Returning to meetings in person lauded

If you’re looking for signs that life is returning to normal after nearly a year of COVID-19 plaguing Northeast Ohio, there are a few encouraging developments.

First, the Cleveland Indians on Feb. 25 announced specific plans that will allow up to 30 percent capacity for games at Progressive Field, starting with the home opener at 4:10 p.m. April 5 with the Kansas City Royals. A crowd of 30 percent capacity at Progressive Field would be roughly 10,000 fans.

Outside the realm of professional sports, we also noticed that several local governmental bodies have decided to resume in-person meetings. These groups had been holding remote gatherings by video conference, a format that became popular during the novel coronavirus pandemic.

For government leaders and residents alike, it marks the return of old-fashioned assemblies where everyone gathers inside a room at a township, village or city hall, rather than attending meetings by connecting through a computer or cellphone.

Painesville Township trustees recently announced that they will open public meetings for in-person attendance starting March 2.

The township used federal CARES Act funds to help ensure its Township Hall at 55 Nye Road is safe for the public to gather. A virus filter was installed in the heating and air conditioning system, and chairs were purchased that allow for easier cleaning and disinfecting, according to Trustee Gabe Cicconetti.

“We also purchased UV lights for disinfecting, and we have a company come in for regular disinfecting to keep it as clean as possible,” he said.

The Ohio Health Department’s Order to Limit and/ or Prohibit Mass Gatherings gives the exception for gathering of people at “governmental meetings, which includes meetings that are required to be open to the public,” effective Nov. 17, 2020.

“We feel it’s a right for people to attend meetings and we want to get back to it as soon as possible,” Cicconetti said. “With things improving so quickly and such low numbers of cases in our area, we felt it was time.”

Video recordings of meetings still will be available online, and the township will use discretion to ensure proper physical distancing for in-person meetings.

Trustees’ meetings are held the first Tuesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. and the third Tuesday of each month at 11 a.m.

Meanwhile, Fairport Harbor Village Council has decided to resume holding in-person meetings at the Fairport Harbor Senior Center, located on East Street, starting April 20.

That recommendation was made by Mayor Timothy Manross during council’s Feb. 17 meeting, which was conducted remotely by video conference.

“I would like to propose that we go back to in-person meetings in the month of April,” Manross said. “As long as the numbers of COVID continue to decline, I think we’ll be well out of red by then.”

“Red” is the color code for Level 3 on Ohio’s COVID-19 Public Health Advisory System. Lake County has been classified at Level 3 since Dec. 10. Level 3 indicates “very high exposure and spread” of COVID-19 and residents are asked to limit activities as much as possible.

At the Feb. 17 meeting, Manross also advocated that council continue its current schedule of meeting only once a month.

Council approved Manross’ proposal, and as a result, the panel’s in-person meetings will take place at 6:30 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month beginning in April. The village also plans to continue offering video recordings of the meetings, so residents can view them in real time or at some point in the future.

Clearly, conducting governmental meetings remotely through video-conferencing software provides convenience, making it possible to attend these sessions from anywhere — ranging from private offices to an easy chair in one’s living room.

However, it’s also important to remember that not all people have the equipment or technical aptitude to join government meetings via computers or cellphones.

Since government should be accessible and responsive to all citizens, it seems to us that in-person meetings are the best way to give the maximum number of people the opportunity to attend meetings of governmental boards and councils.

In conclusion, we commend Fairport Harbor, Painesville Township and others for taking the steps to resume in-person government meetings, as long as they can be run safely.

“We feel it’s a right for people to attend meetings.’’ —Painesville Township Trustee Gabe Cicconetti