The case for hybrid public meetings and why it's time for states and localities to approve measures aimed at requiring them.

A Greenfield, Massachusetts councilwoman, Ginny DeSorgher, recounts a recent council debate about whether to hold future meetings by remote access, in person or a hybrid. DeSorgher favors the hybrid/remote model, concluding that "Continuing to allow remote access allows many more residents to be involved in and pay attention to local government."

Given ongoing legal uncertainty, this is a discussion we must have in Kentucky.

DeSorgher quotes a Commonwealth magazine article on the subject:

"Although the COVID-19 pandemic has caused untold hardship, one silver lining for many state and local officials is the marked uptick in public participation in government. Now lawmakers will consider whether to make remote participation in public meetings a permanent feature of civic life."

The magazine focused on groups that have been under-represented at, or absent from, public meetings, including people with disabilities or other physical ailments, parents of young children, people caring for older family members and people working long hours, recognizing that these people would more likely be able to participate in remote meetings.

Kentucky's open meetings law favors in-person public meetings — the ability of the public to engage "eyeball to eyeball" with its elected and appointed officials. And, as DeSorgher points out, not everyone owns or is comfortable using a computer. In some places in Kentucky, reliable internet service remains a problem.

But the technology — albeit imperfect — is now largely in place in Kentucky and many of the early challenges have been surmounted. Public agencies have — since March 2020, when SB 150 was enacted into law —been permitted/encouraged to "conduct any meeting, including regular meeting, by live audio or live video teleconference during the period of the state of emergency."

https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/20rs/SB150.html

It's time for Kentucky to thoughtfully consider what future public meetings should look like with an eye to expanding/enhancing public participation through adoption of the hybrid in person and "virtual" model.