Despite COVID-19, Jersey City Council to still hold meetings remotely via Microsoft Teams

With social distancing now a necessity in day-to-day life due to COVID-19, the Jersey City Council will still conduct their meetings remotely this week – the first time they’ve done so – via Microsoft Teams.

By John Heinis/Hudson County View

“Simply put, there are bills to pay, licenses to issue and services to be delivered as the responsibilities of government must continue even while we are facing a crisis unlike any we have faced in this country in modern times,” Mayor Steven Fulop said in a statement.

“Technologically the future is now, and we have to embrace it in order to become more efficient and keep government moving in the right direction.”

Microsoft Teams is an electronic platform that allows 10,000 people to view the remote meeting as attendees, with anyone from the Jersey City team present as a meeting participant.

Additionally, the platform also allows for standard public comment through a chat function, as well as through an integrated real-time call in system.

The email JCVCM@jcnj.org has been set up for community members to send their name and phone number in advance to be considered for public speaking. If they sign up, city officials will then call them to participate in public comment.

To view the virtual proceeding live through Microsoft Team, please visit www.jerseycitynj.gov/vcm.

“We are committed to continuing our duty as a City Council by keeping our critical government functions moving forward amid this crisis,” added Council President Joyce Watterman.

“We need to do whatever we can to keep our community afloat and also maintain as much normalcy as is possible. These virtual meetings will do exactly that, and I’m encouraged that our leadership has supported our efforts.”

Today’s caucus meeting lasted a mere 31 minutes, unheard of by Jersey City standards, likely setting up another short and sweet session for Wednesday at 6 p.m.

“Our work of the City must continue. Our first virtual Council Caucus,” Ward A Councilwoman said on an Instagram story with a photo of what the meeting looked like from her vantage point.