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Harrisonburg EDA adopts electronic participation rules, OKs remote attendance for member on vacation
Summary
The Harrisonburg Economic Development Authority adopted an electronic participation policy, an 'all-virtual' meeting option (limited to two times per year), and voted to allow one member to participate remotely while on vacation.
The Harrisonburg Economic Development Authority on June 10 adopted an electronic participation policy and a separate provision allowing up to two all‑virtual meetings per year, and voted to permit a member to attend remotely while on vacation.
The policy, described during the meeting as matching the language Harrisonburg City Council uses, allows members who cannot be physically present to participate by phone or Zoom provided a physical quorum is present and that remote participants and the public can hear each other. The authority also voted to permit member Macklin to participate electronically for the meeting because she was out of town on vacation.
Board members said the rules reflect recent changes in state law and local practice. The EDA’s discussion noted that the General Assembly recently authorized certain local bodies to hold fully virtual meetings up to twice per year, subject to the audio/visibility requirement that remote participants be audible to each other and to the public.
Formal action: a motion to adopt the EDA electronic participation policy was moved and seconded and approved by voice vote. The EDA then voted to allow Miss Macklin to participate electronically; that motion also passed unanimously. The board subsequently adopted the ‘all‑virtual meeting’ option for the authority (limited to two meetings per year), again by unanimous voice vote.
The meeting minutes and staff packet state the policy mirrors the City Council policy and requires members to disclose the reason for remote participation (for example, vacation, childcare, or health reasons) and, when required, the clerk will record the stated reason in the public record.
The EDA indicated the new policies are intended for short administrative meetings or occasions when a majority of members will be out of the area; board members said the authority has become comfortable with virtual platforms since the COVID pandemic.
No additional public testimony was received on the item. The motions were approved and recorded in the meeting minutes.
