Crockett council votes to keep meetings televised after debate over access and decorum
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Summary
After a lengthy debate about whether livestreams amplify discord, the Crockett City Council voted to continue televising and livestreaming regular and special meetings, with supporters citing accessibility for working residents and opponents saying livestreams expose internal discord.
The Crockett City Council voted to continue televising and livestreaming its regular and special meetings following an extended debate about transparency and meeting decorum.
Supporters of on-demand video told the council that recorded meetings let residents who work evenings or cannot attend in person keep up with local decisions. "People...don't get off at 5 or 6:00," Bobby Bolin said during public comment, urging the council not to "burn the barn down to get rid of the rats." Council members who defended continued televising called it an accessibility tool that holds elected officials accountable.
Opponents said livestreaming has magnified tension and given the impression of chaos to broader audiences. One council member said, "It's not about hiding anything from the public. It's about how the meetings have been embarrassing and now being seen far beyond our city." Those speakers asked the council to adopt clearer rules to reduce inflammatory personal attacks while maintaining openness.
A motion to continue televising and live streaming was made and seconded during the meeting; the mayor called the vote and the motion carried. The council did not record a roll-call tally on the record during the meeting.
The decision ends the immediate push to remove the city's YouTube/televised coverage; council members said next steps should include drafting rules of decorum and procedures to improve the professionalism of meetings.
Votes at a glance: the council approved a motion to continue televising and livestreaming meetings (motion carried); the minutes from Dec. 15, 2025, were approved earlier in the session (motion carried).
