Politics & Government

Verona Will Televise Budget Workshop

Verona Council will begin the 2013 Budget Workshop at 7 p.m. at town hall.

[Updated Feb. 25 4:15 p.m.]

The Verona Township Council has reversed course and decided to televise this year's budget workshops, which begin Monday, Feb. 25 at 7 p.m.

After a lengthy discussion the council ultimately decided to televise the meetings for the first time.

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Mayor Frank Sapienza was initially unsure whether to televise the meetings since they have never aired in the past. Township Manager Joe Martin raised concerns over possible grandstanding.

“The consensus among the council was to televise the workshop,” Martin said Monday.

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“I've always been in favor on transparency in the government and my philosophy is if the public is invited to attend the meeting physically then there is no reason not to record and broadcast it," said Counclman Kevin Ryan.

"I had a request from a number of people to televise the meetings," he added. "They are busy and can't always attend the meetings but want to view the process.”

The workshops will air on VTV, FIOS channel 24 and Comcast channel 35. The VTV schedule is available on the township website

“There is information discussed in these workshops that is important and relevant to the taxpayers of Verona and they should be informed on what transpired,” said Councilman Michael Nochimson.


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