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Politics & Government

FMERA Meeting Time Discussed, Then Tabled

Authority weighs whether a schedule change would exclude public participation.

Out of all the topics up for discussion at Wednesday's Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority meeting -- leasing regulations, policing, environmental issues, fair housing and more -- the time at which meetings should be held brought the most debate.

Brandon Minde, a representative from the Governor's Office of Authorities (which oversees bodies like FMERA and the Economic Development Authority which oversees it) made a motion to move the meetings to 6 p.m. He cited the meeting's late running time as his reasoning.

Members of the board seemed to be divided on the issue, but the public was not. A show of hands of the approximately 20 members of the public, only two were for the change. Nine said they wanted the time to remain 7 p.m.

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Anthony Talerico, Eatontown borough council president, was one of the audience members who addressed the authority and asked that the meeting remain at 7 p.m. so as not to exclude anyone who wanted to attend.

Oceanport Mayor Michael Mahon noted that his town and the others on the board are "by and large bedroom communities, and for commuters it is a bit of a struggle" to attend meetings that are as early as 7 p.m. Anything earlier, Mahon said, might exclude people who have "a great interest in these meetings."

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The matter was tabled until next meeting (which will be June 15 at 7 p.m. at ) because Tinton Falls Mayor Michael Skudera was not present.

According to one member of the authority, Skudera has a difficult time attending 7:30 council meetings because of his work schedule.

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