Ordinance To Restore 6 Minutes Public Speaking Time Fails In Edison

EDISON, NJ — An ordinance to restore the six minutes of public speaking time failed on introduction in Edison.

A majority of council members voted ‘no’ on the ordinance on Monday, which was placed on the agenda by Council President Margot Harris.

Late last year, Council adopted an ordinance that limited public speaking time from six to four minutes, with no time for rebuttal.

Council faced public backlash for this move, as many residents pointed out that people who come to speak in front of the council often need more time to express themselves, as English is not their first language.

Limiting public speaking time was an infringement on free speech, residents said.

When Harris was sworn in as Council President, she vowed to restore the public speaking time.

Council Vice President John Poyner, councilmen Joe Coyle, Nishith Patel and Asaf Shmuel voted against the ordinance's introduction.

Poyner said that although he was open to reconsideration, he was going to vote against the ordinance. He said he wanted to see how the four-minute time frame works out.

Coyle said he has not seen anyone who could not fit what they had to say in four minutes.

“I think that anyone can make a point in under four minutes. And I think the four-minute speaking time will encourage more people to come and speak at our council meetings,” Shmuel said.

Harris and councilmen Richard Brescher and Ajay Patil voted in favor of restoring the six minutes.

Brescher said he did not mind sitting and listening to the public for those extra minutes.

“This is for the public. This isn't about letting council people go home early because they don't want to get along with the administration or whatever the problem may be. I'm here for the people. People elected me. I'm here to do their work,” Brescher said.

Meanwhile, Harris said she was “not done” with the ordinance and promised to bring it back at a later date, though she did not specify when.

“It's not about the number of minutes; it's about the way the minutes are handled and the way they're managed,” Harris said.

“Respectfully, I disagree with my council colleagues. No one likes to have their time taken away from them. It's by no fault of the public that this time was taken away from them.”

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