Lakewood Township Committee meetings have experienced a huge drop in resident engagement, a trend directly tied to the continuation of virtual-only sessions, according to a new analysis by the Asbury Park Press (APP).
The study found that prior to the shift to virtual meetings in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, committee sessions averaged 55 minutes, with approximately six residents participating during public comment periods. However, despite the pandemic no longer posing the same issues, the committee has opted to keep meetings virtual.
Since the switch, the length of meetings has decreased to an average of just 20 minutes, with fewer than one resident submitting comments. Notably, the public can no longer participate live, further limiting community involvement.
Mayor Ray Coles has defended the committee’s decision to remain virtual, insisting that the format actually boosts participation, and saying that residents can always see him around town if they have questions.
Efforts to introduce hybrid meetings—allowing both in-person and virtual attendance—have been dismissed by the committee, despite claims that accessibility is a primary goal of the virtual format.