There will be a meeting of the Public Information and Internet Technology Committee

WHEN:  Thurs Feb 16, 7pm – 9pm

WHERE:  Old Fire Hall, next door to Brooktondale Community Center, Valley Rd.

AGENDA:

A. Introductions- who you are, what experience you have, what role you play or would like to play on this committee (7pm)

B. Overview of current status of public info/ IT policy, procedure and personnel (7:15)

*KATY, JOHN, PAT, KEITH, JEREMY – please come prepared to speak about this.  Ideally, have some handouts that provide the info in written form.

• Town Offices – equipment, networks, storage, software, security, file mgt, back-up process, etc
• Website – overview of hosting, security, site stats, back-up process, archive process, email use, etc
• Town Announcement e-list  -hosting, security, membership, archive
• Print media -  Old Mill, Ithaca Journal, Tompkins Weekly, Town Notebooks
• Other media –  recorded meetings, radio PSAs, etc.
• Public Info resolution  (see attached)

C. Quick Overview of Open Meeting Law and Freedom of Information Law (8:00)

Some of you asked for more info about the new open meeting law as it applies to posting info on the website. Here’s a couple of links.

http://www.dos.state.ny.us/coog/RecordsDiscussedatMeetings.html

http://www.dos.state.ny.us/coog/QA-2-12.html

D. Overview of other topics related to public info/ IT (8:15)

• Broadband access
• Public access to library/community computers,  Establish other computing centers?
• Website revision
• Software needs
• Public information management vendors/software
• Emergency Preparedness Communications

E. Break out into Working Groups. (8:30)

There’s a lot to do, and thankfully a lot of people to help! Let’s divide into working groups and begin to identify the purpose/responsibilities/tasks that each group will work on.  Here’s some groups I’ve been thinking of – but you may have other ideas..

1. IT policy and planning group
2. Online Communications group  (website, listserv, etc)
3. Community Outreach group  (non-electronic communications)

The Town Board will conduct a PUBLIC HEARING regarding the proposed local law to enact a one year  Moratorium on Gas Drilling and Drilling related activities in the Town of Caroline.

When: Thursday March 1, 7pm

Where: Brooktondale Community Center, 524 Valley Rd, Brooktondale, NY

How: Caroline residents and property owners have an opportunity to address the Town Board regarding their opinions about the proposed Moratorium.  Each person will be afforded 3 minutes to speak.   People may also submit written comments to the Town Clerk clerk@townofcaroline.org or send to Town of Caroline PO Box 136, Slaterville Springs, NY 14881 (more…)

Thanks to John Reed for taping the Gas Drilling Moratorium Informational Meeting that took place Wed Feb 1 7pm -9:40 pm at the Caroline Center Church.  Approximately 45 people attended the meeting.  The meeting was facilitated by Council Member Irene Weiser. Town Supervisor Don Barber and the Town’s attorney, Guy Krogh answered questions posed by town residents and property owners.  There are 11 sections to the video recording, each about 15 minutes long, indexed and linked below: (more…)

RESOLUTION NO:  2012-

Full Title: RESOLUTION TO SEEK LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO DEVELOP LOCAL LAW TO BAN HIGH VOLUME HYDRAULIC FRACTURING

WHEREAS, Caroline citizens have presented the Caroline Town Board with a petition bearing 1,130 witnessed signatures of adults residing in Caroline and 16 additional witnessed signatures of adults who own land in the Town of Caroline but live elsewhere, which makes the following statement: (more…)

RESOLUTION NO.: 2012-

Full Title: RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF CAROLINE TO APPROVE BECOMING AN AMICUS CURIAE IN ACTIONS INVOLVING MUNICIPAL HOME RULE PENDING BEFORE NEW YORK STATE APPELLATE COURTS

WHEREAS, the Towns of Middlefield and Dryden have recently revised their zoning laws to prohibit heavy industrial uses (including natural gas drilling) in their communities and such laws have been challenged in court by opponents claiming that the Towns do not have the power to regulate natural gas drilling as a land use; and

WHEREAS, the Town of Ulysses has filed an amicus curiae or “friend of the court” brief in both lawsuits in support of its sister Towns in order to reassert the right of municipalities throughout New York State to determine what land uses are appropriate through the municipal home rule powers granted by the New York State Constitution and the New York Municipal Home Rule Law; and

WHEREAS, the Town of Ulysses will file another amicus brief when these lawsuits are appealed to New York appellate courts and has requested that other municipalities in New York State consider joining the Town of Ulysses’ brief as a powerful statement to the appellate courts, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, and the New York State Legislature about the importance of protecting municipal home rule in New York State and a municipality’s right to decide, for itself, whether natural gas drilling—or any other land use for that matter—is appropriate for its citizens.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that:

The Caroline Town Board hereby determines that it is in the public interest of the citizens of the Town to support municipal home rule by joining in the Town of Ulysses’ amicus brief to the appellate courts.

The Caroline Town Board does hereby authorize and direct the Supervisor to complete or cause to be completed any and all such further documents and papers in the name and on behalf of the Town as the Supervisor deems necessary or appropriate to carry into effect the foregoing resolution.

The Town Clerk will send a certified copy of this adopted resolution to the Town of Ulysses, 10 Elm St., Trumansburg, NY  14886 and the Association of Towns, 150 State St., Albany, NY 12207

RESOLUTION NO.: 2012-

Full Title: RESOLUTION ON COMMITTEE STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION

WHEREAS participation on Citizen Advisory Committees and Town Board Committees (hereinafter Committees) is a voluntary service provided by citizens to the Caroline Town Board  (hearinafter the Board) and the community , and (more…)

RESOLUTION NO.: 2012-

Full Title: RESOLUTION ON INCIDENT COMMAND TRAINING FOR ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS

WHEREAS elected and appointed officials should have a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities for successful emergency management and incident response, and (more…)

RESOLUTION NO. 2012-59

FULL TITLE: RESOLUTION ON IMPROVING PUBLIC NOTIFICATION OF TOWN GOVERNMENT ACTIVITIES

STATUS: Adopted, February 14, 2012

Motion made by Ms. Weiser; Seconded by Mr. Frongillo;

Barber: Aye;  Frongillo: Aye;  Adams: Aye;  Snow:  Nay;  Weiser: Aye

Resolution on Improving Public Notification of Town Government Activities

WHEREAS democracy is strengthened when residents are informed about and engaged in local government, and

WHEREAS Town residents should be informed of who their elected public servants are and how to contact them, and have a right to know when public meetings are taking place, and should have the ability, as set by Section 103 of the Open Meetings Law, to see the records scheduled to be discussed prior to open meetings; and

WHEREAS the Town of Caroline desires to encourage participation of residents and recognizes the importance of making available accurate, timely and information accessible on the activities of local government to all interested residents,

Therefore be it resolved that:

The Town Board directs the Public Information and Website Committee to suggest a process that balances the responsibilities for both the Town Government and the citizens of Caroline that communicates the following:

The town board meetings schedule, and official locations for posting public notices:

• The Town’s responsibility in informing the public and the public’s opportunities to keep themselves informed.
• A list of all elected and appointed public servants, their contact information and if relevant, their office hours and committee appointments
• A schedule or statement of when and where Town Board meetings shall normally occur, and the tentative schedule for when committee meetings and where to find information on any changes
• A list of all official and unofficial venues for posting public information, the information to be posted in accordance with Public Officers Law Article 7 (Open Meeting Law).
• The URL  (web address) of the town’s website
• The process to sign up for the town’s email announcement list with link
• A tear off portion for residents to complete and return to the Caroline Town Hall if they want to be notified by phone of public hearings and special meetings of the Town Board.

Further be it resolved that

• The Public Information Committee will be charged with recommending a process whereby residents can be notified of public hearings and special, unscheduled meetings of the Town Board, and
• Be It Further resolved that the Town Board requests the Committee’s recommendation by June, 2012.

Resolved, the Caroline Town board directs Councilmember Weiser to implement these steps that are listed here, including the tear off portion as soon as possible at a cost not to exceed three hundred dollars.