Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Government Procedure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council amends submission deadlines and record rules; adds written-record and video requirements
Summary
The Middletown Common Council approved amendments to its rules of procedure to shift agenda submission deadlines, clarify maintenance of records under the Connecticut FOIA, and add explicit language requiring a written record and video recording to be maintained.
The Middletown Common Council on Feb. 12 adopted amendments to its rules of procedure that change the deadline for submitting proposed resolutions and ordinances, clarify records maintenance under the Connecticut Freedom of Information Act, and specify that a written record and video recording of certain proceedings will be maintained.
Councilwoman Janette Blackwell introduced the proposal, which moves the submission date for agenda items from the 21st to the 23rd day of the month preceding a council meeting to give department directors two additional days when the schedule permits. The amendments also revise how meeting records are described in the rules by removing the phrase “verbatim or close to verbatim” and ensuring the clerk maintains records in accordance with FOIA.
Council members raised a series of clarifying questions about what form the public record will take and where video recordings will be stored. Councilman Vincent J. Lofredo and others asked for explicit language to confirm that written minutes and video recordings are part of the public record; as a friendly amendment, the council agreed to substitute “written record” for the removed phrase and to state that video recordings will be maintained and posted on the city’s website in accordance with FOIA. A council member asked how long recordings are retained; staff indicated postings are maintained "in perpetuity" for public access.
After discussing the friendly amendment and confirming procedures for retrieval and posting, the council voted to adopt the amendments, including the friendly changes to specify a written record and video recording. The motion carried and the council proceeded to adjourn.
Next steps: the clerk will maintain the written records and post video recordings on the city's website per the adopted language and FOIA requirements.
