WHEREAS, the Council finds that under the current order of business set forth in Section 2-16 of Article II of Chapter 2 of the Code of the Township of Teaneck, the Council has been unable to reach the work session portion of the agenda before 11:00 p.m.; and

WHEREAS, the Council finds that an excessive portion of each meeting is devoted to comments by the public and responses by the Council during “Good and Welfare;” and

WHEREAS, the Township Council of the Township of Teaneck wishes to amend and supplement Article II, “Council,” of Chapter 2 Charter/Administrative Code,” of the Township Code and, specifically Section 2-16 entitled Order of Business, in order establish and fix the order of holding both a “Formal” session and a “Work” session at regular meetings and, as applicable, at special meetings, at which to take formal action and to list matters for discussion and to limit the time that both members of the Council and the public may speak at the “Good and Welfare” portion of the meeting;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Township Council of the Township of Teaneck, Bergen County, New Jersey, as follows:

SECTION 1.              Section 2-16, entitled “Order of Business,” of Article II, “Council,” of Chapter 2, “Charter/Administrative Code,” of the Teaneck Township Code is hereby amended to read in full as follows:

Sec. 2-16. Order of business.

(a)              The business of the Council at regular meetings and, as applicable, at special meetings, shall be taken up for consideration and disposed of in the following order, unless such order is changed by a majority vote of a quorum present of the Council.

(1)               Mayor’s announcement of Open Public Meetings Act statement

(2)  Roll call of Council members in attendance

(3)              Motion to go into closed session

(4)              Closed session discussion

(5)              Motion to return to open session

(6)              Pledge of allegiance

(7)              Mayor’s announcement of Open Public Meetings Act statement

(8)              Roll Call of Council members in attendance

(9)               Proclamations and presentations (if any)

(10)              Work Session items:

a. Miscellaneous.

b. Old business.

c. New business.

d. Communications.

e. Committee reports by Council liaisons.

f. Council-Listed Items

g. Township Manager’s report.

h. Township Attorney’s report (if any)

(11)   Formal Meeting items:

a. Public Hearings and adoption of ordinances

b. Meeting open to the public for Good and Welfare and public input on
any matters on the agenda

c. Consent agenda (Raffles) (Minutes) (Resolutions)  and  (Bill List).

d. Introduction of ordinances

(12)   Adjournment

(b)  Notwithstanding the foregoing, Council may modify the order of business to accommodate the public or to deal with a matter of priority.

(c)  The public shall be allowed to comment for a period not to exceed three (3) minutes per person on such matters for which the law requires a hearing to be conducted.  Under the portion of the meeting open to the public for good and welfare or public input on any matters on the agenda, the public shall be allowed to comment for a period not to exceed three (3) minutes per person on any matter in the nature of good and welfare, whether or not on the agenda, and on any matters on the agenda for a total period not to exceed one hour if needed to entertain public comments as permitted by this section.  At the conclusion of the public comment portion of good and welfare, each Council member may respond for a time period not to exceed three (3) minutes, and thereafter the agenda shall be resumed. During any time the public is allowed to speak, including good and welfare, the Mayor, as presiding officer, shall have discretion to cut off any repetitive, irrelevant or excessive public comment in the interests of allowing members of the public time to speak and completing the public business within a reasonable period of time.

(d)  The close of a meeting shall be 11:00 p.m. in order to permit decisions to be made at a time that is conducive to thoughtful and alert participation by both the public and the Council, unless the Council votes to extend the time for such meeting.

(e)  Official action may be taken may be taken at both the Formal session and the Work session portion of any regular or special meeting.

SECTION 2.              Prior Inconsistent Ordinances Superseded

All ordinances or parts of ordinances contrary to or inconsistent with this ordinance are hereby superseded to the extent of such inconsistency.

SECTION 3.              Invalidity

If any section or provision of this Ordinance be adjudged invalid or unconstitutional, preempted by Federal or State law, or otherwise invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, the same shall not affect the validity of the ordinance as a whole or any other section or provision hereof.

SECTION 4.              Effective Date

This Ordinance shall take effect 20 days following passage and publication, or as otherwise provided by law.

_____________________________

LIZETTE P. PARKER

Mayor

ATTEST:

______________________________

JAIME L. EVELINA, RMC

Township Clerk