeting of the Somerset County Governing Officials Association, noted the changes could add some costs as well as create near-impossible notification requirements.

"The bill includes language that requires an estimated time for the start of any public comment portions of meetings be added to agendas," DiRocco said before her presentation last week, adding that is pretty hard to guage since she won't know how much time the Township Committee will take to discuss matters before the public comments.

She said municipalities and agencies could also be required to include recordings in minutes, as well as a statement of the reasons for votes held in meetings.

DiRocco did note the legislation is in the appropriations committee, and may never actually come up for a vote.

"We just have to wait to see if the legislation will pass," she said.  

The Watchung Borough Council approved a resolution opposing the legislation at its May 10 meeting.