City Council Proposes A Change In Public Comments

City Council is looking to change the rules as far as the public comments are concerned, by proposing a resolution to adopt revised rules of procedure for the City Council of Hoboken. The resolution is sponsored by Council President Peter Cunningham and seconded by Councilwoman-at-Large Carol Marsh.

Under the revised rules, the public will still have multiple opportunities to talk, explained Corporate Counsel Michael Kates. What will change is that it will no longer be possible to speak on every item of the consent agenda.

According to the resolution, members of the public can sign up on two lists. The public can speak on issues about "good and welfare and agenda items," as well as non-agenda items and new ordinances.

The five minute speaking limit will remain the same under the revised rules. 

The consent agenda is intended to include routine, non-controversial matters that should not cause much discussion, according to the resolution. The public can no longer speak on these issues, if City Council adopts the resolution. Council members can still remove items from the consent agenda.  

Also new is the adjournment time. The resolution states that meetings should end at 11 p.m. (council meetings—more often than not—run later), "in order to permit decisions to be made at a time that is conducive to thoughtful and alert participation by both the public and the Council." In case the Council thinks the meeting should go longer, it needs to vote on it, according to the resolution.

Second Ward Councilwoman Beth Mason, who will not be attending tonight's meeting because of a medical emergency in the family, sent out an e-mail objecting to the resolution.

"Squashing public participation is never an urgent matter under any circumstances for any governing body," Mason wrote. "At the very least, it should tabled for further discussion."