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Watchdog urges board to begin video recording and long-term archiving of meetings
Summary
A local government-watchdog urged the board to start video recording meetings and retain recordings for several years to increase transparency and accountability, citing teleconferencing and archival examples from other agencies.
A member of the public urged the Del Mar Union School District governing board to begin video recording meetings and to retain recordings for archival purposes.
Mary Davis, who identified herself as a government watchdog and regional accountability partner, told trustees she had repeatedly asked the district to adopt video recording and archival practices and recommended storing recordings "ideally in perpetuity, but if not for at least 5 years." She said visual records increase accountability, especially when public commenters observe differing attitudes from officials over multiple meetings.
Davis also recommended split-screen video so viewers could see both speakers and the dais and urged the board to pressure other regional agencies when issues of public safety arise — citing concerns she learned about while watching another agency's recordings.
Board members did not take immediate action during the meeting; the district's procedures for public comment were reiterated earlier in the agenda and a board representative noted the meeting was being recorded (audio) under board policy.
