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To start the new session and with new lawmakers sworn-in, the Suffolk County Legislature considered changes to the way it holds meetings to allow lawmakers to video conference into meetings. After more than 10 months of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was a no-brainer for legislators, but the measure still presented its own hiccups.
The debate began as lawmakers returned from the last summer recess. Democratic Legis. Susan Berland was still on vacation in Key West, Florida and wanted to Skype in. The state Open Meetings Law allows public officials to attend and vote at meetings via video conference.
The problem felt by the Democratic presiding officer, legislative aides and the entire Republican conference was that the proper technology and rules were not yet in place.