Manhattan CB2 executive committee tightens quorum, Zoom and filming rules ahead of July calendar

Chair opened the Manhattan Community Board 2 executive committee meeting at 6:41 p.m. and used the Chair’s report to press committee chairs to ensure in‑person attendance, warning that only members with an approved extraordinary‑circumstance form or medical waiver may participate remotely.

The Chair said committee chairs should enforce a policy that remote members keep cameras on the entire meeting to be counted as present and that committees designate a Zoom operator to manage raised hands and promote public speakers. "Please ensure that if you have committee members who are participating on Zoom because they either have an extraordinary circumstance form filed or their medical waiver filed... they do have to have their camera turned on the entire time," the Chair said.

The committee also discussed guidance from the borough president’s office about filming at meetings. Members were told to create a designated filming box and to make a brief announcement at the start of meetings. "Anyone is free to record a meeting as long as it doesn't obstruct the meeting being conducted," a participant summarized; the board noted there is no implied right to privacy for attendees at full board or committee meetings under the guidance shared.

Separately, the Chair urged committees to adopt a uniform 6:30 p.m. start time to make participation easier for working residents and to condense the number of meetings members must attend. Members debated whether holding multiple meetings for a single committee contributes to chronic quorum failures and agreed to look at assignments and committee sizes to reduce scheduling conflicts.

The meeting concluded with members raising venue concerns for large hearings — fees, curfews and appearance‑of‑favoritism if a private venue is later an applicant before the board — and asking staff to compile a vetted list of accessible, affordable sites for future use.

The committee moved on to its July calendar planning after the discussion; no formal regulatory changes were adopted at the meeting.

Next steps: committee chairs were asked to circulate attendance rosters, confirm Zoom operators and flag chronic non‑attendees for reassignment.