Paterson council moves after ceiling collapse
Will hold meetings at broadcast studio
PATERSON — Technological problems and a recent ceiling collapse have combined to force the City Council to move its public meetings to a new location: the municipal broadcast studio at 77 Ellison St.
City Council President Alex Mendez said he was looking to start conducting meetings at that location this evening. He said the governing body would continue to use the new venue until repairs are made to the ceiling at the council chamber in City Hall. Exactly how long that will take remains unclear, officials said.
After the March 25 ceiling collapse, the council switched to a virtual format.
But residents who tried to speak during the public comment portion of the online meeting last Tuesday kept having their calls disconnected. As a result, there were many delays as city employees tried to connect callers.
The problems prompted Mendez to say at the conclusion of last week’s session that it was the “worst meeting ever.”
Councilwoman Ruby Cotton bemoaned the lack of public access for a session during which many people wanted to voice their opposition to a proposed ordinance restricting outdoor charity efforts in the city.
“Please forgive us,” Cotton told people watching the meeting.
Mendez said the effort to fix the council chamber’s ceiling was complicated by the fact that City Hall is designated as a historic preservation site.
“You can’t just use any type of materials,” the council president said.
Mendez said he hopes city staff members will be able to provide a time frame on the repairs within the next day or so.