Lower Burrell Council holding phone meeting, but public can’t listen live

Lower Burrell Council will hold its regular monthly meeting via a telephone conference 7 p.m. Monday, but residents cannot access it in real time.

The public is being asked to submit comments and questions prior to the meeting.

While residents can view council’s agenda online and later, the meeting transcript, the city’s remote format for the meeting is not illegal but is “less than ideal,” said Melissa Melewsky, an attorney for the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association.

“It sounds like Lower Burrell made a good effort,” Melewsky said. “However many other agencies are going further and providing real-time access for public meetings.”

Many local governments and school boards are using internet platforms such as Zoom, as well as telephone conferencing where the public can join in live.

Mayor John Andrejcik said council has consulted the city’s solicitor and they know that the current format isn’t optimal.

“While we are going through this new technology, we’re trying to do our best to provide the best service,” he said. “At some point, the city wants to provide real-time public access to our council meetings.”

The covid-19 pandemic has caused widespread restrictions on groups of people assembling. A state law passed April 20 that allows governmental bodies to hold remote meetings via a“telecommunications device” that must, at minimum, include audio communications only while the covid-19 crisis continues.

The PNA has received questions from hundreds of news reporters covering communities that have developed new formats for public meetings, Melewsky said. Most government bodies are choosing to meet via Zoom and other platforms, allowing the public to participate in real time, she said.

For Lower Burrell Council’s Monday meeting, the public can view council’s agenda online via the city’s website or Facebook page. Residents can email their comments to colb@cityoflowerburrell.com.

“Nothing takes the place of an in-person public meeting,” Melewsky said. “Transparency is always important in government, but even more so during times of crisis.”