Workshop a good idea

We support a proposal to add a Millstone Township Committee workshop meeting.

Adding a workshop would be beneficial to everyone — the committee and the public.

The idea, raised at last week’s regular committee meeting, has the support of Mayor Evan Maltz, who suggested it last year, and the newest member of the committee, John Pfefferkorn.

The only disagreement between them seems to be whether to add a third meeting or to make one of the current two meetings a workshop and the second a regular meeting.

The idea may not seem welcome to those officials who have been working under the current system for a long time. But they should consider some of the advantages.

At a workshop the committee would be able to discuss in a more informal manner issues that are important to the township and require serious deliberation. Committee members could also take their time listening to presentations.

And the public would be able to listen without commenting.

At the regular meeting, the committee could act on those workshop discussions. Having listened to them, the public would have a much better understanding of the issues involved and be able to comment in a more constructive manner.

It is up to a majority of the committee members to decide how they want to conduct their meetings, but we hope they will consider the merits of a workshop meeting.