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Board tables decision on posting meeting audio after residents argue for recordings
Summary
After a lengthy public exchange, Dickinson Township’s Board tabled a proposal to stop posting meeting audio. Residents urged keeping recordings online for transparency and historical context; some supervisors favored limiting recordings to minute‑making only. The Board voted to table the issue for later consideration.
The Board discussed three options for handling meeting audio: (1) use recordings for minute-making and delete after minutes are approved, (2) post recordings on the Township website and archive them, or (3) continue the current practice (post and save).
Vice Chairman Robert Line III favored retaining posted recordings, arguing they build trust and help residents who cannot attend. He said recordings provide historical detail the written minutes cannot capture and that he had seen no harm from the practice. Resident Beth Kikla and others said audio helped reflect nuance and allowed the public to correct or supplement minutes. Resident Judy Brough said deleting recordings would undermine transparency and suggested keeping them available longer than a few months.
Chairman Rob Kole and Supervisor Jen DeGaetano raised legal and procedural concerns, noting that the Second Class Township Code designates written minutes as the official record. DeGaetano recommended not posting recordings and following solicitor guidance. After public input and internal debate, the Board made a motion and unanimously voted to table the recordings discussion for a future meeting.
No change to the posting policy occurred at the meeting; the Board deferred a final decision.
