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City asks commissions to meet during business hours; Carmel commission explores public venues and keeps evening option if space available
Summary
City staff told the Carmel Historic Preservation Commission that executive‑branch boards and commissions should meet during City Hall operating hours; commissioners discussed daytime meetings or relocating evening meetings to public venues such as the library.
Commission staff told the Carmel Historic Preservation Commission they had been contacted by the assistant to the chief of staff and were told that executive‑branch boards and commissions should schedule meetings during City Hall operating hours (roughly 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.). The change, staff said, will take effect beginning with the commission's November meeting.
Commissioners discussed two options: holding future meetings during daytime hours at City Hall or continuing evening meetings but moving to a publicly accessible venue that is available outside normal working hours. Possible alternative venues raised in the discussion included the Carmel Clay Public Library and the Monon Center. Staff said the city attorney's office later clarified that meetings do not have to be livestreamed offsite but must be recorded; commission staff indicated they could record using laptop or phone equipment if a venue lacks audio/video infrastructure.
Members expressed concern that daytime meetings would prevent public participation by working residents. "It means a lack of public input," one commissioner said, noting that evenings allow people to present petitions and attend hearings. Several commissioners favored moving to a public facility in the evening so the public could still attend.
Logistics questions included whether the library would treat the commission as a city body (the library limits outside groups to six room reservations per year) and whether fees could be waived at the Monon Center. Staff said they would follow up with the assistant to the chief of staff and the library to confirm reservation rules and possible fees and would advise commissioners before the next meeting.
Separately, the commission rescheduled its December meeting: the group agreed to move the regular second‑Thursday meeting to Thursday, Dec. 4 at 6 p.m., with the meeting location to be confirmed and advertised once staff has answers about library reservations.
Next steps: staff will confirm whether library reservations and fees apply to city commissions, investigate Monon Center availability and fee waivers, and notify commissioners and the public of the meeting location for the next meeting.
