Scotch Plains Township Council Hosts First-Ever Outdoor Public Meeting

The Scotch Plains Township Council hosted its first-ever outdoor public meeting on Tuesday, August 18, 2020 on the Alan Augustine Village Green next to the Municipal Building. The outdoor meeting allowed residents to attend the meeting in-person to hear about and comment about issues before the governing body.

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Scotch Plains has maintained transparency and open meetings by streaming meetings on the Township’s Facebook page and television station while giving residents the ability to call-in to ask questions or comment on matters before the Township Council.

Always looking to go above and beyond any requirements, the Township Council and Administration sought to increase public participation in meetings during the pandemic by offering the first outdoor meeting where all residents could attend and comment especially on the significant issues before the Township Council that night such as downtown overlay zone ordinances.

“I’m very proud of the fact that Scotch Plains, to my knowledge, is the first municipality in New Jersey to hold a Township Council meeting outside during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Al Mirabella, Township Manager. “I’d like to thank Mayor Smith, Deputy Mayor Losardo, Councilman Spera, Councilwoman Stamler, and Councilman White for their leadership and commitment to public inclusion in everything we do as well as our incredible Township Team for pulling off a successful outdoor meeting.”

The Township of Scotch Plains will look to hold future public meetings outside.