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Mayor urges civility in public comment as resident recounts confrontation
Summary
Colts Neck Mayor Bus urged residents and officials to practice respectful public comment after weeks of heated exchanges, and a resident, Michelle Batista, told the committee she was yelled at during a town interaction and called for greater appreciation of volunteers.
Mayor Bus urged residents and township officials on June 25 to keep public meetings civil and to avoid personal attacks and misinformation when speaking during public comment. In a prepared, extended statement at the start of the public-comment period, the mayor said the national coarseness of debate has reached local meetings and appealed to neighbors in the roughly 11,000-person town to treat one another with respect.
"When each of us contributes to the discourse in a respectful, considered, thoughtful, and meaningful manner, we all benefit," Mayor Bus said, adding that the First Amendment protects speech but does not require rudeness. He asked both the public and committee members to listen and to ‘‘agree to disagree’’ when necessary.
During the public-comment period, Michelle Batista of White Oak Drive thanked the mayor and said she had been yelled at by a township committee member after attempting to follow town guidance. Batista described decades of volunteer service—work with the Friends of the Library, the women’s club and senior activities—and said she felt underappreciated.
"The lack of appreciation by members of this town for the people that do the work non-stop. It needs to be improved," Batista said.
The mayor framed the request for civility as a two-way obligation, saying committee members must also show respect when they hear dissent. He emphasized that disagreements are inevitable but should not become personal attacks. The committee then opened the floor to public comments; after a short series of remarks the public-comment period was closed and the meeting proceeded to remaining agenda items.
The committee did not take formal disciplinary action at the meeting; members reiterated their appreciation for volunteers and first responders during routine reports. The next regular township committee meeting is scheduled for July 9, 2025, at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, One Veterans Way, Colts Neck.
