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Adopt a Revised Meeting Schedule to Hold Special Meetings in a Virtual Environment through May 31, 2020 or Until the Orange County Stay At Home Order is Lifted.
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Staff:
Department:
Maurice Jones, Town Manager
Town Manager's Office
Ralph Karpinos, Town Attorney
Town Attorney's Office
Sabrina Oliver, Town Clerk/Director
Communications and Public Affairs
Overview: The Council values transparency in government and will include robust and inclusive public participation in virtual meetings. The Resolution describes the virtual meeting environment and includes information about public participation in a virtual environment during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Resolution anticipates resuming regular meetings in June 2020, if conditions allow.
Recommendation(s):
That the Council adopt a revised meeting schedule to hold special meetings in a virtual environment through May 31, 2020 or until the Orange County Stay at Home Order is lifted.
Key Issue:
On March 26, 2020, the NC Department of Justice provided an advisory opinion stating that "electronic meetings are allowed under N.C.G.S. ?143.318.13, and the requirements of notice, access and minutes can be met through electronic means. Due to the unprecedented circumstances we are all faced with, and the fact that local governing bodies conducting meetings remotely is not expressly prohibited by statute, I conclude that local governments can carry out necessary meetings electronically and remain in compliance with Open Meetings Laws."
The School of Government transmitted the above advisory opinion and added that "the letter doesn't specifically address the impact of electronic participation on statutory quorum/voting requirements, public hearings, public comment periods, or quasi-judicial hearings." Some blog posts on those topics include the following:
* Meetings and Public Hearings Under the Coronavirus State of Emergency
* Can We Really Ban In-Person Attendance at Board Meetings During the Coronavirus Eme...
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