Results 1 to 3 of 3

Thread: Town falls short in providing board meeting content

  1. #1
    Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Posts
    8,918

    Town falls short in providing board meeting content

    Individuals unable to attend town board meetings because of health, work schedule, etc. reasons are able to listen to meeting recordings provided on their websites. An especially useful tool when no media meeting coverage takes place – as happened this past week, again.

    Why the Town of Lancaster refuses to live stream the meeting is disconcerting – especially with Covid concerns resurfacing.

    For that reason I submitted the following correspondence:

    August 30, 2021
    Town of Lancaster Clerk’s Office
    RE: Town Board Meeting content distribution
    Attention: Town Clerk Diane Terranova


    Ms. Terranova

    I am submitting this correspondence to you requesting you forward it to the members of the Town Board, Attorney Loftus, and anyone involved in town board meeting content and its distribution.

    Town Board Meeting Recording on Town website

    Lancaster residents who are unable to attend town board meetings because of physical limitations, work schedules and other reasons can access meeting information through the media or from listening to the meeting recordings on the town website.

    The Buffalo News has not had a reporter present at town board meetings for some time. This week the Lancaster Bee reported only on a work session presentation by Hearts and Hands. That left only the town’s meeting recording on the town’s website to access meeting information.

    As happens at every recording meeting much of the comment dialogue is missed or potentially misheard because town board members and residents addressing the board are not using the provided microphones or distancing themselves from the microphones and rendering them ineffective.

    This week, Supervisor Ruffino, Councilmembers Leary and Dickman, and Attorney Loftus come across loud and clear, Councilmembers Wozniak and Mazur and Town Engineer barely audible. Individuals attending meetings report not hearing residents at the podium with their backs to them inaudible when not effectively adjusting the microphone.

    Resolution language

    Residents are allowed five minutes to address the board on pre-filed resolutions. Too often the language in the resolution is opaque or incomplete in information where clarification is required to ensure the resolution is not implying additional hiring (rather personnel replacement), purchases are needs rather than wants, etc.

    Transparency

    When campaigning, elected officials are quick to promise transparency and to act in the best interest of the community. Residents are deprived of said transparency when no meeting written report of the meeting is presented and where the town provided meeting recording is indistinguishable. It is especially frustrating when town official comments are indistinguishable and can result in misleading assumptions.

    Work Session

    It is unfortunate the pre-meeting work session is not recorded or presented in abbreviated written form. These sessions are often as important as the regular meetings.

    With projects in play, a budget at hand, and an election in the near future, residents should have an opportunity to receive and process as much information as possible to ensure their elected officials are held accountable in acting in the best interest of the community.

    Lee Chowaniec
    Lancaster, NY

    CC:
    Town Board members
    Town Attorney Kevin Loftus
    Town Engineer Ed Schiller

  2. #2
    Member mark blazejewski's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2015
    Posts
    5,299
    Quote Originally Posted by Lee Chowaniec View Post
    This week, Supervisor Ruffino, Councilmembers Leary and Dickman, and Attorney Loftus come across loud and clear, Councilmembers Wozniak and Mazur and Town Engineer barely audible. Individuals attending meetings report not hearing residents at the podium with their backs to them inaudible when not effectively adjusting the microphone.
    I know that during the Covid shutdowns, the VOL and the Village of Depew meetings were "Zoomed," which gave the public not only access to the words of their government leaders, but also the all-important visual component; a priceless measure of truth and sincerity which only facial expressions and body language can convey.

    Without intending to suggest that any actor may be intentionally manipulating the microphone(s), perhaps it would be worth what I understand to be a modest cost for the Town to acquire a YouTube channel in order to stream the proceedings "live and in color."

    I understand that some local churches livestream their services. If am am correct, the technology and an available medium exist.

    Perhaps such coverage would motivate increased attention to more effective microphone usage?

    If our elected officials truly mean their own words advocating transparency, they know the value of having an accurate and indisputable record of their public acts.

    I think a recorded, livestreamed endeavor would be a much cheaper alternative to the hire of a stenographer to transcribe the meetings, eh?
    Last edited by mark blazejewski; August 31st, 2021 at 01:02 PM.
    LIDA Member Rinow to Member Ruda: You were a sitting Trustee on the Board. Did you help support Mr. Sweeney getting a seat on the CDC Board?"

  3. #3
    Member Frank Lee Blunt's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2021
    Posts
    592
    Lee, you are right on the money. You have pointed out many reasons why this administration should move the TOL board meetings into the 21st century. I contend they will not do that ever! When the people decide to throw this Democrat crew out of office they will get results. I would bet 1000$ bucks if you ask one of the Real Republican/Conservative candidates if they will fix that problem, they would say yes. It is not that much of an accomplishment. But these guys are used to lending a tin ear to the needs of the public. The less the public knows the better! I am glad that this subject is getting traction.
    As far as Mr. Wozniak and Mazur and the town engineer, when you have nothing to say of importance and you have failed at almost every task assigned to you, you tend to mumble. The public has a right to hear even those mumbles.
    Frank Lee Speaking....

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. 9-5-17 Town Board meeting
    By gorja in forum Village of Lancaster and Town of Lancaster Politics
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: September 5th, 2017, 09:03 PM
  2. Recording of Town Board meeting on Town website, why not
    By Lee Chowaniec in forum Village of Lancaster and Town of Lancaster Politics
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: August 4th, 2017, 06:45 PM
  3. New casino falls short of meeting requirements of deal with city
    By WNYresident in forum Company Watch, Master planning, Development and Policy Discussion
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: March 23rd, 2014, 01:37 PM
  4. Town Board Meeting 1/3
    By magic55 in forum Amherst, Clarence and Williamsville
    Replies: 106
    Last Post: January 8th, 2006, 06:15 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •