On Wednesday night, Pemberton Township Mayor Matthew Bianchini charged a member of the audience and had to be restrained. It's part of a growing number of chaotic moments at New Jersey public meetings that end up as viral clips.

From personal insults to calls for resignations over data centers to costumed characters like Cranford's infamous "Bong Holio," live-streamed council meetings are becoming the new must-see TV.

"Our civility is gone," said Micah Rasmussen, a professor of politics at Rider University. "It's a feeling that no one wants to hear it. No one wants to listen. We're all dug in."

Those feelings on sensitive subjects like changing demographics, data centers and affordable housing lead to chaos when the public believes they're not being heard.

"Whatever is happening in that clip is going to get far more attention than anything the mayor says or writes, or the council passes a resolution," said Rasmussen.

Rasmussen says elected leaders need to lead when confronted by an angry public, not lash back.

"If you can't do those things, maybe you shouldn't be in public office. Maybe that's not the job for you," he said.

When it comes to public comment, Rasmussen believes participants should take a few minutes to figure out what they want to communicate and what they want to accomplish.

He says when the public sees their council meetings devolve into shouting matches and viral clips, it does little to make them want to speak up or even attend.