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Among a grid of faces, a silent talking head is interrupted: âYouâre muted.â
Streamed live online or posted as video conference links, public meetings look and sound different from pre-pandemic town hall and school cafeteria gatherings. The global and ongoing COVID-19 health crisis has ushered virtual meetings to the fore of government operations, inviting public participation through screens and chat boxes.
In the year since the first wave of the pandemic, and like people around the world, public meetings have undergone a sort of existential crisis: What exactly constitutes an open, public meeting?
In the tri-county region, Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence County public officials have logged onto Zoom Video Communications, YouTube, Facebook, Google Meet and Cisco Webex â to name a few â to do the publicâs business.
RENSSELAER FALLS â For 43 minutes during a public meeting this week, village officials discussed the Rensselaer Falls Volunteer Rescue Squad and funding needed to cover a new defibrillator purchase.
The issue was tabled in December due to Trustee Charles H. Fifieldâs absence, according to Mayor Michael S. Hammond, and again aired Monday night over Zoom.
Trustee, EMT and secretary for the village rescue squad, James N. Blackburn has recused himself from voting on the matter citing a conflict of interest.
A $5,000 down payment and $4,300 in donations â already sent â and three annual payments will cover the roughly $41,000 cost of a Lifepak 15, an upgraded cardiac care response system for the all-volunteer rescue squad comprised of five EMTs and three drivers.
RENSSELAER FALLS â Village trustees on Monday night voted to approve 2021 municipal appointments, including Rensselaer Falls Clerk Lisa A. Hammond.
Mrs. Hammond, who retired from her position as elected Canton town clerk last month, was reappointed to the Rensselaer Falls position as part of the villageâs annual organizational appointments.
During Mondayâs virtual meeting on Zoom Technologies, Trustee James N. Blackburn said he emailed Mayor Michael S. Hammond and fellow trustees Dec. 21, with several questions, one involving the appointment of Mrs. Hammond. Mr. Blackburn added he only received a response from the mayor and requested the appointment be discussed in executive session, âwithout making human resources decisions publicly.â