[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Sodus as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 8-25-2022 by L.L. No. 1-2022]
It is the intent of this article to give Town Board members the authority to participate in Town Board meetings via videoconference from locations that fall outside the Town's geographical boundaries. Videoconferencing has proven to be an effective and useful tool for Town Board meetings that allows members to participate despite issues such as inclement weather, illness, or travel plans. Videoconferencing also helps ameliorate potential quorum issues so that the Town is able to address business and matters in a timely fashion. Although Public Officers Law § 102 expressly allows members of a public body to attend and participate in meetings using videoconferencing, Town Law § 62 states that Town Board meetings must take place within the Town thereby making it unclear if a Town Board member may participate via videoconference from a location outside the Town's boundaries. This article is meant to expressly provide that authority to members of the Town Board.
This article is adopted pursuant to Municipal Home Rule Law § 10 which expressly authorizes the Town Board to adopt a local law superseding any provision of Town Law relating to the property, affairs or government of the Town.
The Town Board of the Town of Sodus hereby supersedes Town Law § 62 to expressly allow Town Board members to participate in Town Board meetings using videoconferencing from locations that fall outside the geographical limitations of the Town.
If any provision of this article is determined to be unconstitutional or invalid, the validity and enforceability of the remainder shall not be affected.