Rhea County adopts limited electronic participation policy for commissioners

Rhea County commissioners voted Aug. 19 to adopt a policy permitting members to participate in meetings electronically under narrowly defined circumstances.

Under Resolution 25-08-60, adopted unanimously with Commissioner Ballard absent, members may join by videoconference or other web-based media only in cases of a family or medical emergency (subject to a case-by-case determination at the meeting), military service, or inclement weather. The policy limits electronic participation to no more than 20% of the governing body's membership and caps remote participation by any one member at two times per year. The commission also retained a rule that an in-person quorum is required at the meeting's physical location.

Why it matters: The policy balances remote access for members with transparency and public access: meetings that include electronic participation must provide real-time audio or video access to the public, and recordings must be posted within two business days.

Key provisions: The resolution requires members who seek to participate remotely to notify the chair and state the qualifying reason in advance when practicable; appear visually identified to the chair; unmute for roll call and identify themselves before speaking; keep microphones muted when not speaking; and to use their own equipment for access. The chair or designee must also disable live-chat features when facilitating public electronic access.

Next steps: County staff will implement the procedures and public-notice language required by the resolution and update meeting notices to include instructions for how the public can obtain live access.