Residents Oppose Ending Second Public Comment At Bernards Township Committee Meeting

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — After the Bernards Township Committee eliminated the public's second opportunity to comment, three residents asked for the decision to be reversed.

The second public comment period, which occurs after business and agenda items are heard, was added to committee meetings three years ago. During the Jan. 4 reorganization meeting, the committee took out this period without any mention of it.

One resident, Cody Smith, accused the committee of trying to bury this action and called their actions "stealthy" as the change was on page 66 of the 82-page consent agenda.

"It was not easy to find. You had to go to that consent agenda and know what you are looking for and look at the reorganization and how the meetings are done to see that it was not there. It wasn't even a black line copy to show what the changes were so I think it was probably not the finest hour," said Smith.

Resident Todd Edelstein also did not approve of the committee's decision to remove second comment.

"I take public comment very seriously especially when the public rarely has the chance to engage their elected leaders in the federal, state, or county," said Todd Edelstein. "I don’t think any one of you guys would consciously work against the best interest of Bernards Township but by removing second comment it was not in the best interest of this town. And I don't accept the excuse of streamlining the meetings as an acceptable excuse."

"The only thing I can think of is you are afraid of any criticism that would follow the township committee, boards and staff comments and reports," said Edelstein. "There is no reason to be afraid of those comments, you don't even have to address them."

Committeeperson Andrew McNally said while he values the public when they speak before the committee he also agrees with the decision to remove second comment.

"While I think that we have an obligation pursuant to law to welcome public comment... we also have a duty to run orderly and efficient meetings and I think that goal is important to us. I support having one public comment per agenda night," said McNally.

Committeeperson Janice Fields said by having one public comment it forces people to come up and discuss a resolution or ordinance prior to a vote. She also defended the committee's transparency.

"I've been here for 30 years and going on my third year on the committee. This is a transparent committee. You can email us, you can call us, we are available in any way," said Fields.

Mayor James Baldassare Jr. concurred saying "there is no hidden meaning or agenda behind removing the second public comment. It is the standard operating procedure in all 10 surrounding municipalities."

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