Charles Morgan
Heidi Kleinman
William Anklowitz
George Borek
Linda Geevers

Sharon L. Young

WELCOME
Welcome to a West Windsor Township Council meeting. This brochure has been prepared to help you share your ideas and concerns with the Township Council and to explain how the meeting agenda operates. (Return to Contents)

COUNCIL AUTHORITY
The five-member Township Council is the legislative body of municipal government. As such the Council is responsible for enacting our local ordinances (laws), adopting the budget, and setting Council policy through the passage of resolutions. The Council President chairs the meetings. (Return to Contents)

SETTING THE MEETING AGENDA
The agenda is prepared by the Council President and the Township Clerk with items proposed by the Township Council and the Administration. Prior to the meeting, the agenda is posted in the municipal building and on the web site and mailed to those who request it. (Return to Contents)

PUBLIC COMMENT
Public comment is a very important part of the Township Council's proceedings. Opportunities to comment occur during Township Council Business Meetings which follow a formal agenda. Public comment is invited on three occasions during the meeting:

• After the opening formalities, the public is invited to make initial brief comments on public issues and concerns.
• Public hearings occur during the meeting and at that time comments from members of the audience are accepted on those specific matters which have been published previously.
• At the conclusion of the business meeting, additional open public comment is permitted.

When addressing the Council, the Council requests that the public observe the following procedures to ensure that every citizen is treated courteously and has an opportunity to speak:

• Come forward to the podium when you speak.
• When recognized by the Chair, state your name and address for the official record before directing your question or comment to the presiding officer.
  
  

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ORDER OF THE AGENDA
The list below indicates the order followed by the Township Council during the Business Meeting.

1. Call to Order: 7:00 p.m.
2. Statement of Adequate Notice
   This statement advises that notice of the meeting has been provided to newspapers and posted in the Municipal Building in accordance with the NJ Open Public Meetings Act ("Sunshine Law").
3. Salute to the Flag
4. Public Comment (30 minute comment period - 3-minute limit per person)
   ·This comment portion is the first opportunity for members of the public to address the Council.
   ·Council requests that members of the public observe a three-minute time limit when making their remarks. (Additional opportunity to address the Council is provided at the conclusion of the meeting.)
5. Ceremonial Matters or Topic of Priority Consideration. Broadcasting will begin with this portion of the meeting.
   Presentations, Proclamations, Awards, Guest Introductions
6. Mayor/Administrator's Comments
7. Council Member Comments
8. Chair/Clerk's Comments
   If items previously brought up before the Council have since had further action occur, the Clerk will update the Council at this time.
9. Public Hearings
   This is the opportunity for the public to comment on and question specific ordinances (laws) and other items requiring "public hearing" which have been published in advance.
10. Consent Agenda
    Matters listed under the Consent Agenda (Resolutions, Minutes, Bills and Claims) are considered to be routine and may be enacted by one motion and one vote. If discussion is desired by a Council Member, the item will be removed from the Consent Agenda, and the item will be considered separately. If a member of the public wishes to raise a question concerning an item on the Consent Agenda, a sign-up sheet is provided at the rear of the room. The public should indicate the Consent Agenda item on which they have a specific question.
11. Items Removed from Consent Agenda
12. Recommendations from Department Heads and/or Division Managers
13. Recommendations from Council
14. Introduction of Ordinances
15. Council Reports/Comments
16. Additional Public Comment (3-minute limit per person)
17. CLOSED SESSION (if needed)
18. Adjournment (11 p.m. conclusion)
    

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THE FOUR TYPES OF COUNCIL MEETINGS
The Council carries out its duties at public meetings. There are four types of Council meetings each of which has a different function and varies in its degree of public access and participation.

COUNCIL BUSINESS MEETING SCHEDULE
The Township Council meets as shown below at 7:00 p.m. in the Municipal Building. Business Meetings are scheduled for the 2008-2009 year on the following dates:

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TOWNSHIP COUNCIL HISTORY AND ORGANIZATION
West Windsor Township was established by an Act of the N.J. legislature on Feb. 9, 1797, and the Township was governed by a Township Committee which had both executive & legislative authority until 1993. In November 1992 West Windsor residents voted to change their form of government from a Township Committee to a Mayor-Council form. The new government was elected in May 1993 and took office July 1, 1993.

In the new Mayor-Council form of government the Mayor and Council function as independent branches of government. The Mayor is the Chief Executive of the Township and heads its Administration. The Mayor can choose to attend or not attend Council meetings.

The Council is the legislative branch. The five members of the Township Council are elected on a non-partisan basis for four-year, staggered terms. At the annual organizational meeting held on the first of July of each year, the council elects a President and Vice President to serve for one-year terms.
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MEETING BROADCAST
Township Council Meetings are broadcast live on West Windsor Channel 27 – see schedule for rebroadcast.
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