[Adopted 7-12-2022 by L.L. No. 2-2022, approved 7-19-2022]
In response to Open Meetings Law changes (Chapter 56 of the
Laws of 2022) signed by Governor Hochul on April 9, 2022, the Common
Council adopts this article to authorize and specify procedures for
remote meeting attendance, via videoconference, under extraordinary
circumstances. Such circumstances shall include, but not be limited
to, a participant's disability, illness, caregiving obligations, or
any other significant or unexpected factor or event that precludes
the member's in-person attendance at the scheduled meeting. Any persons
seeking to participate remotely under this provision must receive
approval from the meeting Chair before the start of the meeting and,
as a precondition to that approval, shall identify the nature of the
extraordinary circumstance. The Chair may not count any remote participants
toward a quorum unless the participant's remote location has been
identified in the public notice for the meeting and that location
is open to members of the public. Other individuals participating
remotely may attend and vote at meetings so long as a quorum has been
convened in accordance with Public Officers Law § 103-a.