Log in Subscribe

Sullivan County: open for business, open for democracy

Sam Avrett - Fremont
Posted 5/27/21

To the editor:

On Monday, May 24th, Sullivan County took another step to re-open from the COVID-19 shutdown by increasing public access to many government offices and facilities. This is good …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Sullivan County: open for business, open for democracy

Posted

To the editor:

On Monday, May 24th, Sullivan County took another step to re-open from the COVID-19 shutdown by increasing public access to many government offices and facilities. This is good news.

Less reported but equally good news comes from a more local level: in at least six Sullivan County Towns - Fallsburg, Liberty, Lumberland, Mamakating, Rockland, and Tusten, elected officials continue to welcome constituents to join public meetings via Zoom, and in most of these towns, elected officials plan to maintain this practice.

How is your town spending tax dollars? When will your road be repaved? How many new houses and subdivisions are being permitted? Will big solar installations be allowed? What about that proposed new restaurant or music event?

In some towns when residents can't get to town hall for a meeting, they will still be able to log in and see officials conducting town business. Why are those towns maintaining open meetings via Zoom? Because it's convenient. An option for online participation helps officials and employees participate despite busy work schedules and family obligations.

It's also not expensive or complicated, involving just a basic computer at the town hall with decent camera, microphone, internet connection and an affordable Zoom subscription. Online access will never substitute for in-person meetings. A lot more can get done when people gather in a room together and not everyone in Sullivan County has access to high-speed internet or cell phone service.

But the trend to provide ongoing access to town meetings via Zoom is good for Sullivan County. Broader access can lead to informed citizens, resulting in more people able to participate in their government. More engagement at a town level helps build the pool of people who can help lead our county.

Online access is also good for democracy. New York State's Open Meetings Law states “It is essential to the maintenance of a democratic society that the public business be performed in an open and public manner and that the citizens of this state be fully aware of and able to observe the performance of public officials and attend and listen to the deliberations and decisions that go into the making of public policy.”

This summer in Sullivan County, as our county, towns and local businesses re-open and expand in the aftermath of COVID-19, all towns should look to the examples of Liberty, Lumberland, Mamakating, Rockland and Tusten and invest in online access to town meetings.

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here