New Baltimore Meetings in Your Living Room?
A longtime resident wants city council meetings televised for people who cannot attend them in person.
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Will New Baltimore meetings be a click away in the future?
That's what longtime resident Don Hoppa would like to see.
"There's a lot of people who would like to come to the meetings but can't," Hoppa said at the City Council meeting Monday night.
City officials said they will discuss the topic in upcoming weeks.
"We talked about that a million times in the past," Mayor Larry Smith said about broadcasting the meetings. "I have no problems with that. We should show the city's transparency."
Smith said he doesn't know of any technological or financial reasons the city would not be able to televise the meetings. Many surrounding communities, such as Chesterfield Township, air their municipal meetings for people who cannot attend them in person.
Would you watch City Council meetings at home? Why?
Charles Walsh
9:21 am on Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Thank you Mr. Hoppa, Maybe finally our city officials will follow through on their supposed desire for transparency. It amazes me that someone doesn't file a violation of the American with Disabilities Act. I agree with Mr. Hoppa, just reading notes does not allow one to realize everything that was discussed or presented. If our officials really are not afraid they will get those video cameras rolling.
Dave
9:21 am on Wednesday, April 11, 2012
I think it's not only a great idea, i can think of no logical reason not to televise their meetings.
As for production costs those can be reduced by having some local students do the work. Anyone can use the comcast studios and equipment to make a show for the public access channel. Why not look for a group of students or a school which could handle the production of the shows or at least help out? It might be something to consider when the cost issue comes up.
Other than the cost i can see no reason not to allow the meetings to be televised. I'm one of those people who likes seeing the meetings.. i'm just not inclined to go to them in person. I do like the transparency it provides for the chesterfield city council meetings. I just wish they'd discuss everything in the open instead of going behind closed doors all the time. Even with televised meetings there are still ways for the council members to deliberate in secret.
But, i can see nothing but good coming from televising what they do want us to see. I'm all in favor of allowing cameras in the meetings.
Christy Arboscello
1:53 pm on Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Would you be more inclined to learn about city matters if you could watch a council meeting from home?