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DeKalb County Council weighs evening meetings to broaden participation
Summary
Councilors debated whether to move some meetings to evening hours to make service and candidacy more accessible to working residents; opinions split between accessibility proponents and those citing staff burdens and daytime operations.
County councilors debated whether to hold more evening meetings at a Nov. 13 work session, with proponents saying later hours would allow working residents to participate or run for office and opponents warning that evening sessions place burdens on staff and volunteers.
Several councilors argued that current morning meetings exclude residents who work daytime schedules and that moving some meetings or holding periodic evening sessions could open up civic participation. One councilor said she had been asked by local residents who wanted to get involved but could not because meetings were held in the morning.
Opponents cautioned that county government largely operates during daytime hours and that evening meetings increase costs and complicate the schedules of employees, contractors and board members who support county business. The council discussed compromises such as occasional afternoon meetings or a mix of times to broaden participation without overburdening staff.
Council president suggested placing the subject on the next agenda for a formal vote or further discussion; no schedule change was adopted at this meeting.
(Reporting: DeKalb County Council meeting, Nov. 13, 2024.)
