City Council Meeting Procedures (Faulkner Act)

• The Council President is the chairperson for the meeting (not the Mayor)
• The Council normally conducts an agenda meeting, or “workshop session”.
• The public may participate in the meeting only during the public portion normally 15 to 20 minutes.
• Members of the public desiring to speak must give their name and address in an audible tone and shall limit their statement to five minutes.
• Copies of the agenda for each of the meetings are available at all sessions. Copies of ordinances which will have their public hearings are also available to the public. Agendas are prepared by the City Clerk (973) 266-4025).
• City Council will take action on only those items listed on the agenda which is available to the public. Copies are available at the front table in the meeting room or at the City Clerk’s office.  

Manner of addressing the Council
Upon recognition by the Chair, the person shall proceed to the microphone and give his/her name and address for the records. Unless further time is granted by the Council, he/she shall limit his/her statement to five (5) minutes. Statements shall be addressed to the Council as a body and not to any member thereof. No person, other than the chair and the person having the floor shall be permitted to enter into any discussion, without recognition by the chair. A Council member shall not direct any question to a speaker addressing the Council, except through the presiding officer.

Personal and Slanderous Remarks
”Any person making personal, impertinent or slanderous remarks, or who shall become boisterous, while addressing the Council, shall be forthwith, by the presiding officer, barred from further audience before the Council, unless permission to continue be granted by a majority of the Council.”.

Meeting Location
Meetings are held  at City Hall, third floor, Council chambers,  7 pm.

All meetings of the Council are open to the public with the exception of closed sessions. During closed session only the following may be discussed:

• Any matter which by express provision of federal laws or state statute or rule of court shall be rendered confidential.
• Any matter in which the release of information would impair a right to receive funds from the United States.
• Any disclosure of which constitutes an invasion of individual privacy as defined in the Open Public Meetings Act.
• Any collective bargaining agreement, including the negotiations of terms and conditions thereof, with employees or representatives of employees of the Township of East Brunswick.
• Any matter involving the purchase, lease or acquisition of real property with public funds, the setting of banking rates or investment of public funds, where it could adversely affect the public interest if discussion of such matters were disclosed.
• Any tactics and techniques utilized in protecting the safety and property of the public, provided that their disclosure could impair such protection and any investigation of violations or possible violations of the law.
• Any pending or anticipated litigation or contract negotiation in which the Township may become a party and any matters falling within the attorney-client privilege to the extent that confidentiality is required in order for the attorney to exercise his or her ethical duties as a lawyer.
• Any matter involving employment evaluation of the performance of, promotion or disciplining of any current or prospective public employee or officer, unless all the individual employees or appointees whose Rights could be adversely affected request in writing that such matter or matters may be discussed at a public meeting.
• Any deliberation after a public hearing that may result in the imposition of a specific civil penalty or the suspension or loss of a license or permit.