Online meetings pose issue for municipalities
A recent Norristown Municipal Council meeting was interrupted with pornographic audio and video.
The recent online troll intrusion into a Norristown Municipal Council meeting pointed out in shocking detail the challenges faced in virtual meetings.
The Norristown incident occurred on a GoToMeeting platform as members of the public watched and listened while council members and borough staff “met” in live videoconference.
Members of council were voting on an application for the 2020 DCNR Park Rehabilitation and Development Grant when audio and video depicting pornographic content brought the meeting to a screeching halt.
Participants appeared stunned by the display as their eyes went wide and they were seen covering their hands over their mouths.
“It was rude and embarrassing, and really unfortunate,” said Councilman Thomas Lepera in a phone interview after the meeting. “I just would like to personally apologize to any of the public that would be listening or watching that meeting.”
The fact that an unknown person could insert porn video into a local government meeting is disturbing, to say the least. And in the aftermath, it raises additional questions about how much the public record of the meeting should reflect what happened and how to allow and control public access in the future.
Norristown Public Information Officer Kevin Tustin said the video would not be posted online, but minutes would be. Tustin said the precedent not to post the video is consistent with the municipality’s practices since they don’t record work sessions normally.
When asked about the situation, Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association’s In House Counsel Melissa Melewsky advised that any editing of meeting videos should be disclosed to remain transparent with the public.
“There shouldn’t be a question about whether or not it’s a full record,” she said in a phone interview. “I think it’s fine if they want to take that kind of information out as long as they tell folks they’ve done it.”
However, she clarified that the state’s Sunshine Act, which aims to keep institutions accountable for holding public meetings, “doesn’t require them to post anything.”
Melewsky added that the state’s Office of Open Records recommended local governments adhere to guidelines surrounding virtual meetings.
The incident begs the question: Which is more important — security or public access? The answer of course has to be both.
The challenge in these times is for municipalities to stage virtual meetings with some measure of security to protect the integrity of the session but also with a means for citizens to participate with public questions or comments.
We are confident that municipalities take this responsibility seriously and are doing their best to prepare for situations that were not part of their experiences before this pandemic and the social distancing requirements.
Lansdale, for example, had its director of technology, Bryan Poster conduct “test meetings” with several online meeting platforms including GoToMeeting and Zoom before the borough held its first online meeting.
Poster said that the town’s elected officials agreed that “Zoom seemed to get the best rating.” (Zoom has since come under scrutiny for lapses in security, and some businesses no longer allow the app to be downloaded onto company devices.)
Poster implemented a number of policies to create a safe meeting environment including enrolling people via email and phone as well as having a “meeting room,” which prevents people from entering the meeting until he authorizes it.
Once members of the public call into the meeting, Poster said he’s able to cross-reference the user’s telephone number with the registration log. Poster added area residents can participate by asking questions or making comments during the meeting as “there’s a way to virtually raise your hand” through the platform.
Meeting videos are posted on the borough’s website, social media accounts and public access television station so that constituents can keep up with the area’s current affairs.
In the two months since distancing began, we’ve seen the comfort level of municipalities change as they navigate the online landscape. Some have resumed a regular meeting schedule after canceling a few sessions; others quickly realized they couldn’t just Zoom among themselves — the public has to be allowed access if there is a quorum and business matters being voted on.
By all accounts, municipalities and school boards will be operating this way for at least the next few months. The intrusion in Norristown was a reminder that the change comes with potential hazards never encountered before.
We urge officials to exercise caution, be prepared and be mindful of transparency and the public’s right to know. Maintaining that balance will keep us safe and informed.