Abstentions and Recusals: How do they count toward the vote tally and quorum?

If a town council has 5 members, and 2 vote yes and 3 abstain or recuse, did the motion pass?  Was there a quorum for the purposes of the vote?  Is an abstention considered a yes vote, a no vote, or neither?  These are common questions.  Current guidance is murky, however, and calls for legislation. Read More …

Lawsuit claims that Bridgeton violated Open Public Meetings Act

NJFOG posted last fall about the financial trouble and mismanagement at the Bridgeton Port Authority, which has not been operating for some time.  The Authority’s board was re-formed in recent years with appointees consisting mainly of city council members, who are now being sued for their failure to disclose at public meetings the sale of Read More …

Bridgeton Port Authority woefully mismanaged

The Bridgeton Port Authority has not been operating for years.  They have no ships, no bridges and no port and for many years no board of commissioners.  They also failed to prepare budgets and audits for years and did not maintain a website as required by state law. Recently, the Authority’s board was reconstituted with Read More …