Brooklyn borough board votes to publish monthly attendance, agrees to form bylaws review committee amid hybrid-meeting debate

The Brooklyn borough board voted to publish a monthly attendance record on the borough president's website and authorized a committee to review the board bylaws after more than an hour of discussion about absenteeism, hybrid meetings and accessibility.

The board put transparency at the top of its agenda after members asked for a public record of who attends monthly meetings. Chairperson Baptiste moved the attendance-publishing motion; members completed a roll-call vote that the chair announced as "21 yes votes, 0 nays, and 5 abstentions. The vote passes." The board later approved forming a bylaws review committee; the chair called for volunteers and a subcommittee to draft recommended changes.

Board members said the measure was meant to encourage representation from both community boards and elected officials. Chairperson Baptiste argued monthly publication helps the public see who is taking civic responsibilities seriously. Several community board chairs said chronic absences from council members and some community boards have impaired quorum and…