Residents warn that recording committee meetings could reduce volunteer participation

At the Oct. 3 Town of Oak Ridge meeting multiple residents urged council members not to require audio recording of town committee meetings, arguing that compelled recordings would shrink the volunteer pool for events-run committees.

Ben Walraven of Pepper Road told the council he has volunteered on the Special Events Committee for about six years and said many regular volunteers oppose recording. “Most of the volunteers that attend the monthly meetings are against taping the SEC meeting,” Walraven said. He said a survey of volunteers showed recording would discourage participation and that nearby municipalities do not require recording for equivalent committees.

John Jenkins, identified as a resident of Ashton Park Drive, echoed that position and urged the council to give committee members a say before adopting any recording policy. “I would suggest that quickly, fairly quickly, that you contact the committee chairs and ask them to poll their members on whether or not they would be in favor of or opposed to the meetings being recorded and have them report back to the council,” Jenkins said.

Speakers warned that the Special Events Committee organizes community staples such as the Fourth of July bike parade, Veterans Day observance, Memorial Day events and the Light Up the Night program; they said reducing volunteer participation would either shift responsibilities to town staff or risk losing events.

The council closed the public comment period and continued with other agenda items. No formal policy change or vote on recording committee meetings occurred at the Oct. 3 meeting.