Local Law No. P-3 of the year 2022.
Introduced by Mayor Rosenquest on July 7, 2022 at a Regular meeting of the Common Council.
Public Hearing to be held on Thursday, July 21, 2022 at 5:00pm in the Council Chambers, 41 City Hall Place, Plattsburgh, NY 12901.
A local law adding Article III “Open Meetings Videoconference” to Chapter 14 “Boards, Commissions and Committees” to the City Code of the City of Plattsburgh.
Be it enacted by the Common Council of the City of Plattsburgh as follows:
- Article III “Open Meetings Videoconference” will be added to Chapter 14 “Boards, Commissions and Committees” to the City Code of the City of Plattsburgh and will read as follows:
Article III “Open Meetings Videoconference”
Section 14-10. Open Meeting Attendance By Videoconference Under Extraordinary Circumstances.
- The Common Council authorizes its members, as well as the members of the Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals, or any committee of the Common Council, who experience an extraordinary circumstance, as defined by resolution of the Common Council, to attend meetings by videoconference: (i) as long as a quorum of the members attend in-person at one or more locations open to the public; (ii) as long as the member can be seen, heard, and identified while the open portion of the meeting is being conducted; and (iii) as otherwise permitted under Chapter 56 of the Laws of 2022.
- The Common Council shall create written procedures further governing its use of videoconferencing by its members, the Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals, or any committee of the Common Council, in compliance with Chapter 56 of the Laws of 2022 by resolution.
- This Local Law shall take effect immediately upon approval by the Mayor and filing with the New York Secretary of State.
RESOLUTION
In compliance with Public Officers Law (“POL”) § 103-a(2)(a), the Common Council, following a public hearing, authorized by Local Law on [insert date] the use of videoconferencing as described in POL § 103-a.
The following procedures are hereby established to satisfy the requirement of POL § 103-a(2)(b) that any public body which in its discretion wishes to permit its members to participate in meetings by videoconferencing from private locations – under extraordinary circumstances – must establish written procedures governing member and public attendance.
For purposes of this resolution, “Public Body Members” includes those members of the Common Council, the Planning Board, the Zoning Board of Appeals, or the members of a Committee of the Common Council.
1. Public Body Members shall be physically present at any meeting of the Public Body unless such member is unable to be physically present at one of the designated public meeting locations due to extraordinary circumstances.
2. For purposes of these procedures, the term “extraordinary circumstances” includes disability, illness, caregiving responsibilities, or any other significant or unexpected factor or event which precludes the member’s physical attendance at such meeting.
3. If a member is unable to be physically present at one of the designated public meeting locations and wishes to participate by videoconferencing from a private location due to extraordinary circumstances, the member must notify the Chair of the Public Body no later than four business days prior to the scheduled meeting in order for proper notice to the public to be given. If extraordinary circumstances present themselves on an emergent basis within four days of a meeting, the Public Body shall update its notice as soon as practicable to include that information. If it is not practicable for the Public Body to update its notice, the Public Body may reschedule its meeting.
4. If there is a quorum of members participating at a physical location(s) open to the public, the Public Body may properly convene a meeting. A member who is participating from a remote location that is not open to in-person physical attendance by the public shall not count toward a quorum of the Public Body but may participate and vote if there is a quorum of members at a physical location(s) open to the public.
5. Except in the case of executive sessions conducted pursuant to POL § 105, the Public Body shall ensure that its members can be heard, seen, and identified while the meeting is being conducted, including but not limited to any motions, proposals, resolutions, and any other matter formally discussed or voted upon. This shall include the use of first and last name placards physically placed in front of the members or, for members participating by videoconferencing from private locations due to extraordinary circumstances, such members must ensure that their full first and last name appears on their videoconferencing screen.
6. The minutes of the meetings involving videoconferencing based on extraordinary circumstances pursuant to POL § 103-a shall include which, if any, members participated by videoconferencing from a private location due to such extraordinary circumstances.
7. The public notice for the meeting shall inform the public: (i) that extraordinary circumstances videoconferencing will (or may) be used, (ii) where the public can view and/or participate in such meeting, (iii) where required documents and records will be posted or available, and (iv) the physical location(s) for the meeting where the public can attend.
8. The Public Body shall provide that each open portion of any meeting conducted using extraordinary circumstances videoconferencing shall be recorded and such recordings posted or linked on the Public Body’s website within five business days following the meeting, and shall remain so available for a minimum of five years thereafter. Such recordings shall be transcribed upon request.
9. If members of the Public Body are authorized to participate by videoconferencing from a private location due to extraordinary circumstances, the Public Body shall provide the opportunity for members of the public to view such meeting by video, and to participate in proceedings by videoconference in real time where public comment or participation is authorized. The Public Body shall ensure that where extraordinary circumstances videoconferencing is used, it authorizes the same public participation or testimony as in person participation or testimony.
10. Open meetings of the Public Bodies conducted using extraordinary circumstances videoconferencing pursuant to the provisions of POL § 103-a shall utilize technology to permit access by members of the public with disabilities consistent with the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), as amended, and corresponding guidelines. For the purposes of this guideline, “disability” shall have the meaning defined in Executive Law § 292.
11. The in-person participation requirements of POL § 103-a(2)(c) shall not apply during a state disaster emergency declared by the governor pursuant to Executive Law § 28 or a local state of emergency proclaimed by the chief executive of a county, city, village or town pursuant to § 24 of the Executive Law if the Public Body determines that the circumstances necessitating the emergency declaration would affect or impair the ability of the Public Body to hold an in person meeting.
12. These procedures shall be conspicuously posted on the City’s website
