HOBOKEN — The Hoboken City Council will meet at 7 p.m. tonight with a loaded agenda including muni-meters, budget drop-ins, and a controversial measure that minimizes how much input the public has at council meetings.
Currently, the public can comment on each of any or all agenda items they choose (plus the public portion at the end), but the new rules would only allow members of the public to comment once during the regular meeting on one agenda item, then again at the public portion at the end.
The last council meeting was cut short at 2 a.m. and some agenda items had to be carried until tonight. Part of the council’s proposed changes for meeting procedures might allow meetings to end by 11 p.m. — even if the public has yet to speak.
These changes are in response to long and contentious meetings, but the changes are rousing the ire of many members of the public who believe they impede democracy. In fact, this is the first time that such changes have been proposed, even in prior administrations. So expect tonight’s meeting to be contentious.
You can watch the meeting live right here after 7 p.m. (agenda and backup). — TJC