Plainfield's diverse community may want to note that Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs' nomination for a Registrar of Vital Statistics is to be taken up by the City Council tonight.
One of the key parts of the local Registrar's job is ISSUING LICENSES FOR CIVIL UNIONS and marriages.
Applicants for a civil union license must appear at the Registrar's office with a witness, answer several questions under oath (understanding that false answers constitute perjury and are punishable by a fine of up to $7,500), and pay a small license fee.
The administration of that oath to same-sex couples applying for civil union licenses is one of the legally required duties of the Registrar. (Note that the Registrar does NOT perform the civil union but merely issues the license for same after ascertaining the applicants are qualified; they, in turn, may then have the ceremony presided over by a person authorized to do so under NJ law.)
Rumors are circulating that Mayor Robinson-Briggs' nominee, who holds the State certification for a Registrar, will not personally administer the oath required of applicants for a civil union license.
One would hope Mayor Robinson-Briggs would put the rumors to rest by stating unequivocally that she will require of the appointee that they will perform all the duties required of the office WITHOUT EXCEPTION.
Tonight - 8:00 PM
City Council Chambers/Courthouse
Watchung Avenue and East 4th Street
The public may speak at beginning and end of meeting.
- Dept. of Health & Senior Services: "Vital Statistics" -- Application for License (PDF).
- Lambda Legal: "Civil Unions in NJ" -- A guidebook (PDF).
- NJWedding.com: "NJ Civil Union Celebrations" -- Useful links.
1 comments:
uh Dan...if you are waiting for that woman to put any rumor to rest that would require her to stand up and be accountable..PLEASE DON'T HOLD YOUR BREATH. Well..unless Jerry tells her to do it of course..then it's "get out of her way, she needs to hold a picture opportunity"..I mean press conference
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