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 p...
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