To the editor: For a year now, the New Lebanon Town Board has been holding their monthly meetings via Zoom.
That was understandable for a few months, but many residents do not have internet access or a smartphone, and others wouldn t know how to use the new technology. So the Zoom option is no longer what I would call transparent or ethical.
When the public cannot physically attend their meetings, board actions should be limited to the authorization of paying the bills and the dealing with emergencies that may arise only. It is hardly acceptable to vote on other town issues and take board votes when the public is not present to ask questions or state objections. Yes, we can email questions to the supervisor prior to meetings, based on what we read in the meeting agenda, but that fails to solve the problem concerning issues that may arise during the meeting, and it eliminates the opportunity for the people to voice their opinions, concerns or support before a vote is taken.