Included in the Town website’s agenda packet for Teaneck Council’s 2/25/2025 meeting was language to Amend the current Teaneck Code regulating Special Events/Protests. The amendment was proposed by Council Members Schwartz, Orgen & Katz. It would amend the current 31B of the Code and add a new Section 31B-10 to the code.
When questioned, Township Attorney Scott Salmon acknowledged that he had written only some of the amendment’s language.
Since only 3 of the 7 members of Council agreed to have it proposed for introduction, the amendment died.

However Council then, in a roll call vote, agreed unanimously (Click Here and move cursor to min51) to have the Township attorney propose a professional services contract with an independent constitutional authority review the proposed amendment for its constitutionality. (For some reason this second vote to is NOT currently included  in the proposed draft minutes) 

The proposed ordinance was discussed repeatedly throughout the Council meeting – initially in the Council-listed items agenda, in the Good & Welfare (G&W) public input session and then subsequent Council’s own post-G&W commentary.  At issue were some of the following:

Is this proposed amended ordinance for Special Events Constitutional?
Does it meet the protections guaranteed under the First Amendment?
Why does the proposed ordinance’s add “assembly” as one of the “special events” covered?
Why is it being proposed? (Note: The Whereas Clauses of the proposed resolution cite the increase in protests that have occurred in Teaneck during the last year.  

Voices has created this Post to enable its readers to have better access to this proposed resolution.

Click Here for a copy of the proposed resolution:
Proposed Protests Ordinance – Schwartz, Orgen, Katz 2-25

For readers who want to compare the February 25, 2025 proposed amended Special Events Ordinance with the Townships current Special Events Ordinance, Voices has scanned the current Code’s “Special Events” section.  (Town Code Chapter 31B. Special Events)

Click Here: Existing Special Events Ord – Feb 25-25

Clearly the question of whether and if so how to amend this section of the Township code will again be addressed by this Council At issue, obviously, is whether the proposed amendment is consistent with the 1st amendment to the Constitution. 

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.