[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township
of Lumberton as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
[Adopted 2-3-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-01]
A. Regular meetings. The Township Committee shall meet annually for
reorganization within the first seven days of January. The Township
Committee shall meet regularly thereafter on such dates and at such
times as shall be set forth on the resolution establishing that year's
meetings as adopted at the reorganization meeting; but in no event
shall the Township Committee meet less than monthly.
B. Special meetings. The Mayor may, and upon written request of a majority
of the Committee, shall call a special meeting of the Township Committee.
The call for a special meeting shall specify the purpose of the meeting,
and no business shall be transacted at any special meeting other than
that specified. The Mayor's call for a special meeting shall
be transmitted to the Clerk at least five days prior to the time for
which the meeting is called, however, such date must allow for sufficient
time to provide notice by publication as required by the Open Public
Meetings Act. The foregoing five-day period shall not apply for emergency
special meetings, however, the procedures for emergency meetings under
the Open Public Meetings Act shall be followed. The Clerk shall forthwith
give notice thereof by telephone and in writing by letter or electronic
mail to each member of the Committee, at such place as he or she shall
have previously designated for that purpose, and also serve or cause
to be served a written copy of the call upon each Committee member
by delivery of a copy to him or her personally or by the leaving of
a copy at his usual place of abode. The municipal police shall cooperate
with the Clerk in effectuating such service of notice. Upon written
waiver of notice executed by all of the members of the Township Committee,
a special meeting may be held without prior notice, notwithstanding
the above provisions of this subsection.
C. Attendance by the public; exceptions; attendance of municipal officials.
All regular and special meetings of the Committee shall be open to
the public, subject to those exceptions set forth pursuant to the
Open Public Meetings Act that permit the Committee to discuss certain
topics in executive session to the exclusion of the public. The Mayor
may also institute reasonable meeting requirements for reasons of
health, safety or public emergencies, including, but not limited to,
attendee spacing/capacity limits, personal protective equipment requirements
and/or digital hybrid/remote meeting hosting alternatives via teleconference
or internet-based services. The Administrator, Attorney, Clerk and
Engineer, and such other municipal officers, employees and professionals
as may be required by general or special order of the Township Committee,
shall attend regular and special meetings of the Committee.
D. Quorum. Attendance by a majority of all the members elected to the
Township Committee shall constitute a quorum at any regular or special
meetings of the Committee, but a lesser number than a quorum may adjourn
any meeting. If no member of the Committee is present a half hour
after the appointed time for any meeting, the Clerk shall adjourn
the meeting.
A. Committee meetings.
(1) The format for Committee meeting agendas shall be as follows:
Call to order.
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Salute to the flag.
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Statement of conformance with Open Public Meetings Act.
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Roll call.
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Approval of minutes.
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Presentations.
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Public hearing and adoption of second reading ordinances.
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Introduction of first reading ordinances (by title only).
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Consent agenda and resolutions.
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Correspondence.
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Department head reports.
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Unfinished business.
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New business.
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Approval of purchases over $5,000.
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Payment of bills.
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Comments from the public.
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Comments from the Township Committee.
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Caucus agenda.
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Executive session.
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Adjournment.
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(a)
Items may be added to or removed from the agenda at any point
by a majority vote of those Committee members present.
(b)
Additions to the agenda will be considered only after Committee
comments have been made.
(c)
Beginning at 11:00 p.m., the Mayor will entertain a motion for
adjournment at the conclusion of each item of business. An affirmative
vote by a majority of those Committee members present shall constitute
approval of such a motion.
(2) Procedure for Committee motions or comments.
(a)
Motions or comments shall be made only by the member who has
the floor.
(b)
Motions shall not be discussed until seconded.
(c)
Each Committee member will have an opportunity to discuss the
motion for five minutes, after which each member will have a second
opportunity for a two-minute discussion.
(d)
Amendments to motions will be discussed in the same manner as
motions, except that both opportunities for discussion shall be limited
to two minutes.
(e)
A motion to table to a specific date shall be discussed only
as to the date. Discussion shall be limited in the same manner provided
for amendments to motions.
(f)
A motion to table to an unspecified date shall not be debatable.
(g)
A Committee member shall not grant his allotted discussion time
to another Committee member without the consent of a majority of the
Committee members present.
(h)
Committee and staff comments at the end of the agenda shall
be limited to five minutes per person.
(i)
All votes on motions for the consideration of resolutions or
ordinances shall be by roll call, with the Township Clerk calling
Committee members in alphabetical order, with the exception that the
Mayor shall vote only after all other members present have voted or
abstained. All other votes on motions, at the discretion of the Mayor
as chair, may be taken by voice vote, except that any Committee member
may request a roll call vote for such motions with the consent of
a majority of the Township Committee.
(j)
Rules imposing time limits may be relaxed by a 2/3 vote of the
Committee members present.
(3) Procedure for public comment.
(a)
The Mayor as chair will receive and direct all comments from
and responses to the public. Each Committee member may be given the
opportunity to discuss or respond to a public comment. Comments or
responses shall be limited to five minutes.
(b)
Ordinances. The Committee, by a vote of a majority of the members
present, may permit public comment prior to first reading. This comment
shall not be considered a public hearing and is subject to the time
limitation of five minutes per speaker. The total time for such preliminary
public comment shall not exceed 15 minutes. Time limits imposed on
such preliminary public comment can be relaxed by a 2/3 vote of those
Committee members present.
(c)
Resolutions. The Committee, by a vote of a majority of the members
present, may permit public comment before a vote on the resolution
is taken. This comment shall not be considered a public hearing and
is subject to the time limitation of five minutes per speaker. The
total time for such preliminary public comment shall not exceed 15
minutes. Time limits imposed on such preliminary public comment can
be relaxed by a 2/3 vote of those Committee members present.
(d)
In lieu of, or in addition to, preliminary public comment at meetings, the Committee, by a majority vote of the members present, may authorize the Township Clerk to send a copy of a proposed ordinance or resolution to appropriate community groups or residents. The Township Clerk shall include a notice that all comments, if in writing, must be received by the Friday before the next meeting at which the ordinance or resolution is to be considered. Oral comments will be permitted at the meeting in accordance with §
35-2A(3).
(e)
Rules imposing time limits may be relaxed by a 2/3 vote of the
Committee members present.
B. Procedure for matters not specified. Except as may be provided in
this Code or by other applicable law, questions of order, methods
of organization and the conduct of business of the Committee shall
be governed by the latest revised edition of Robert's Rules of
Order. Notwithstanding, the Committee may, from time to time, consider
and adopt by resolution any interim procedures and supplemental rules
that do not conflict with the procedures of this chapter, which shall
expire at the end of the calendar year so adopted unless codified
by subsequent ordinance or reauthorized by resolution the following
calendar year.