IDA to consider video conferencing meetings
Ulster County IDA members may resort to video conferencing if board members are unable to attend meetings regularly.
KINGSTON, N.Y. » Ulster County Industrial Development Agency members may resort to video conferencing if some of its board members are unable to attend meetings regularly.
The proposal was discussed during a meeting last week, where John Livermore and Robert Kinnen were absent.
“As a governmental body we’re subject to the (state) Open Meetings Law,” agency attorney Joseph Scott said. “What that ... generally means is you have to be present to attend and participate in a meeting.
“There has been some change in the law recently where they’ve allowed audio-video conferencing of meetings by governmental entities.”
Scott said members must participate by video to be considered in attendance and have voting privileges. He added that state law requires that someone attending by video conference must permit members of the public to be in the room during a meeting.
“We need to provide notice in the meeting notice of the remote location,” he said. “So if there’s someone in that jurisdiction or that area that wants to attend that meeting remotely they can do that.”
Suzanne Holt, director of the county Office of Economic Development, said the board members would have to provide notice three days in advance if video conferencing were planned.
“It would have to be a public place,” she said.
During the nine meetings conducted in 2017, only the May meeting had a full contingent of board members. Kinnen has missed five sessions; Livermore has missed the last three meetings; James Malcom has missed one; and former board Chairman Michael Horodyski missed one. Members John Morrow, Randall Leverette and Michael Bernholz have attend all nine meetings this year.
County Industrial Development Agency meetings are scheduled for 8 a.m. the second Wednesday of each month.
Board members did agree to allow voice calls for members who can’t attend meetings but wanted more information on the equipment needed for video conferencing.