For Immediate Release
May 14, 2020
Rochester City Council Receives an “A” Rating
from New York Coalition for Open Government for Public Access during COVID-19
Pandemic
On May 12, 2020 the New York Coalition for Open Government, Inc. issued a
report entitled Local Governments Mute the Public During Remote Meetings.
The report focused on local governments’ compliance with the Governor’s
Executive Order and the Open Meetings Law during the COVID-19 pandemic. The
criteria reviewed included the following 4 questions:
Are meetings being live streamed?
Are meeting videos/audio posted online after the
meeting?
Are all meeting documents being posted online
prior to the meeting?
While not required by the Open Meetings Law, are
local governments soliciting public comments that are heard/seen during the
meeting?
Of the 21 municipalities that were reviewed, the Rochester
City Council was one of only 7 local governments that made an effort to solicit
public comments. In addition, the Rochester City Council was 1 of only 4 bodies
that received an “A” Rating from the NY Coalition for Open Government, joining
the Albany City Council, Binghamton City Council, and the Niagara Fall City
Council.
As noted in the report, “The
Rochester City Council has undertaken a great process for obtaining comments
from the public through an effort called Speak to Council. The Council created
a video which explains three options the public has to send comments to the
City Council.”
“As an elected body we are
accountable to those who elect us, and we should make every effort to ensure
that their voices are heard,” said City Council President Loretta C. Scott, “we
have made tremendous efforts to engage the public during the COVID-19 pandemic,
but our efforts for public engagement are not unique to our current situation.
I believe it is because public engagement is a core tenant of the Rochester
City Council that we placed such an effort to continue the public’s access to
the Council during these difficult times.”
A copy of the report is attached.
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Media Contact: BJ Scanlon (716) 307-6869.