FRHSD shifts from two comment periods to one

Changes to the public participation format at Freehold Regional High School District Board of Education meetings are on the horizon.

During the board’s March 1 meeting a revision to the board’s policy was voted on, changing the meeting agenda to permit one public participation session.

At the present time there is a public comment period at the beginning of each meeting for items that appear on that evening’s agenda. There is a second public comment period at the end of the meeting during which speakers may address any topic relating to the FRHSD.

Each public comment session is limited to 30 minutes and each speaker is limited to three minutes.

When the board members were discussing the proposed changes in how the public comment session is conducted, Barry Hochberg, who is Marlboro’s representative to the board, said limiting the public’s speaking time to one 30-minute session would restrict the number of people who will be permitted to speak to the board at a particular meeting.

Hochberg suggested expanding the public session to 45 minutes and he suggested permitting each speaker to address the board for five minutes.

Heshy Moses, who is Freehold Borough’s representative on the board, pointed out that having 45 minutes at five minutes per speaker would allow fewer people (nine) to speak than having a 30-minute public session at three minutes per speaker (10).

Hochberg made a motion to amend the revision to allow 45 minutes for the public comment session. The motion was seconded by Jennifer Sutera, who is Manalapan’s representative on the board.

The motion to allow 45 minutes for public comment did not pass. Hochberg, Sutera and Moses were the only three board members to vote yes on the amendment.

When the vote to change to a meeting format with one public comment session was held, the change passed in a 6-3 vote.

Voting for the motion were board President Ronald Lawson, Vice President Christopher Placitella, and board members William Bruno, Tom Caiazza, Elizabeth Canario and Kathie Lavin.

Hochberg, Sutera and Moses voted against that motion.

Manalapan resident Gloria Close said she was disappointed by the board’s decision to move to one public session. Close said she viewed the action as a way of limiting the public’s ability to speak during board meetings.

Also included in the policy revisions was a change to require the board to meet in public session at least once a month, with the exception of July and August.

The existing policy provided that the board had to meet at least once every two months during the school year.

With the change the board will have to meet at least once a month, with the exception of the summer months. Holding a meeting during July and August will be based upon the business before the board.

Board members voted to approve that revision to the policy.