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Commission votes to require all meeting attendees to pass security screening after disagreement over exemptions
Summary
Commissioners voted at the June 3 work session to require all meeting attendees, including commissioners and staff, to pass through screening before entering public meetings. The decision followed a dispute over exemptions the prior practice allowed and comments from multiple commissioners and the police chief
The Albany City Commission on June 3 voted to require all meeting attendees, including commissioners and staff, to pass through security screening as a condition of attendance.
The measure followed a dispute over earlier, inconsistent screening practices. Commissioner Vilnius Gaines raised concerns that some attendees were not being searched. Commissioners debated whether elected officials should be exempt. After a brief discussion, the mayor and several commissioners expressed support for a single, uniform practice.
City law-enforcement staff said screening will be implemented as a condition of attendance and recommended signage or notice outside meetings to inform the public. The commission’s roll-call indicated support from Mayor Pro Tem John Howard, Commissioner Vilnius Gaines, Commissioner Chad Warbington and Commissioner Diana Brown; the chair directed staff to implement the policy for future meetings.
The decision was procedural and focused on meeting safety and equal treatment; the record does not show an implementing ordinance or a detailed operations plan, and staff said they would publish details about screening procedures and signage.
