Village of Great Neck Plaza, NY Videoconferencing

Public meetings and hearings of the Village Board of Trustees (the "Board") shall be held at Village Hall or at such other location as the Board shall hereafter determine which can adequately accommodate members of the public who wish to attend such meetings and which permit barrier-free physical access to the physically handicapped.

Members of the Board shall be physically present at meetings of the Board unless a) they are unable to be physically present at Village Hall or another designated public meeting location due to extraordinary circumstances (as defined below in Subsection E) and b) the Board has determined to allow participation at a particular meeting by videoconferencing.

In accordance with Chapter 56 of the Laws of 2022 adopted by the New York Legislature, a member or members of the Board shall be able to participate in public hearings and meetings by videoconference provided that:

(1)

A quorum of members of the Board are physically present at Village Hall or at another physical location open to the public, except as set forth below in Subsection D;

(2)

The members participating by videoconferencing can be seen, heard and identified while the open portion of the meetings or hearings is being conducted, including, but not limited to, motions, proposals, resolutions and any other matter formally discussed or voted upon;

(3)

Such member or members are unable to physically attend the public meeting or hearing in person due to extraordinary circumstances, as hereinafter defined in Subsection E;

(4)

The Board has determined to allow participation at a particular public meeting by videoconferencing; and

(5)

Such member notifies the Mayor of his/her intention to participate at the public meeting by videoconferencing in accordance with the time limits to be set forth in written procedures to be hereafter adopted by the Board.

The in-person participation requirement set forth in Section 2(a)[1] shall not apply during a state disaster emergency declared by the governor pursuant to § 28 of the Executive Law, or a local state of emergency proclaimed by the Mayor pursuant to § 24 of the Executive Law, if the Board determines that the circumstances necessitating the emergency declaration would affect or impair the ability of the Board to hold an in-person meeting.

[1]

Editor's Note: See Public Officers Law § 103-a, Subdivision 2(a),

"Extraordinary circumstances" authorizing the attendance of a trustee at a public meeting or hearing by videoconference shall consist of: illness; disability; unavoidable absence from the Village; caregiving responsibilities; or any other significant or unexpected factor or event (including, but not limited to, a severe weather event) which precludes the member's physical attendance at such meeting or hearing.

Members of the Board who are participating in a public meeting from a remote location that is not open to in-person physical attendance by the public shall not count toward a quorum of the Board but may participate and vote if there is a quorum of members at Village Hall and/or other physical location(s) open to the public.

If the Board has determined to allow participation at a particular public meeting by videoconference, members of the public shall also be able to attend and participate in such meeting by videoconference under written procedures to be adopted by the Board which may be revised from time to time as appropriate. Such procedures shall be conspicuously posted on the Village's website and bulletin boards. Such procedures shall provide that the public notice of a meeting or hearing of the Board will inform the public that it may participate in such meeting or hearing by videoconference; how it can access the meeting or hearing by videoconference; the location or locations where the physical meeting will be held; and where documents and records which will be discussed at the hearing or meeting are posted or available.

All meetings and hearings conducted by videoconference shall be recorded; shall be linked on the Village's website within five business days following the hearing or meeting; shall remain so available for a minimum of five years thereafter; and shall be transcribed upon request.