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Adopt a Revised Meeting Schedule to Hold Meetings in a Virtual Environment through December 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
Ann Anderson, 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 extends Resolutions (2020-04-22/R-7), (2020-05-20/R-7), and (2020-09-09/R-13), which described the virtual meeting environment and included information about public participation in a virtual environment during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Recommendation(s):
That the Council adopt a revised meeting schedule to hold meetings in a virtual environment through December 31, 2020 or until the Orange County Stay at Home Order is lifted.
Key Issue:
Orange County has issued subsequent Declarations extending the local State of Emergency through December 31, 2020 for Orange County residents.
The Governor signed Session Law 2020-3 into law to enact G.S. 166A-19.24, which provides authority and procedures for remote meetings by simultaneous communication during declarations of emergency by the Governor or General Assembly, including authorization and procedures for holding quasi-judicial evidentiary hearings, subject to certain limitations.
The Council will conduct the remote meetings using the ZOOM platform with the Webinar add-on. This allows the Council to create an environment similar to the Council Chamber. The panelists are the Council members, staff, and presenters that normally would be seen at the dais, staff tables, and public podium. The attendees are the audience participants. At the appointed time, an attendee would be promoted to the panelist discussion, make their comment, and be returned to the attendee mode by the meeting host.
The overall intent of...
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