Referred to:  The Laws, Rules and Government Services Committee (Chairman Heppner and Legislators Gavaris, Levine, Roberts, and Ronk), and The Ways and Means Committee (Chairman Gavaris and Legislators Cahill, Criswell, Roberts, and Ronk)

Legislators Tracey Bartels, Phil Erner and Laura Petit offer the following:

WHEREAS,   the people must have equitable access to their government including knowledge of the proceedings of public meetings; and

WHEREAS,   the Legislature and the various County boards and commissions conduct their official business in open public meetings; and

WHEREAS,   the Legislature video records its Sessions as well as audio-records committee meetings; and

WHEREAS,   some of the other meetings are recorded by video or audio; and

WHEREAS,   all such meetings maintain either minutes or partial transcripts; and

WHEREAS, the County has moved toward electronic recordkeeping; and

WHEREAS, maintaining audio and/or video records of public meetings expands their accessibility to those who may speak and understand but not read (English), or who may have visual or aural impairments; and

WHEREAS, having diverse forms of records makes it more likely that such records will remain accessible into the indefinite future; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, the record of every public meeting of any part of the government of Ulster County required to keep an official record, shall include video and/or audio recordings of each meeting, created by usual means and kept publicly accessible in usual ways for such media; and, be it further

RESOLVED, that this legislation shall not reduce any existing requirement to keep minutes, transcripts or other official records on paper or in any other form whatsoever, and, be it further

RESOLVED, where possible, this Resolution shall take effect immediately after adoption, with all records in compliance no later than three months following adoption of this Resolution,

and move its adoption.

ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

AYES:                        NOES:    

Passed Committee: Laws, Rules and Government Services on ______________.

Passed Committee: Ways and Means on ______________.

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

TBD