Pembroke Park postpones special magistrate hearings after magistrate falls ill

The Town of Pembroke Park opened scheduled special magistrate hearings on Wednesday, Jan. 21, but postponed them after the presiding magistrate, Miss McKinney, was reported ill and unavailable to preside.

Unidentified Speaker, who called the meeting to order, said Miss McKinney "is unfortunately ill and unable to attend" and that several respondents who had appeared were informed that the hearings "will be reset for next month" and would receive notice in the mail. "At this time, we were unable to get a backup magistrate," the speaker added, and staff said they would "open[] and close[] the hearings" to preserve the official record.

Mada Fontalba, code compliance clerk, Jeffrey Lewis, code compliance officer, and Brian Sherman, assistant town attorney, were present and stated their appearances for the record. Because there was no magistrate to conduct business, the meeting leader said there was "no business that can be conducted" and the hearings were closed at 9:33 a.m.

The Town did not specify exact dates for the rescheduled hearings; staff said respondents will receive mailed notice of the new date. No hearings or formal motions were conducted, and no votes were taken.

The matter will return to the Town's docket when a new hearing date is scheduled and announced by mailed notice to respondents.