Latrobe Council majority objects to members participating remotely after pandemic

A majority of Latrobe council members spoke out against a proposed ordinance that would establish guidelines for participating in meetings remotely, once the current coronavirus pandemic has receded.

For much of 2020, social distancing has limited the number of people who can be safely be accommodated in council chambers. Under a pandemic-related emergency declaration, local citizens as well as council members have had a choice to take part in agenda preparation and voting sessions remotely — by phone or a video link.

City officials agree the remote option has been a benefit for citizens, prompting increased attendance — though much of it virtual — at recent meetings.

But council members are at odds over allowing their own number to continue logging or dialing in to meetings once the health crisis has passed.

City Manager Michael Gray said he would present a proposed ordinance on that topic at council’s November meeting, although a majority of the seven-member board already has voiced disapproval of the measure.

“I don’t want to get in the habit of having meetings where a majority of the people aren’t present, unless we’re in a state of emergency,” said Mayor Rosie Wolford, who votes on agenda items along with council members.

She cited reports of problems in other communities, “where board members were gone six to eight months out of the year, and they’re participating remotely at every meeting, but they’re not physically in the municipality that they represent. I don’t want to see that happen here.

“You’re not vested in the community if you’re living somewhere else six or nine months out of the year.”

Councilman Eric Bartels agreed. Fellow council members Robert Forish and Christine Weller also have indicated they prefer that members attend meetings in person, barring an emergency.

Bartels has noted the sound quality of the web link isn’t perfect and can lead to misunderstandings during meetings. “I think we have a big communication gap the more we use the remote,” he said.

“If you have to miss a meeting because of a vacation or a family event, you just temporarily forfeit your ability to give input into the meeting,” Bartels said. “If it’s something important we’re doing, we can table something.”

Councilman Jim Kelley has regularly taken part in meetings by web link since the pandemic began and has spoken out in support of continued use of that technology.

“I think it’s the wave of the future,” he said. “If we find that somebody’s abusing it, we have the control to change our ordinance.”

Kelley added that members could be subject to discipline by council if they miss physical attendance at more than three consecutive meetings.

City Solicitor John Greiner explained Latrobe, a home rule municipality, lacks local guidelines for remote participation at meetings but is governed by Pennsylvania’s borough code. Under that code, a quorum of at least four council members has to be physically present in Latrobe’s council chambers for a meeting to legally proceed.

“You can’t count members who are participating remotely against the quorum,” he said.