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After public objections, Hudson County commissioners move to amend bylaws and reconsider recording rules
Summary
A resident told the Board that a recently adopted filming/recording ordinance (cited as Ordinance 58‑1‑2025) is unconstitutional and alleged the public vote record was altered; commissioners instructed counsel to prepare bylaw amendments to allow same‑day call‑in signups, consolidate public comment at the beginning of meetings and begin live streaming, and a formal ordinance amendment will be prepared for the next meeting.
At the May 8 meeting, several public commenters and commissioners raised concerns about the county’s rules on recording inside public buildings and about how the Board documents roll‑call votes.
Private investigator Leroy Truth criticized Ordinance 58‑1‑2025, which the transcript records as restricting recording and photography in certain public areas, saying parts of it were subjective and unconstitutional. He also alleged that the Board’s public record incorrectly showed a unanimous vote when, he said, Commissioner William O’Dea had voted against the ordinance. Commissioner O’Dea said he had voted no and asked that the clerk correct the public record if it was wrong.
Commissioner O’Dea and other Board members instructed counsel to prepare amendments to the Board’s bylaws so that members of the public can sign up to speak by noon the day of a meeting and to consolidate public comments into a single opening period. The Board also agreed to start live streaming the next meeting and to plan for budget hearings that are visible to the public online. County counsel said a bylaw/ordinance amendment would be prepared for the Board’s next meeting.
Why it matters: Rules governing public comment, livestreaming and recording affect residents’ access to government proceedings and the transparency of votes and meeting records. Claims that a public vote record was altered are serious and, if accurate, would require administrative correction.
What comes next: County counsel will prepare an ordinance or bylaw amendment for the Board’s next meeting to implement the changes discussed.
