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Resident presses Colts Neck on agenda transparency; committee moves to executive session on potential litigation
Summary
Kevin O'Brien told the committee the agenda lacks transparency and that planning-board materials were not on the website; township officials replied the packet is posted and said the planning-board agenda depends on an upcoming executive session, after which the committee entered closed session citing potential litigation under N.J.S.A. 10:4-12(b)(7).
During the public-comment period on April 6, resident Kevin O'Brien said the township's published agenda lacks helpful detail about the roles of newly listed professionals and that the planning-board agenda was not posted on the township website.
"With the addition of a sentence, the agenda could give the general public an indication of what the roles these two individuals hold," O'Brien said, asking that the township add brief role descriptions or bios to agenda items so residents would not have to search externally for background.
A committee official responded that the meeting packet, which includes ordinances and resolutions, is posted on the township website and that residents should consult the packet link. A township official explained the statutory notice requirement calls for time, location and the agenda 'to the extent known,' and said the planning-board agenda had not been posted because the executive session could affect what is disclosed.
Shortly afterward the committee voted to close public comment and adopt an executive-session resolution citing N.J.S.A. 10:4-12(b) and stating the general subject is potential litigation confidential under N.J.S.A. 10:4-12(b)(7). The committee said no action would be taken during the closed session and anticipated it would last about 60 minutes; officials then ended the live stream and proceeded in private.
What happens next: the committee will discuss the litigation matter in closed session and said it will make information public when confidentiality is no longer required.
