Virtual Council Meetings Are Here To Stay

Evansville IN

15 July, 2021

10:22 AM

Description

By Steve Burger, WNIN July 15, 2021 The Indiana legislature left local governments a way to continue virtual meetings after the current public health emergency has ended, which could be the end of July. Local government bodies have to adopt a policy regarding virtual attendance that at a minimum, meets state guidelines. Monday evening, Evansville city council attorney Joshua Claybourn outlined the policy, which is more restrictive than the current one. For example, a council member cannot attend more than two meetings in a row virtually, and votes on a number of matters must be done in person. Claybourn was asked what happens if the conditions aren't met. "I think the short answer is your vote doesn't count. I mean nothing prevents you from listening in and talking, but your vote won't count unless you fit one of (approved exception) categories." The resolution on virtual attendance for Evansville City Council members is on their website. WNIN is the NPR/PBS affiliate in Evansville, Indiana. We serve Southwestern Indiana, Western Kentucky and Southern Illinois from our multimedia facility located on the Ohio River in downtown Evansville. For the past several years, the recognized quality of our local news has placed us among the best small market radio news organizations in the nation.