[1][HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Red
Hook 3-8-1977 as L.L. No. 1-1977 (Ch. 10 of the 1976 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
[1]
Editor's Note: The title of this chapter was changed from
"Meetings, Public Notice of" to "Meetings, Notice and Procedures" 5-25-2022 by L.L. No. 2-2022.
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, to observe and listen to the deliberations 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 § 102 of the Public Officers Law.
[Amended 4-9-1991 by L.L.
No. 1-1991]
B.
NEWS MEDIA
NOTICE
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall
have the meanings indicated:
A newspaper that is printed not less frequently than once
a week and in which legal notices may be published.
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 4-9-1991 by L.L.
No. 1-1991; 5-25-2022 by L.L. No. 2-2022]
The following locations are hereby designated
as the sites where notice of all meetings held by the Town Board shall
be posted:
[Amended 4-9-1991 by L.L.
No. 1-1991]
Newspapers designated to receive notice of meetings
of the Town Board shall be as decided at the annual reorganizational
meeting of the Town Board.
A.
The Town Clerk shall be responsible for providing
notice to the 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.
A.
The public shall be informed of meetings scheduled at least one week in advance by the posting of a notice at least 72 hours in advance of such meetings in the locations designated in § 22-3 herein.
B.
The newspapers designated in § 22-4 herein shall be informed of a meeting scheduled at least one week in advance at least 72 hours in advance of such meeting by mail or by telephone or by personal delivery of the notice to an officer or employee of the news media as follows:
(1)
Notice provided by mail to the news media shall be
sent at least one week in advance of such meetings to ensure that
notice will be provided to the news media at least 72 hours in advance
of a meeting.
(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 notice has been provided in compliance with § 104
of the Public Officers Law.
[Amended 4-9-1991 by L.L.
No. 1-1991]
(3)
When notice to the media is given by telephone, the
person making such telephone call shall obtain the name and title
of the officer or employee to whom the notice is given and shall write
down such information and the time and date of such call as provided
herein.
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.
When the time, date or location of a scheduled
meeting is changed, the Town Clerk shall, as soon as practicable:
The Town Clerk shall keep a log or other record
in which there shall be entered the following information relating
to the giving of 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 and title of the person who posted the notice.
B.
If notice is given to the news media by mail, the
date of mailing same, the date or descriptive schedule of the meeting
or meetings for which the notice has been mailed and the name and
title of the person who mailed such notice.
C.
If notice to the news media is given by personal delivery,
the time and date of delivery of same, the date or descriptive schedule
of the meeting or meetings for which the notice was delivered, the
name and title of the officer or employee to whom it was delivered
and the name and title of the person who delivered the notice.
D.
If notice to the news media is given by telephone,
the time and date of such telephone call, the date or descriptive
schedule of the meeting or meetings for which such notice is given,
the name and title of the officer or employee to whom it was given
and the name and title of the person who gave such notice.
[Added 5-25-2022 by L.L. No. 2-2022]
The Town Board of the Town of Red Hook hereby authorizes members
of the Town Board and all members of the Town's public bodies to participate
in meetings using videoconferencing technology in a manner permitted
by Public Officers Law § 103-a and the Town's videoconferencing
policy adopted by resolution of the Town Board.
Without limiting the foregoing, the members of the Town Board
and all members of the Town's public bodies are authorized to participate
in meetings using videoconferencing or teleconferencing technology
to the extent permitted by law including any then-applicable Executive
Order or state or local emergency declaration if the public body determines
that the circumstances necessitating the emergency declaration would
affect or impair the ability of the public body to hold a meeting
without videoconferencing.
