Asbury Park Questioned on Executive Meeting Procedure

[OpenGovt]

In a July 3, 2009 letter, the New Jersey Libertarian Party's (NJLP) Open Government Advocacy Project expressed concern over whether or not the Asbury Park City Council is properly abiding by the Senator Byron M. Baer Open Public Meetings Act (also known as the "Sunshine Act.").

In its letter, the NJLP stated that a) the City Council cannot refuse to release its executive meeting minutes in redacted form until after the minutes are "approved" by the Council; b) that the Council's private conversation about bicycle traffic appears to have violated the Sunshine Law; and c) that the Council cannot, while in executive session, discuss matters other than those listed in the session's authorizing resolution. The letter is on-line here.

John Paff, Chair
NJLP Open Government Advocacy Project
Somerset, New Jersey