[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Woodbury as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 8-11-2022 by L.L. No. 1-2022]
This article shall be referred to as the "A Local Law Authorizing the Use of Videoconferencing Technology for Public Meetings."
It is the intent of this article to give the Town of Woodbury's public bodies, as that term is defined in Public Officers Law § 102 (the "Open Meetings Law"), the authority to participate in meetings via videoconference technology in a manner consistent with authority granted by Public Officers Law § 103-a and the Town's videoconferencing policy.
This article is enacted by the Town Board pursuant to its authority to adopt local laws under Article IX of the New York State Constitution, Municipal Home Rule Law Section 10 and Public Officers Law § 103-a.
The Town Board hereby authorizes all members of the Town's public bodies to participate in meetings using videoconferencing technology in a manner consistent with Public Officers Law § 103-a and the Town's videoconferencing policy adopted by the Town Board. The Town's public bodies may participate in meetings via videoconference technology from locations not accessible to the public so long as a quorum of the Town board/body participates from location(s) where the public may be physically present; and extraordinary circumstances exist that prevent the board member from attending in person.
A. 
If a court of competent jurisdiction finds any provision(s) of this article invalid, in whole or in part, the effect of such decision shall be limited to those provisions which are expressly stated in the decision to be invalid, and all other provisions of the article shall continue to be separately and fully effective.
B. 
If a court of competent jurisdiction finds the application of any provision of this article to any building, other structure of tract of land to be invalid, in whole or in part, the effect of such decisions shall be limited to the person, property or situation involved in the controversy, and the application of any such provision to any other person, property or situation shall not be affected.
C. 
The provisions of this article are separable and if any provision, clause, sentence, subsection, word or part thereof is held illegal, invalid or unconstitutional, or inapplicable to any person or circumstance, such illegality, invalidity, or unconstitutionality, or inapplicability, shall not affect or impair any of the remaining provisions, clauses, sentences, subsections, words or parts of this article or their application to other persons or circumstances. It is hereby declared to be the legislative intent of the Town Board of the Town of Woodbury that this article would have been adopted if such illegal, invalid or unconstitutional provision, clause, sentence, subsection, word or part had not been included therein, and if such person or circumstance to which the article or part thereof is held inapplicable had been specifically exempt therefrom.
This article shall take effect immediately when it is filed in the Office of the New York State Secretary of State in accordance with Section 27 of the Municipal Home Rule Law.