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Linden council apologizes for rescheduling after April 15 meeting was shut down for safety reasons
Summary
Council members apologized for moving the April 15 meeting to April 18 after the earlier session was closed when the fire chief determined the chamber had exceeded safe capacity. Officials said the special meeting was necessary to meet legal deadlines and maintain city services.
The Linden City Council opened a special meeting April 18 with an apology to residents for rescheduling the regular April 15 meeting and for holding the special session on a religious holiday.
In a statement read at the start of the April 18 meeting, council members said the April 15 session "could not proceed due to a serious safety and security concern that put residents at risk." The statement said the city’s police and fire officials attended and that the fire chief ordered the meeting shut down after the chamber surpassed safe capacity and some attendees would not comply with instructions to rotate speakers and reduce crowding.
Council members said postponing the meeting was a last resort taken to protect attendees and to avoid disruptions to core services. The statement noted that without immediate action, the city risked interruptions to police and fire protection, garbage collection and the timely pay of city employees, and said state law requires certain budget‑related decisions be made within strict time frames.
Council president moved and council approved a motion to limit the meeting to 2 p.m. in recognition of the religious holiday, and asked counsel to consider an abbreviated schedule out of respect for those observing the holiday. The council also reminded attendees of emergency egress procedures and of sign‑in requirements for the public comment period.
Ending: Officials said they regretted the conflict with religious observance and thanked first responders for their work during the April 15 disruption. The council proceeded with time‑limited business, including budget introduction and votes on routine matters.
