Council to continue distance meetings
The Maui County Council and its committees will continue to meet exclusively via video conference as long as Gov. David Ige’s emergency proclamation on COVID-19 remains in effect and perhaps longer if state law is amended, according to a news release from the Maui County Council on Friday.
“Our decisions are guided by our concern for the public’s health and our commitment to accessible government,” said council Chairwoman Alice Lee said Friday. “We see the state set two single-day records yesterday and today for new coronavirus infections, and the Department of Health is cautioning about the possible need to impose additional restrictions on gatherings.”
Lee was responding to a news release sent out Thursday by Maui County Mayor Michael Victorino asking that the council reopen Council Chambers for public testimony, noting that the Kalana O Maui building, where the chamber is housed, opened on June 22 with safety protocols in place.
“I urge council Chair Alice Lee and the County Council to reopen the Council Chamber for in-person public testimony,” Victorino said. “While they have provided videoconferencing as an option for public testimony, there have been technical glitches, such as dropped calls and disconnections. We all need to work together to support our communities with more transparency and greater effort to ensure our people are given a fair opportunity to be heard.”
The council has been meeting exclusively via the Blue Jeans videoconferencing system since Ige’s stay-at-home order took effect in late March, Lee said. She noted county residents, good-government groups and media commentators have lauded the council’s efforts to continue to conduct business while maintaining the public’s ability to watch and testify at meetings.
“The council has been meeting via videoconferencing for four months, even when the county building was closed to the public,” Lee said. “We have actually increased transparency and accessibility by allowing Lanai, Maui and Molokai residents to testify by phone or internet from home.”