New Jersey’s Sunshine law - N.J.S.A. 10:4-7 states that the public has the right to be “present at all public bodies, and to witness… all phases of the deliberation, policy formation, and decision making of public bodies.” Furthermore, N.J.S.A. 10:4-11 provides that “No person or public body shall fail to invite a portion of its members to a meeting for the purpose of circumventing the provisions of this Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA).” Therefore, if subcommittees are used improperly in an effort to keep the public out of critical discussions, their meetings will be in violation of OPMA. All deliberation and decision making must occur in public, and the public meeting can never operate as a mere “rubber stamp” on decisions made in private. Televising all PUBLIC MEETINGS accomplishes all of this State Statutes’ tenants.

Educational and Governmental Access Television (PEG TV) that is provided through Comcast of New Jersey Inc. and/or other service provider(s) that operates in the Township of Irvington and provides public access (PEG TV) programming, facilitates a vehicle that allows all residents who are customers of Comcast of New Jersey Inc. and/or other service provider(s) an opportunity to have all public meetings to air and be broadcast on public access channel #34 thru Cablevision of New Jersey Inc. or other service providers(s)’ designated public access channel number. The use of (PEG TV) programming also makes it exceptionally easier for Irvington residents to be informed by being “present at all public bodies, and to witness… all phases of the deliberation, policy formation, and decision making of public bodies”, as stated in the Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA) and is also consistent, making all official actions “public” to a greater number of Irvington residents by televising all of Irvington Township’s PUBLIC MEETINGS.

AN ORDINANECE TO ADD A NEW CHAPTER TO THE ORDINANCES OF THE TOWNSHIP OF IRVINGTON TO PROMOTE THE OVERALL HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THE RESIDENTS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS OF THE TOWNSHIP OF IRVINGTON BY BEING EVER VIGILANT TO KEEP ALL IRVINGTON RESIDENTS INFORMED AND INVOLVED BY REQUIRING A POLICY OF TELEVISED PUBLIC MEETINGS FOR THE RESIDENTS OF THE TOWNSHIP OF IRVINGTON, NEW JERSEY.