Title
Amendment to Chapter 2 of the Town Code to Allow Remote Participation by Council Members
PURPOSE: The purpose of this agenda item is to consider an amendment to Chapter 2 of the Carrboro Town Code to allow remote participation by Council Members at official Town Council meetings.
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Department
DEPARTMENT: Town Attorney / Town Clerk
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Contact
CONTACT INFORMATION: Nick Herman & Brady Herman, Town Attorney, Wesley Barker, Town Clerk, wbarker@carrboronc.gov, 919-918-7309
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Council Direction
COUNCIL DIRECTION:
___ Race/Equity ____ Climate ____ Comprehensive Plan __X__Other
Council Direction Statement
Several Council Members have inquired about remote participation of Council meetings after the COVID-19 State of Emergency expired in 2022. This specific policy is not linked to any current Town directives, but Race and Equity pocket questions are included as Attachment B.
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Information
INFORMATION: The Town Attorney has prepared proposed amendments to Chapter 2 of the Town Code which will add a new section to this chapter to include rules of procedure for remote participation by members of Council at official meetings. This is due in part because the COVID-19 State of Emergency is no longer in effect, which allowed for remote meetings of public bodies.
In summary, these proposed amendments would allow remote participation by a Council Member(s) based on several factors that could prevent the Council Member(s) from physically attending the meeting, which can be found detailed in the attached proposed ordinance document.
It should be noted that this proposed ordinance amendment is only allowed when a quorum of the Council is physically present at the meeting, and the Council Member(s) participating remotely are not necessary to establish a valid quorum.
Further, remote participation by Council Members would not be allowed for quasi-judicial hearings.
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Fiscal and Staff Impact
FISCAL IMPACT: N/A
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Recommendation
RECOM...
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