Council members call for procedural changes after heated public-comment period and late-night meeting

Several Paterson council members raised procedural and governance concerns after a contentious public-comment period and a meeting that extended after midnight.

Councilwoman Dr. Lalisa Mims asked that every council member receive a copy of Robert’s Rules of Order and recommended the council use the manual to reduce interruptions and clarify motions and points of order. Mims also noted the meeting was well past midnight and said, “technically we're violating Sunshine Law because the meeting is after 12,” asking the administration to review scheduling and compliance.

Other council members expressed frustration with disruptions during the public-comment period and the late hour, noting staff and clerical employees remain on duty long past normal work hours. Councilman Jackson and others said the public’s three-minute speaker limit was observed by most speakers; other members asked that lists for public comment be posted earlier and that the council adhere to time limits to finish the agenda more efficiently.

Council members also raised substantive follow-ups that grew out of public comment: arranging answers to resident questions through the clerk's office, following up on calls about job opportunities, and ensuring items raised by speakers are routed to the correct department heads for response in subsequent meetings.

No formal procedural rule changes were adopted at the meeting; council members requested staff to bring Robert’s Rules to each member’s mailbox and to report back on how to better manage the public-comment process and meeting scheduling.