[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Croton-on-Hudson
7-18-1977 by L.L. No. 14-1977. Sections 33-3B and 33-11B amended at time of
adoption of Code; see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I. Other amendments
noted where applicable.]
The purpose of this chapter is to comply with the provisions of the
Open Meetings Law (Article 7 of the Public Officers Law) and to ensure that
public business is performed in an open and public manner, enabling the people
to observe the operation of public bodies and to attend and listen to the
deliberations and decisions of the 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.
B.
BOARD
NEWS MEDIA
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have
the meanings indicated:
The Board of Trustees of the Village of Croton-on-Hudson.
The official newspapers of the Village of Croton-on-Hudson as they
may be determined from time to time.
A.
The Board is authorized to establish by resolution rules
of procedure regulating annual and regular meetings of the Board and fixing
the dates, places and times thereof. The Board may amend such rules of procedure
from time to time.
B.
Special meetings of the Board of Trustees may be called
by the Mayor or by any two Trustees at a regularly scheduled meeting or by
causing a written notice, specifying the date, time and place thereof, to
be served upon each member of the Board personally at least 24 hours before
the meeting or by leaving a notice at his residence or place of business with
some person of suitable age and discretion at least 36 hours before the meeting
or by mailing such notice 72 hours before such meeting. The person or persons
calling the special meeting as provided above shall at the same time advise
the Village Clerk of the date, time and place of such meeting so that the
Village Clerk may cause to be given notice thereof to the public and news
media in compliance with the Open Meetings Law and this chapter. If the person
or persons calling such special meeting are unable to advise the Village Clerk
of the special meeting or the Village Clerk is unable to give the required
notice to the public and news media, then the person or persons
calling such special meeting shall cause to be given notice thereof to the
public and news media. A record of the notice given shall be kept by the Village
Clerk in the village office.[1]
C.
All meetings of the Board shall be open to the public and the news media, except executive sessions as set forth in § 33-11 herein.
D.
The public and the news media may attend meetings but
may not participate without the specific authorization of the Board.
A notice of meetings of the Board shall be posted on the bulletin board
outside the village office in the Municipal Building.
The news media shall receive notice of the meetings of the Board. Any
other newspaper, radio or television station which requests notice of the
meetings of the Board shall receive such notice.
A.
Notice of meetings of the Board shall be provided to
the public and the news media by the Village Clerk.
B.
Whenever possible, notice of the date, time and place
of meetings of the Board shall be provided to any person who requests the
same, whether a request is made in person, in writing or by telephone.
C.
As necessary, a member of the Village Clerk's staff shall
be designated to assist in providing such notice.
A.
When the Board schedules meetings in advance that are
to be held regularly at specific times and locations and on specific dates,
a single notice may be provided to the public and the news media annually
or whenever meetings become regularly scheduled.
A.
A notice of meetings scheduled at least one week in advance shall be posted at least 72 hours in advance of such meetings at the location designated by § 33-4 herein.
B.
Notice of meetings scheduled at least one week in advance shall be given to the news media designated in § 33-5 at least 72 hours in advance of such meetings.
(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 delivered personally
or is given by telephone, a form or log shall be kept in which the Village
Clerk providing the notice shall record the date, time and name of the representative
of the news media to whom notice was provided and shall so certify in writing.
When the time, date or location of a scheduled meeting is changed, the
Village Clerk shall, as soon as possible and to the extent practicable:
A.
A motion calling for an executive session must identify
the general subject to be considered at that session. That motion must be
adopted by a majority vote of the total membership of the Board taken at an
open meeting.
C.
Attendance at executive sessions shall be permitted only
to the members of the Board and other persons authorized by the Board.
A.
Minutes shall be taken at all open meetings of the Board
and shall be available to the public after their approval by the Board at
the next scheduled meeting.
B.
Minutes shall be taken at executive sessions only of
actions taken by formal vote, if any, and shall consist of a summary of such
action and the vote thereon.
(1)
Minutes of executive sessions shall be available to the
public within one week from the date of the executive session.
(2)
Unless the Board approves such minutes within the one-week period, the Mayor is authorized to approve the minutes of any executive session as soon as practicable after any such session so that they may be available to the public in accordance with Subsection B(1) above. Approval by the Mayor is subject to ratification by the Board at the next scheduled meeting.
