When is the best time for a public meeting? The answer depends on who asks and who responds.
Recently, the Herald newsroom asked about meeting times for the Cape May County Board of County Commissioners.
The body meets twice monthly on the second and fourth Tuesdays at 3 p.m. Frequently, the board will also conduct a caucus meeting before those meetings at 2 p.m.
All are public meetings. However, the public is not permitted to speak at the caucus. The public may address the board at regular meetings.
Are those 3 p.m. meetings a good time to meet? Some believe the time of those meetings makes it difficult for those who work day shifts to attend. Would meetings be better in the evening? Would 6 p.m. be too early? How about 7 p.m. or 8 p.m.
Meetings of the Board of County Commissioners for 2024 will be made public at its Jan. 4 meeting at 4 p.m. at Cape Tech on Moore Road, Court House.
View After Decades of Attendance
Having covered the board for 12 years, this reporter was asked to address the meeting time matter.
Before its name was changed by gubernatorial edict, county freeholders met twice a month. The month’s first meeting was at 7 p.m. The second meeting of the month was held at 4 p.m. When caucuses were held, they were held one hour before the meetings.
At many meetings, both afternoon and evening, it was common for this reporter to represent half of the public in attendance. Others there were department heads, who would answer questions of the board.
At times, when sensitive issues arose, including the recent lease of Crest Haven Nursing and Rehabilitation Center; when two teen girls were killed on a county road in Green Creek; when a Wildwood social welfare agency sought to relocate; when the Sheriff sought federal aid regarding criminal aliens, and when the homeless sought help, the meeting room was standing-room-only.
Time, it seemed, took second place to the public’s desire to question its top county elected officials.
Remote Attendance Possible
The county government website, https://capemaycountynj.gov, has a link to the online portal so the public can listen and text questions to the board. To this reporter’s knowledge, questions have yet to be sent to the board via the site.
Give the Public Time
At the Nov. 28 county commissioners’ meeting, a Cape May resident addressed the board during its regular meeting.
The self-dubbed “newbie” asked Director Leonard Desiderio to wait about two minutes after announcing the public question part of the meeting “to see if there was any public comment.”
That span, she said, would give time for individuals to collect their thoughts and raise their hands.
“That would be very respectful,” she said.
Desiderio responded that he would, at future sessions, look for her or anyone who might have a question and give them time to speak.
“That works for me,” the woman replied.
Where Should Questions Be Directed?
On Dec. 12, a Lower Township resident asked about a subdivision there and was told by County Counsel Jeffrey Lindsay that the matter was being handled by that municipality’s planning board, not the county commission.
Often, those asking questions of the board have yet to learn which body of government is in charge of a place or matter.
For example, questions about roads may concern a municipal road over which the county has no jurisdiction.
There was no public input at the Dec. 19 meeting.
Over four decades, having attended countless municipal, county, planning and zoning board, and school board meetings, this reporter has experienced sessions at all times and places.
Are Mobile Meetings Worthwhile?
Middle Township Committee, on several occasions, had “mobile meetings” in Avalon Manor, Del Haven, Rio Grande and Whitesboro. Those sessions were well attended by community members from the respective areas.
Communities, such as Avalon and Stone Harbor, have separate property owners’ groups. Some members attend meetings and then relay issues to their residents.
Some who attend public meetings, especially newcomers, often need clarification and are apprehensive about addressing the elected officials.
On Your Own
There is no guide to let the public know about agendas or times to raise questions. Most people are easily flustered and not used to speaking in public, much less addressing elected officials.
Once they muster the courage to speak, they will likely miss points they wanted to raise unless they wrote their questions.
No Communications
Written communications might be another way to comment to elected bodies, but after many years, especially at the county level, there have yet to be any written questions.
Switched, Then Reverted
In the past, when it was the Vocational-Technical School Board of Education, there was a call for evening meetings so that parents of students could attend. Meetings were reset for 7 p.m. Few parents attended those evening sessions.
After seeing minimal response to evening meetings, the board returned to afternoon meetings.
For 2024, the combined Special Services School District-Technical School Board convenes at 3:30 p.m. It’s best to check the district website for meeting dates and sites.
ED. NOTE: Al Campbell, the Herald’s managing editor emeritus, retired after 31 years on Sept. 1, 2019. He continues to cover the Cape May County Board of County Commissioners meetings for the Herald.
