[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Champlain 3-1-1977 by resolution. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Public access to records — See Ch. 99.
The purpose of this chapter is to provide notice to the public and the news media of the regular and special meetings of the Town Board at which public business is officially transacted, in compliance with the Open Meetings Law (Public Officers Law, Article 7). Such notice is designed to facilitate public attendance at such meetings and to observe and listen to the deliberation and decisions of this Board.
A. 
The terms, words and phrases used in this chapter shall have the same meanings as such terms, words and phrases are defined in the § 92 of the Public Officers Law.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 92 of the Public Officers Law was renumbered as § 97 by Chapter 933 of the Laws of 1977, which § 97 was subsequently renumbered as § 102 by Chapter 652 of the Laws of 1983.
B. 
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
NEWS MEDIA
A newspaper that is printed not less frequently than once a week, in which legal notices may be published, or a radio or television station that regularly broadcasts news.
NOTICE
Includes, but shall not be limited to, written or oral information relating to the date, time and place where a meeting is to be held.
[Amended 8-13-2024 by L.L. No. 4-2024]
The following locations are hereby designated as the sites where notices of all meetings held by the Town Board shall be posted:
A. 
Official bulletin board located at the Town of Champlain office, 10729 State Route 9, Champlain, NY.
B. 
Official Website for the Town of Champlain, https://www.townofchamplain.com
[Amended 8-13-2024 by L.L. No. 4-2024]
The official designated newspapers of general circulation that are operative within the Town of Champlain will be designated by resolution at the Town Board's annual organizational meeting held in January. These so-designated newspapers are chosen as the news media that shall receive notice of all meetings held by the Town of Champlain.
A. 
The Town Clerk shall be responsible for providing notice to the general public and the news media as provided in this chapter.
B. 
The Town Clerk shall, upon request, whenever possible, provide notice to any person of the date, time and place of a meeting of the Town Board, whether the request for such information is made in person, in writing or by telephone; provided, however, that a written request requiring a written notice shall be accompanied by a properly stamped self-addressed envelope and that a telephone request requiring the Town Clerk to return a long-distance call shall not be honored unless the requester accepts the charges for such call.
[Amended 8-13-2024 by L.L. No. 4-2024]
A. 
The Town Clerk shall be responsible for providing notice to the general public and the news media as provided in this chapter.
B. 
The newspapers designated in § 17-4 herein shall be informed of a scheduled meeting at least one week in advance to ensure notice is at least 72 hours in advance of such meeting, by email, or by personal delivery to an officer or employee of the news media, as follows:
(1) 
Notice provided by email to the news media shall be sent at least one week in advance of such meeting to ensure that it is provided by the news media at least 72 hours in advance of a meeting. When notice to the news media is emailed, the person emailing will request an email confirmation and said confirmation will be recorded as provided in § 17-10B.
(2) 
When notice to the news media is personally delivered, the person delivering the notice shall obtain a receipt signed by an officer or employee of the news media, which receipt shall also show the time and date thereof and the title of such officer or employee, and shall state that the notice has been provided in compliance with § 94 of the Public Officers Law.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 94 of the Public Officers Law was renumbered as § 99 by Chapter 933 of the Laws of 1977, which § 99 was subsequently renumbered as § 104 by Chapter 652 of the Laws of 1983.
A. 
When the Town Board schedules meetings in advance that are to be held at specific times and locations and on specific dates, a single notice may be provided to the public and the news media.
B. 
Notice specifying the time, location and dates of regularly scheduled meetings shall be posted in locations designated in § 17-3 herein.
C. 
Notice specifying the time, location and dates of regularly scheduled meetings shall be posted to the news media designated in § 17-4 herein. Such notice shall be provided in accordance with the requirements set forth in § 17-6B(1) or (2) of this chapter.
When the time, date or location of a scheduled meeting is changed, the Town Clerk shall, as soon as practicable:
A. 
Post notices showing the change in date, time or location of a meeting at the sites designated by § 17-3 herein.
B. 
Provide notice to the news media designated to receive notice by § 17-4 herein as provided in § 17-6 or 17-7, as the case may be, of this chapter.
[Amended 8-13-2024 by L.L. No. 4-2024]
The Town Clerk shall keep a log or other record in which there shall be entered the following information relating to giving public notice under this chapter:
A. 
The date of posting of the public notice, the date or descriptive schedule of the meeting or meetings for which notice was given and the name of the person who posted the notice.
B. 
If the notice to the news media is given by email, the time and date of said email, the date or descriptive schedule of the meeting or meetings for which such notice is given, the name of the email recipient and the name and title of the person who sent the email.
C. 
If notice to the news media is given by personal delivery, the time and date of the delivery of the same, the date or descriptive schedule of the meeting or meetings for which the notice was delivered, the name of the officer or employee to whom it was delivered and the name and title of the person who delivered the notice.