RESOLUTION
BY COUNCIL PRESIDENT COLLINS-BELLAMY, MAJORITY LEADER RUBBO, MINORITY LEADER BREEN, MAJORITY WHIP NORMAN, COUNCILMEMBERS DIAZ, PINEDA-ISAAC AND HODGES.
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF YONKERS AMENDING ITS WRITTEN PROCEDURES GOVERNING THE USE OF VIDEOCONFERENCING AND ITS RULES OF PROCEDURE TO INCORPORATE THESE WRITTEN PROCEDURES
WHEREAS, enacted in April 2022 as part of the FY2023 state budget, ? 103-a was added to the New York Public Officers Law via Chapter 56 of the Laws of 2022, amending the Open Meetings Law of the State of New York and establishing rules for videoconferencing, including requirements for a physical quorum and public access; and
WHEREAS, following a public hearing, on November 9, 2022, in compliance with New York Public Officers Law ? 103-a(2)(a), the City Council of the City of Yonkers by Local Law [_________] authorized its use of videoconferencing as described in New York Public Officers Law ? 103-a and by Resolution [_________] adopt written procedures for a remote meeting; and
WHEREAS, the adopted written procedures were established to satisfy the requirement of New York Public Officers Law ? 103-a(2)(b), that a public body adopt written procedures governing the use of videoconferencing consistent with POL ? 103-a; and
WHEREAS, amendments were made to New York Public Officers Law ? 103-a(2)(a) in 2023/2024, to strengthen the requirement for a physical, in-person quorum at the primary meeting location while still allowing for virtual participation in specific, defined circumstances by providing that the in person participation requirements of the law not apply during a state disaster emergency declared by the governor or a local state of emergency proclaimed by the chief executive of a county, city, village or town, if the public body determines that the circumstances necessitating the emergency declaration would affect or impair the ability of the public body to hold a...
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