Sep

10

Ledger: Hillside leaders agree to smile for the camera, Township council finally agrees airing meetings on local cable TV.

Filed Under Angela Menza, Barbara Rowen, Edward Brewer, Gerald Freedman, In The News, John Kulish, John O'Shea, Leonard Gilbert, Mattie Holloway, Sip Whitaker | Leave a Comment

 

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

BY JASON JETT

Star-Ledger Staff

Imagine watching gladiators in khakis and pantsuits.

Next year in Hillside, residents will be able to watch their local government in action — live — as council members spar over issues, pass ordinances and otherwise conduct the people’s business on cable television.

The move was long in coming and not without rancor in a township where council members, while perhaps camera-shy, are anything but coy about their opinions. For more than a decade, the council failed to videotape its meetings, perennially not delivering on commitments to better use video equipment and services that the local cable television franchise provides.

That ended Monday night when the council voted 6-0 to adopt an ordinance forced upon it by a citizens petition drive to amend the township open public meetings and records law.

“Keeping the public informed is critical,” Second Ward Councilwoman Shelley-Ann Bates said after the vote. “We see what can happen when people are kept informed.” Read more