A groundswell of vocal residents is urging the Township Committee via petition to return to in-person meetings after nearly five years of having them online only.
But Lakewood elected officials, led by Mayor Ray Coles, say it’s not happening, claiming the virtual approach works best despite its lack of face-to-face contact with taxpayers and Lakewood’s below-average broadband access for residents…
“In person meetings have a value, they provide upfront interaction with the people they represent. It allows more direct participation and provides nuance that can’t be seen or observed or happen when you are on a webinar,” said Marc Pfeiffer, a senior policy fellow at the Bloustein Local Government Center for Urban Policy Research at Rutgers University. “In person requires a little more formality. It requires a better sense of decorum, which is representative of the official nature of what is going on.”
Pfeiffer has said holding meetings online risks technical problems, as well as online infiltration: “You should carefully consider the risks of meeting disruptions and make sure you balance the interests of people.”