Dear Mayor:

PLEASE BRING THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF THE MUNICIPAL CLERK AND MUNICIPAL ATTORNEY.

Yesterday, Governor McGreevey signed A-332 into law as Chapter 80, P.L. 2002 which requires municipal governments to set aside a portion of every meeting, conducted pursuant to the Open Public Meetings Act, for public comment. Under the new law, residents of the municipality would be permitted to speak on any issue of concern as it relates to federal, state county, school, municipality or local authority. Residents are not required to limit their comments specifically to items on the meeting agenda.

The governing body would have the discretion to set the length of time for public comment.

A-332, sponsored by Assemblymembers O'Toole, Geist and Weinberg, took effect immediately.

For copies of the new law, contact Sue Hyland at (609) 695-3481 ext. 14.