On December 3, Northampton County Council conducted its final budget hearing for next year's spending plan. I attended part of the meeting but had to leave just as Council began an interesting discussion concerning a 9.2% payhike proposed for Gracedale's Administrator. I figured I could watch the video and report to you. But when I checked later that night, there was no video except for about a minute's worth of video before the meeting.
Yesterday, I was assured the video was online and could be seen. This turned out to be untrue.
When I ran into the same problem earlier this year (it was still Winter), I was told a new system would be in place very soon. The IT commander told about a month ago it would be in place in two weeks. But I learned the IT department is now saying February.
This is rather strange from an administration that prides itself on transparency. Tiny communities like West Easton and Emmaus have no problems posting video. Bethlehem and Easton do it via Youtube. Yet the County is paying an arm and a leg for a touchy system that just failed to capture one of the most consequential meetings of the year
This is good news for Council members like Bob Werner and Tara Zrinski, who never use their mikes. It is good news for a government that wants to make it difficult for you to know what is going on, except for what it spoonfeeds you. It's bad news for citizens who want to see their government in action.
6 comments:
Ron Heckman doesn't use his mike either. Don't forget the buddy of McClueless. As far as McClueless goes, half the time you don't hear what he says either because he doesn't go to the podium.
McClueless probably didn't want the budget meeting to be shared so he could hide the increases he is giving to his croanies. What about the individual steps he has given to others?
The system is malfunctioning exactly as designed by our county criminals. If you think it's an accident, while Lamont pals were backing up the Brinks truck to slop their big raises, you're naive or stupid.
The County's obligation to the public is to advertise the meetings, record the meeting via minutes , and to make the meeting minutes available to the public in whichever way it chooses, either by paper, or electronically. . Any individual who wishes to attend the meeting and personally record the meeting, is also able to do so. This is the substance and purpose of public participation and the Sunshine Law.
The County is under no obligation to video tape any of its meetings, let alone post the tapes on its website. You are not entitled to a video show. The country and the county found a way to function responsibly and legally for over 250 years without youtube videos , and I am hoping the county will not be using tax dollars to pay for a system that actually discourages public participation. Youtube videos and other similar media alternatives are exactly why trolls like you sit in their basements alone, grouching and bitching at a computer screen, and writing cowardly hit pieces on the internet.
We don't need you tube videos of council meetings anymore than we need the televised shit show of a SCOTUS nominee senate hearing, an impeachment inquiry, or all the other disgruntled pink hats who cannot accept the results of an election. If people would actually get off their social media news feeds for a change, we may have a shot at returning to a nation of sanity.
11:05
Calm down, have some dip.
What incentive is there to attend a public meeting, when people can sit on their lazy asses at home and watch it on TV? Empty local meeting rooms across the nation is exactly how and when funny business rears its ugly head. Reliance on digital technology for the most important and basic fundamental fabric of our democracy is how we fail as a society of people. When and where does it end? Be afraid for the day people are allowed to vote at home by cell-phone apps, or on their laptop. There are some things left in our society that just don't belong "digitalized". A local public meeting is one of them.
"What incentive is there to attend a public meeting, when people can sit on their lazy asses at home and watch it on TV?"
Couldn't agree more. I'm certain you still commute on horse, as they've provided reliable transportation for generations. I hunt and trap and fish on my suburban property, eschewing those infernal grocery stores. When my sundial says it's time to vote, I vote gauldernit!
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