Easy Come, Easy Go: First Livingston In-Person Council Meeting Canceled Due To COVID

LIVINGSTON, NJ — Two weeks ago, Livingston Township officials decided to return to in-person council meetings as of this week — but as COVID-19 case numbers rise amid the omicron variant, they decided on Monday to cancel the meeting.

The council said they'll deal with the items on the agenda (see below) at future meetings next year.

The County of Essex reported Monday that Livingston had confirmed 38 new cases of COVID since the day before, according to the chart above. Cases are rising nationwide amid the highly transmissible variant, with the daily death rate highest right now in Michigan, Montana, Arizona, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania. Read the state rankings here.

In America, as of Sunday, 806,000 Americans have died of COVID since the start of the pandemic.

"After steady progress and lower case totals," said a message from the council Monday, "together with the successful acquisition and implementation of the necessary technology, the Township Council two weeks ago decided to return to an in person council meeting for tonight, with the ability to live stream the meeting in real time for public viewing. However, public participation would have to be in person through attendance at the meeting.

"Unfortunately, in the last two weeks, and even more so in the last few days, the number of new COVID cases in New Jersey has exploded ... The most recent three-day (December 17, 18 and 19) average number of new cases was 7,462 cases per day, or nearly double the average from just a week ago. Importantly, the number of new cases on each of the past three days were among the five highest one-day totals since the onset of the pandemic.

"Under these circumstances, the Township Council could not justify holding the in person meeting and requiring the public to attend to participate, particularly with matters of significant public interest on the agenda."

Due to the state's Open Public Meetings Act, the town can't change the format without advance notice, they noted.

All matters listed on meeting agenda will be deferred to future meetings.

"The Mayor and Council know that this decision is necessary and in the best interest of the public health and safety," said the mesasge. "The Township Council wishes the entire community a happy, healthy and safe holiday season."

These items were on the agenda:

• Amending and Supplementing Ch 170 of the Code of the Township of
  Livingston by Establishing a New Inclusionary Development Zone Designated as the R-5L Residence Overlay District
• Authorizing the Private Sale of Township Owned Real Property to Habitat
  for Humanity, Inc., South Ashby Avenue
• Adopting the Cedar Street Commons Redevelopment Plan Amendment
• Authorizing the Acceptance of Certain Easements

Some of these items were on the agenda for the previous, remote meeting.

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