Like what you see in this video? There could be a lot more where that comes from.
The city is taking a serious look at whether to videotape meetings in the interest of a more transparent government.
The Board of Aldermen Tuesday voted to allow board president Stephen Blume to appoint a committee to review the proposal, brought forward by Alderman John Marini.
“It makes it easier to see the public officials in action,” Marini said. “Residents who may be unable to make meetings, who may be unable to keep up with what their public officials are doing.”
Marini presented a detailed resolution outlining a plan to form a committee to look into the costs and feasibility of videotaping meetings.
But the board opted to table his resolution and then pass a motion that authorized Blume to create the committee — essentially the exact resolution before them.
“In lieu of this resolution, I would go along with appointing a committee, you guys get us the answers, and come back to us, because I have a whole list of questions,” said alderman Jerome Fainer.
Marini’s resolution had additional items — such as timelines for meeting those goals — that board members didn’t want to approve right away.
Board members were also concerned about the cost of the project.
“Considering all the new technology, it’s possible to do so at a minimal cost,” Marini said.
No other towns in the Valley currently videotape their meetings for the public.
However, a citizen in Seymour videotapes many of the town meetings in Seymour to air on his public access show. Frank Loda also posts the videos on a website for the public to view.
The practice has created some tension in the past, when the past Board of Selectmen passed rules regulating where in the meeting room Loda was required to sit in order to tape.
Loda won a Freedom of Information complaint against the town in the argument.
