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My Turn: Public meetings for all the public >Published: 7/19/2021 3:19:15 PM
At a meeting of Greenfield City Council committee chairs this month, the question of whether to hold future meetings by remote access, in person or a hybrid or both was discussed.
Although the matter was eventually tabled, three of the five of us were leaning towards hybrid/remote. I am one of them. I’ve done some research since our meeting and think that it is a discussion that the entire community should pay attention to. Continuing to allow remote access allows many more residents to be involved in and pay attention to local government.
Remote participation in government improved access, but maybe at a cost
By Katie Lannan
State House News Service
In Northampton, holding meetings remotely allowed the city s police review commission to offer real-time Spanish interpretation. One member of that panel Booker Bush, a 69-year-old physician who also serves on the Northampton Human Rights Commission told state lawmakers Wednesday that he s been more involved in the political process over the past year than any other in his life.
Myra Ross, an Amherst resident who is blind, said she s been able to participate in municipal meetings because of platforms like Zoom and that losing this opportunity to be an equal participant would be a tragedy to Massachusetts.
Northampton council backs police alternative, pressures mayor to act
Northampton Police Station
Published: 5/7/2021 7:02:06 PM
NORTHAMPTON The City Council threw its support behind the recommendations of the city’s Policing Review Commission on Thursday, adopting a resolution that urges Mayor David Narkewicz to establish a Department of Community Care this fiscal year and take other steps recommended by the commission.
“The community deserves our feedback. We didn’t really get a chance to do that at the presentation,” said Ward 7 councilor Rachel Maiore, referring to the final report the commission presented to the council in late March. “I really feel like those who served so thoughtfully and tirelessly on the commission deserve no less as well.”