The battle over whether Teaneck’s Council’s Subcommittees should be more open has this time been waged openly for more than two years. There are currently 7 Council subcommittees and for more than two decades a Council, majority has worked to keep these Subcommittee meetings closed and been inconsistent in practices associated with where and how the Subcommittees’ work is reported.  

The current Council’s members have taken diverse position about the most recent “transparency” issues. Indeed, Council even did a 180 degree turn by rescinding a resolution that would have effectively ended “closed Subcommittee meetings”. On April 8 the issue probably was resolved for the remainder of this Council’s term. Two very different proposals were proposed to go to the Consent Agenda. Below we provide readers with the text of each proposal. The “weaker” version was chosen but the divisions about this matter persist. The selected version won by an uncontested Consent Agenda vote. 

Selected to go to the Consent Agenda and Approved 

Proposed Resolution: Expand Transparency In Township Council Subcommittee Meetings – Deputy Mayors Belcher & Orgen, Councilwoman Gee

WHEREAS, the Township of Teaneck believes that transparency and public access to
governmental proceedings is essential to good governance and community trust; and
WHEREAS, Township Council subcommittees play a vital role in discussing and
developing policy recommendations for the Township Council; and
WHEREAS, ensuring that subcommittee meetings are properly noticed, documented, and
open to the public strengthens accountability and public engagement.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that:
1. When a subcommittee of the Township Committee schedules a meeting, the
Township Clerk shall advertise said meeting on the Township website and social
media as soon as possible.
2. All such subcommittee meetings shall be open to the public via Zoom or other
similar streaming software. Members of the public shall be able to watch but not
comment. All open portions of meetings shall be recorded and preserved on the
Township website, or through a service such as YouTube.
3. Meetings of the Personnel Subcommittee shall not be open to the public.
4. All subcommittees shall be entitled to go into Closed/Executive Session without
the public present to discuss negotiations, legal matters, or other confidential
information as the subcommittee deems appropriate.
5. The work of all subcommittees and the work of the Township cannot be impeded.
6. Each subcommittee, by and through their Council Liaison, shall be required to
provide an oral report at the next meeting of the Township Council.
7. This Resolution shall be published in the Township’s official newspaper as
required by law within ten days of its passage.
CERTIFICATION
I, Doug Ruccione, Township Clerk for the Township of Teaneck, do hereby certify that the
foregoing resolution was duly adopted by the Township of Teaneck at a meeting held on April 8,
2025, with a quorum being present and voting in the majority.

Defeated – Proposed but Not Placed on the 4/8 Consent Agenda 

Proposed Resolution: Transparency In Subcommittee Meetings –
Councilmembers Goldberg & Pagan
RESOLUTION REGARDING Transparency In Subcommittee Meetings

WHEREAS, for decades, the Teaneck Township Council conducted its business in the open,
seated together around the Clerk’s table, in full view of the public and each other, where every
deliberation could be seen, heard, and scrutinized by the people we serve, because as Justice
Brandeis reminded us, sunshine is the best of disinfectants; and
WHEREAS, this full-body model ensured that Council operated transparently, with no side
rooms, no secret agendas, and no conversations the public couldn’t witness, an approach that
helped build trust, set a tone of ethical leadership, and moved Teaneck forward; and
WHEREAS, in recent years, the Council began relying on subcommittees to handle business that
had traditionally been discussed publicly, leading to decisions shaped in private meetings that
were not noticed, recorded, or accessible to the public, or even to fellow Councilmembers, as
was seen with the original cannabis subcommittee, where repeated requests for information by
then Councilwoman Romney Rice were ignored; and
WHEREAS, on January 14, 2025, a motion to dissolve these subcommittees and return to the
Council’s historic model of open governance failed, prompting the introduction of a resolution to
formally restore transparency; and
WHEREAS, after revisions and collaboration, Resolution 113-2025 was adopted on March 11 by
a 5-2 vote, establishing the first formal policy requiring public notice, access, and documentation
of subcommittee meetings; and
WHEREAS, until then, subcommittees had never been open to the public, despite their growing
role in shaping Township decisions involving public assets and spending, where items were
quietly pushed to the finish line first, and funding figured out after, often leaving the public, and
at times even members of Council, expected to get in line without fully understanding what they
were being told to support; and
WHEREAS, this mirrored a 2020 action by members of the current Council to remove advisory
boards from public view, just as broader community participation was increasing; and
WHEREAS, less than two weeks after Resolution 113-2025 passed, it was rescinded at a budget
meeting with no public notice and no published text, under the guise of logistics; and
WHEREAS, transparency delayed is transparency denied, and access to government should not
depend on who holds the majority; and
11.F.2
Packet Pg. 19
Information Item (ID # 9014) Meeting of April 8, 2025
Page 2
WHEREAS, subcommittees, though informal, routinely influence Township policy, spending,
and development, and must meet clear standards of public accountability if we are to rise for
Teaneck and remain stronger together; and
WHEREAS, while the Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA) does not formally govern
subcommittees, this Council affirms its commitment to abiding by both the letter and spirit of
OPMA, including its narrowly defined exceptions for matters such as litigation and personnel, to
uphold public trust and transparency; and
WHEREAS, this resolution affirms that subcommittees shall not engage in contract negotiations,
funding decisions, or partnership discussions without notice, documentation, and full Council
awareness; and
WHEREAS, modern remote technology makes it easier than ever for the public to access
meetings and records.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Township Council of the Township of
Teaneck that all Council subcommittee meetings shall be reopen to the public, whether the is
held in person or via video, unless a closed session is required under the spirit of OPMA.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that notice of all subcommittee meetings, open or closed, shall
be posted on the Township website at least 24 hours in advance and must include:
– Date, time, and location (including Zoom login if applicable)
– All agenda items for discussion
– A statement clarifying that the subcommittee makes
recommendations only
– If applicable, a closed session citation referencing the specific OPMA
exemption.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Zoom is strongly encouraged for accessibility and automatic
recording. In-person meetings may be held with proper notice and may take place in the
Manager’s conference room, with a Zoom link provided for public viewing. If a recording cannot
be made due to technical failure, the meeting remains valid as long as minutes are taken and
submitted. Format may vary, but transparency must remain consistent.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all open meetings must be recorded (audio or video) and
posted on the Township website within five (5) days. Closed meetings must be recorded and
made available to the full Council within five (5) days and may not be released publicly unless
authorized in writing by the Township Attorney.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that any subcommittee member may take minutes.
Minutes must include:
– Date, time, and location of the meeting

– Names of all individuals present, including Councilmembers, Township staff, and any invited
or participating third parties, including but not limited to developers (and their counsel), vendors,
consultants, attorneys, non-profit representatives (including board members), applicants, and any
other outside individuals or entities involved in the discussion
– A summary of discussions and any recommendations made for Council consideration.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that if no recording is made, minutes must be distributed to
Councilmembers within ten (10) days. Minutes and recordings of open meetings must be posted
within fifteen (15) days. Minutes of closed meetings must be shared with the full Council but not
released publicly unless authorized in writing by the Township Attorney.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, this resolution shall take effect immediately upon adoption.
Adopted this 8th day of April 2025, by the Township Council of Teaneck, New Jersey.