Final Vote on Galloway Township Invocation Policy Coming Tuesday Night

A final invocation policy has been drafted and will be voted when Galloway Township Council convenes Tuesday night, Feb. 25, 6:30 p.m. at the municipal complex.

The policy is listed as part of the agenda for Tuesday’s meeting, posted on the township’s website. The last few times the policy has been listed on the agenda, it was pulled due to concerns, but a final policy has been drafted and will be up for vote Tuesday night, Councilman Jim McElwee and Councilwoman Whitney Ullman confirmed.

“Our committee had some concerns that were addressed,” Ullman said via email Monday morning. “A resolution has been approved and will be voted on at the meeting.”

"(Solicitor) Mike Fitzgerald sent us the final draft and I'm fine with it," McElwee said. "It's exactly what we sent him as a proposal. It's up for a vote tomorrow night, and hopefully we can implement it at the next meeting."

According to McElwee, if a council member embellishes while reading a prayer, that council member will not legally be covered by the township.

"That will be done on their own," McElwee said. " ... We just wanted to make sure all our bases are covered."

The committee also wanted to clarify that all members of council know that participation in this process is not mandatory.

The committee was chaired by Deputy Mayor Tony Coppola.

The policy became the subject of public scrutiny when invocations by pastors of local congregations ceased. They were replaced by moments of silence.

After an uproar from the community at council meetings, a committee was assembled to come up with a new policy.

Under that council has assembled a list of 35 prayers that meet the benchmark set forth by the Marsh vs. Chambers case of 1983. Some of the prayers are used by Atlantic County, and some were crafted by Galloway Council members.

Each prayer will be read prior to the start of the meeting by council members on a rotating basis, as they were prior to Tom Bassford’s tenure as mayor. New prayers may be introduced into the rotation, but they must first be approved by the township solicitor.

"I already put together an appropriate prayer and it's been added to the list," McElwee said. "That's probably the one I'll use when it's my turn."

The agenda for Tuesday night’s meeting can be found, in its entirety, below:

TOWNSHIP OF GALLOWAY COUNCIL AGENDA- February 26, 2013, 6:30pm

1. Call to Order/Roll Call

2. Open Public Meeting Announcement

On January 8, 2013 notice of the meeting was mailed to the Mainland Journal, the Press & the Current & duly posted in Council Chambers and township website.

3. Moment of Silence

4. Flag Salute

5. Approval of Minutes

A. Regular Minutes – February 12, 2013

B. Closed Session as to content only – February 12, 2013

6. Presentation – GTPD for EHC Police Department

7. Proclamation

Read Across America

8. Work Session

1863-13 Amend Section 5-4 of the Galloway Township Code – Topic of Discussion

9. Council Committee Reports

10. Ordinances for Introduction (First Reading)

None

11. Ordinances for Public Hearing (Second Reading)

1862-13 Repeal and Delete Galloway Twp Code Chapter 51 “Funds”

12. Resolutions

87-13 Payment of Bills in the amt of $775,592.78

88-13 Authorize Council to go into closed session

93-13 Approving adopting a new invocation policy for council

Consent Agenda

Consent Agenda includes items of business which are not controversial & do not require individual discussion. A Motion approving the Consent Agenda is moved, seconded & voted upon as one item by the Township Council. If any discussion is requested on a Consent Agenda item, it is removed from the Consent Agenda to the Regular Agenda.

Resolutions

89-13 Approval to submit grant application

90-13 Release of Performance Guarantee for M&D Galloway Associates

91-13 Authorizing the award of contract to Camey’s AutoWorks, LLC

92-13 Authorizing the cancellation and/or refund of taxes due to overbilling

94-13 Auth Disposal of Items that did not sell on Govdeals

13. Public Hearing and Discussion

14. Motion

None

15. Manager’s Report

16. Council Comments

17. Public Comment

The Galloway Township Council welcomes participation of interested organizations and individuals during regular, as well as, special meetings. However, in order for the Council to conduct the business of the Township in the most productive manner possible, public comment on specific agenda items, questions comments at the end of regular meetings or during special meetings will be limited to five (5) minutes per person. If you wish to address the Council, please step up to the microphone at the appropriate time, and state your name.

18. Closed Session

19. Return to Open Session

20. Adjournment

Ordinances & Resolutions STATEMENTS

1862-13 Repeal and Delete Galloway Twp Code Chapter 51 “Funds”

This Ordinance is repealing and deleting in its entirety Chapter 51, “FUNDS” of the Galloway

Township Code.

89-13 Approval to submit grant application

This Resolution is authorizing the approval to submit a grant application for funding on behalf of the Atlantic County Urban County, the Atlantic County Improvement Authority for the 2013 Community Development Block Grant Program.

90-13 Release of Performance Guarantee for M&D Galloway Associates

This Resolution authorizes the release of performance guarantee in the amt of $64,325.10, as recommended by the Eng, as the site improvements have been completed & maintained.

91-13 Authorizing the award of contract to Camey’s AutoWorks, LLC

This Resolution authorizes the award of contract to Camey’s Autoworks, LLC to perform Fleet Maintenance services; Labor, parts and towing.

92-13 Authorizing the cancellation and/or refund of taxes due to overbilling

This Resolution is authorizing the cancellation and/or refund of taxes due to overbilling of 2011 & 2012 added assessment for the resident at 710 Eagle Point Court.

93-13 Approving adopting a new invocation policy for council

This Resolution is approving adopting a new Invocation Policy for council.

94-13 Auth Disposal of Items that did not sell on Govdeals

This Resolution authorizes the disposal of items that did not sell on govdeals.