Title
Dept/ Agency: Offices of Municipal Council/City Clerk
Action: ( ) Ratifying (X) Authorizing (X) Amending
Type of Service: Declaring Intent - Council Rules
Purpose: Resolution amending the established rules of procedure governing the conduct of meetings of the Municipal Council of the City of Newark.
Additional Information: COVID 19 Protocols at Public Meetings
Sponsor: Council of the Whole
body
WHEREAS, the Open Public Meetings Act requires all meetings of public bodies to be open to the public at all times and envisions active participation of the public at said public meetings; and
WHEREAS, due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Municipal Council of the City of Newark and numerous other municipalities throughout the State of New Jersey have been unable to conduct in person Council meetings for a lengthy period of time, the meetings were closed to the public in compliance with Governor Murphy’s Executive Orders and conducted remotely; and
WHEREAS, the Municipal Council to increase public participation at Council meetings, being aware of the life threatening dangers posed by the pandemic and its transmission capabilities from human contact, has determined by resolution to temporarily amend Council Rules to establish and implement the following for the conduct of future Council meetings, while maximizing protection of Council Members, staff, City Clerk and staff and those members of the public who wish to attend the Council meetings and
WHEREAS, the Office of the City Clerk has advised that it does not have the capabilities to conduct an in person meeting and a virtual meeting simultaneously;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MUNCIPAL COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, THAT:
Section 1. Municipal Council Meetings, including pre-meeting conferences, for the Calendar Year 2022, shall take place in the Council Chambers, City Hall, Newark, New Jersey 07102.
Section 2. Council Members, staff, City Clerk and staff having responsibilities for the conduct of the meeting shall discharge their duties in person at the Council Chambers; shall have had COVID vaccinations (unless, they have declared and filed with the City’s Department of Personnel an exemption declaration, in accordance with MEO-21-0008 (amended) shall observe proper and acceptable social distancing and shall wear a mask; except those Council Members with underlying conditions and other health issues which make them especially susceptible to COVID-19, shall be permitted to participate in the meeting in their official capacity, by telephonic communication. There shall at all times be a physical quorum of Council Members present in the Council Chamber, to ensure that the meeting can commence and be adjourned at the appropriate time.
Section 3. The Municipal Council meetings shall be an in person public meeting - the number of public persons to be admitted shall be determined by social distancing provisions established by the City Clerk, which shall be reasonable in nature.
Section 4. Members of the public who wish to participate in the Hearing of Citizens must do so in person and all other rules pertaining to the Hearing of Citizens, previously established by the Municipal Council shall remain in full force and effect. In order to be admitted to the Council Chambers for the Council meeting, any such member of the public shall wear a mask and practice social distancing.
STATEMENT
A Resolution to establish COVID-19 protocols at in-person meetings.