Edison Township Tables Ordinance Limiting Time the Public May Address the Council

EDISON, NJ - The township council has tabled an ordinance to limit the time a person may address the council during meetings and eliminate the opportunity for rebuttal. The council unanimously voted to table the proposal and form a subcommittee to discuss revisions to the ordinance.

Councilman John Poyner said the council should form a subcommittee to discuss this ordinance to follow state statutes. The subcommittee would consider comments made by the public and council members, and report to the council with an amended ordinance, according to Poyner.

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The subcommittee will include Councilman Poyner, Council Vice President Margot Harris, and Councilman Asaf Shmuel.

The proposed ordinance would have reduced the time a member of the public may be heard from six minutes to four minutes. The ordinance would also give no rebuttal time to other members of the public.

Currently, members of the public are allowed a three-minute rebuttal period. Rebuttals must be for other members of the public and must be on the same subject. Speakers are permitted one rebuttal per issue, according to the township code.

In the past month, the ordinance has been met with criticism by members of the public and the township council. During Monday's meeting, Harris and Councilman Richard Brescher voiced their concerns about the ordinance.

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“I promise the public, that moving forward in about six months I will only be supporting a mayor and council people that are going to bring back the residents in six minutes. I won't support anyone who is looking to take time away from the public,” Brescher said.

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