We have also been told that the reason for the meetings not being televised is due in part to the costs associated with doing so. We have also been informed that the meetings will not be recorded either.
When one county resident found out about all of this, he submitted this response.
So one of the reasons to limit transparency to shut in and or disabled folks is cost? I find that totally unacceptable. Had previous work sessions been conducted with total transparency the County would likely not be in the shape it is in now. The amount of money wasted on little things like wages and gas to drive County vehicles for private use could more than cover this transparency issue.
No, there is no law requiring that meetings be broadcast or recorded, but as Mr. Thompson's article points out, there is a law allowing "anyone" to record or broadcast the meetings. The law also says the governing body cannot prohibit such. If one Gloucester County tax payer asks for the meetings to be broadcast or recorded how can the governing body deny that request when the facilities, equipment and wages are being paid for by tax payers for the explicit purpose of government transparency.
I too ask for the County budget work session meetings to be broadcast and video recorded.
Kenneth E. Hogge, Sr.
We second that motion. We are also looking into recording the sessions as well.
