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Gloucester supervisors keep practice of reading emailed and recorded public comments at meetings
Summary
After tech problems with the Feb. 4 broadcast, the board voted to continue reading submitted emails and transcribed voicemails into the public record and asked staff to improve technology and transcription procedures.
Gloucester County supervisors on Feb. 4 voted to continue reading emailed public comments and transcribed voicemails into the public record at meetings while staff works to improve broadcast technology.
The topic arose after a public concern about a missing segment in the video of a recent meeting. Trish Cronin, the county meeting clerk, explained that the eScribe meeting software runs from her workstation and that intermittent Internet interruptions can prevent continuous recording; she said the county posted two versions of a previous meeting’s video — an original capture and a converted backup — and that she had posted both to county channels. “I wanna assure the members of the board ... that there was absolutely no intention to prevent the broadcast or recording of any public comments,” Cronin said.
During discussion Supervisor Steele and others emphasized transparency. Supervisor Gibson said reading emailed comments publicly strengthens the record and allows those who cannot attend in person to be heard on television. Several supervisors also said the board should not make the clerk responsible for excessive technology work; supervisors directed staff to transcribe voicemails that cannot be heard live and to forward submitted comments directly to board members ahead of meetings.
Board action: A motion to continue allowing submission of comments by email and voicemail and to read those into the record passed on voice vote, “All in favor? Aye.” The clerk agreed to transcribe voice messages received by the 4:30 p.m. deadline and to work with IT staff on a technical fix so comments can be heard live when possible.
What it means: The county will keep its pandemic‑era practice of accepting emailed and recorded comments for reading at meetings. Staff will (1) continue to place submitted comments in the public record, (2) transcribe voicemails that do not play audibly on the live broadcast, and (3) pursue audio and workflow fixes so live broadcasts reliably carry public comment audio.
The board also asked staff to forward written comments and voicemails to supervisors before meetings so members can review them without waiting for the minutes.
