Man files misconduct charge against city council for shutting down public comment

A local publisher in Paterson filed criminal charges against the city council for shutting down public comment without allowing him to speak. A motion was made and seconded, and a council vote abruptly closed the public comment portion. Since people typically seek civil remedies when protocol at a public meeting doesn’t meet legal standards, the Read More …

Two Sayreville officials’ failure to recuse may have run afoul of Ethics Law

While they acted transparently, two Sayreville Borough council members may have violated the Local Government Ethics Law by not recusing themselves from a vote benefiting their family members. Had they recused, the motion would not have passed. The vote involved the declaration of five police vacancies and, with that vote, use of an existing less-than-current Read More …

CASE SUMMARY: NJFOG v. Lawrence Township Council

  Case Name:  NJFOG v. Lawrence Township Council Docket Number: MER-L-1832-16 County / Vicinage:  Mercer Filing Date:  September 12, 2016 Presiding Judge:  Jacobson, Mary C. Status:  closed   Overview: The complaint alleges multiple violations of the OPMA and OPRA. OPRA counts were settled by court order in November 2016. Though NJFOG sought summary judgment on Read More …

Mayor: Bloomfield subpoenaed in councilman’s bribery case

Following news of bribery charges involving a Bloomfield Councilman, the Council is planning to adopt a local pay-to-play law (hopefully stronger than the state law) and form a local Ethics Commission. Ethics is a hot topic these days. Search our website to read more about related issues, like ethics reform bill S729 and NJFOG’s petition for Read More …

Gloucester Township Council suppressed citizen’s speech, apparently based on its content.

In this excellent blog post, John Paff describes how the Gloucester Township Council cut off a speaker from talking during public comment and then immediately closed the public comment period, which almost certainly violated that person’s First Amendment right to address the Council as well as the rights of anyone who was still waiting to Read More …