CAROLINE TOWN BOARD SPECIAL MEETING
Monday, August 30, 2021, at 7 pm
The Caroline Town Board Meeting scheduled for August 30, 2021 at 7 pm will be held in-person at the Historic Town Hall (2670 Slaterville Road) and also electronically via Zoom videoconference projected at the meeting hall. The public is invited to attend the meeting at the Historic Town Hall meeting hall either in-person or by Zoom videoconference. Councilmembers Fracchia and Goldberg will attend by videoconference from 2735 Slaterville Road, Slaterville Springs, NY 14881 and 45 Chestnut Road, Brooktondale, NY 14817, respectively.
Masking and distancing are required by each person attending, regardless of vaccination status. This policy assures that COVID precautions are applied equitably to attendees, avoids potential stigma associated with vaccine status, and attends to the physical and psychological safety of our community. Thanks very much for your cooperation and engagement.
Members of the public may listen to and/or view the meeting by following the web and telephone instructions below. Minutes of the meeting and video recordings will be posted on the Town of Caroline website. Comments may be provided at Privilege of the Floor during the Zoom meeting, by email (clerk@townofcaroline.org), or by mail (P.O. Box 136, Slaterville Springs, NY 14881).
INSTRUCTIONS TO ATTEND THE ZOOM MEETING (https://zoom.us)
You do not need to have a Zoom account to join. Options 2 and 3 are easiest without an account. You may need the meeting ID for any of these methods.
Direct link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7142580644
Without Zoom account: https://zoom.us/join; Meeting ID: 714 258 0644
Phone dial-in: +1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
By phone press *6 to mute/unmute, *9 to raise hand during meeting
MEETING AGENDA
Privilege of the Floor: Opportunity for citizens to bring forward matters of concern
Please be prepared to make one statement not to exceed 3 minutes in length
1. Resolution xx of 2021 to modify Caroline Town Board policy for in-person meeting attendance to require proof of vaccination for COVID-19.
Whereas, the Caroline Town Board wishes to maximize the safety of anyone attending public meetings; therefore be it
Resolved, the Caroline Town Board hereby stipulates that, in addition to masking and distancing, anyone attending a public meeting of the Caroline Town Board or other town meetings must be vaccinated and provide proof of vaccination.
2. Resolution xx of 2021 Urging Limited Suspension by Executive Order of the New York Open Meetings Law
Whereas, on March 12, 2020, in an effort to contain the spread of COVID-19, New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo issued Executive Order 202.1 which suspended portions of Article 7 of the New York Public Officers Law “to the extent necessary to permit any public body to meet and take such actions authorized by the law without permitting in public in-person access to meetings and authorizing such meetings to be held remotely by conference call or similar service, provided that the public has the ability to view or listen to such proceeding and that such meetings are recorded and later transcribed;” Governor Cuomo successively extended such suspension by Executive Orders on a monthly basis through June 25, 2021; and
Whereas, on June 24th, 2021, by Executive Order 210, Governor Cuomo rescinded Executive Orders 202 through 202.111, including Executive Order 202.1, effective June 25, 2021, the Governor concluding at that time that “the State of New York [has] successfully flattened the curve of COVID-19 cases in New York,” and that, therefore, the Executive Orders were “no longer necessary;” and
Whereas, since the issuance of Executive Order 210, the increased prevalence of the Delta Variant of COVID-19 has caused a resurgence of coronavirus cases throughout the United States, New York State and Tompkins County, prompting local governments to reinstate public health advisories that call for the indoor masking of individuals, whether vaccinated or not, and recommend limitations on the size of indoor gatherings, including municipal meetings; and
Whereas, the Governor’s rescission of Executive Order 202.1 now requires that the Caroline Town Board, as well as all municipal governing boards throughout New York State, convene in-person meetings at a central location and allow full public attendance and participation therein; and
Whereas, the Town of Caroline, like many municipalities throughout New York State, finds itself with limited meeting facilities that may not provide adequate social distancing for either Board members or meeting attendees, and further, that the Caroline Town Board senses among both its own members and the Town’s other residents a serious and growing concern regarding the public’s health and safety amid the coronavirus’ resurgence; and
Whereas, no legislative remedy to this problem through amendment of Article 7 of the New York Public Officers Law is likely to occur before January 2022; therefore be it
Resolved, that the Caroline Town Board respectfully requests that the Governor of the State of New York immediately re-impose through Executive Order those portions of previous Executive Order 202.1 that suspended portions of Article 7 of the New York Public Officers Law so as to permit municipal governing boards and other, similar municipal bodies to conduct public meetings remotely in a manner similar to, and with like restrictions, as Executive Order 202.1 until such time as the COVID-19 pandemic has been successfully been controlled; and be it further
Resolved, that a copy of this Resolution shall be transmitted to The Hon. Kathy C. Hochul, Governor; the Hon. Peter Oberacker, New York State Senator; Dr. Anna R. Kelles, New York State Assemblymember; the Hon. Leslyn McBean-Clairborne, Chair, Tompkins County Legislature, the Association of Towns of New York State, and the Secretary of the Tompkins County Council of Governments.
3. Motion to enter Executive Session to discuss employment policies.
—--Adjourn——
Privilege of the Floor Policy at Caroline Town Board Meetings
• Privilege-of-the-Floor is offered at the beginning of town meetings as an opportunity for individuals to provide input to the town board. Speakers have up to three minutes, subject to modification depending upon time constraints of a particular meeting. Each resident is provided one speaking opportunity per meeting; written input is also welcome.
• Comments should be directed to the town board. The Supervisor or Councilpersons may answer questions brought forward or defer to allow for further research and thought.
• Personnel matters should be directed to the appropriate Supervisor or Department Head.
• Respectful discourse is required.
Monday, August 30, 2021, at 7 pm
The Caroline Town Board Meeting scheduled for August 30, 2021 at 7 pm will be held in-person at the Historic Town Hall (2670 Slaterville Road) and also electronically via Zoom videoconference projected at the meeting hall. The public is invited to attend the meeting at the Historic Town Hall meeting hall either in-person or by Zoom videoconference. Councilmembers Fracchia and Goldberg will attend by videoconference from 2735 Slaterville Road, Slaterville Springs, NY 14881 and 45 Chestnut Road, Brooktondale, NY 14817, respectively.
Masking and distancing are required by each person attending, regardless of vaccination status. This policy assures that COVID precautions are applied equitably to attendees, avoids potential stigma associated with vaccine status, and attends to the physical and psychological safety of our community. Thanks very much for your cooperation and engagement.
Members of the public may listen to and/or view the meeting by following the web and telephone instructions below. Minutes of the meeting and video recordings will be posted on the Town of Caroline website. Comments may be provided at Privilege of the Floor during the Zoom meeting, by email (clerk@townofcaroline.org), or by mail (P.O. Box 136, Slaterville Springs, NY 14881).
INSTRUCTIONS TO ATTEND THE ZOOM MEETING (https://zoom.us)
You do not need to have a Zoom account to join. Options 2 and 3 are easiest without an account. You may need the meeting ID for any of these methods.
Direct link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7142580644
Without Zoom account: https://zoom.us/join; Meeting ID: 714 258 0644
Phone dial-in: +1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
By phone press *6 to mute/unmute, *9 to raise hand during meeting
MEETING AGENDA
Privilege of the Floor: Opportunity for citizens to bring forward matters of concern
Please be prepared to make one statement not to exceed 3 minutes in length
1. Resolution xx of 2021 to modify Caroline Town Board policy for in-person meeting attendance to require proof of vaccination for COVID-19.
Whereas, the Caroline Town Board wishes to maximize the safety of anyone attending public meetings; therefore be it
Resolved, the Caroline Town Board hereby stipulates that, in addition to masking and distancing, anyone attending a public meeting of the Caroline Town Board or other town meetings must be vaccinated and provide proof of vaccination.
2. Resolution xx of 2021 Urging Limited Suspension by Executive Order of the New York Open Meetings Law
Whereas, on March 12, 2020, in an effort to contain the spread of COVID-19, New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo issued Executive Order 202.1 which suspended portions of Article 7 of the New York Public Officers Law “to the extent necessary to permit any public body to meet and take such actions authorized by the law without permitting in public in-person access to meetings and authorizing such meetings to be held remotely by conference call or similar service, provided that the public has the ability to view or listen to such proceeding and that such meetings are recorded and later transcribed;” Governor Cuomo successively extended such suspension by Executive Orders on a monthly basis through June 25, 2021; and
Whereas, on June 24th, 2021, by Executive Order 210, Governor Cuomo rescinded Executive Orders 202 through 202.111, including Executive Order 202.1, effective June 25, 2021, the Governor concluding at that time that “the State of New York [has] successfully flattened the curve of COVID-19 cases in New York,” and that, therefore, the Executive Orders were “no longer necessary;” and
Whereas, since the issuance of Executive Order 210, the increased prevalence of the Delta Variant of COVID-19 has caused a resurgence of coronavirus cases throughout the United States, New York State and Tompkins County, prompting local governments to reinstate public health advisories that call for the indoor masking of individuals, whether vaccinated or not, and recommend limitations on the size of indoor gatherings, including municipal meetings; and
Whereas, the Governor’s rescission of Executive Order 202.1 now requires that the Caroline Town Board, as well as all municipal governing boards throughout New York State, convene in-person meetings at a central location and allow full public attendance and participation therein; and
Whereas, the Town of Caroline, like many municipalities throughout New York State, finds itself with limited meeting facilities that may not provide adequate social distancing for either Board members or meeting attendees, and further, that the Caroline Town Board senses among both its own members and the Town’s other residents a serious and growing concern regarding the public’s health and safety amid the coronavirus’ resurgence; and
Whereas, no legislative remedy to this problem through amendment of Article 7 of the New York Public Officers Law is likely to occur before January 2022; therefore be it
Resolved, that the Caroline Town Board respectfully requests that the Governor of the State of New York immediately re-impose through Executive Order those portions of previous Executive Order 202.1 that suspended portions of Article 7 of the New York Public Officers Law so as to permit municipal governing boards and other, similar municipal bodies to conduct public meetings remotely in a manner similar to, and with like restrictions, as Executive Order 202.1 until such time as the COVID-19 pandemic has been successfully been controlled; and be it further
Resolved, that a copy of this Resolution shall be transmitted to The Hon. Kathy C. Hochul, Governor; the Hon. Peter Oberacker, New York State Senator; Dr. Anna R. Kelles, New York State Assemblymember; the Hon. Leslyn McBean-Clairborne, Chair, Tompkins County Legislature, the Association of Towns of New York State, and the Secretary of the Tompkins County Council of Governments.
3. Motion to enter Executive Session to discuss employment policies.
—--Adjourn——
Privilege of the Floor Policy at Caroline Town Board Meetings
• Privilege-of-the-Floor is offered at the beginning of town meetings as an opportunity for individuals to provide input to the town board. Speakers have up to three minutes, subject to modification depending upon time constraints of a particular meeting. Each resident is provided one speaking opportunity per meeting; written input is also welcome.
• Comments should be directed to the town board. The Supervisor or Councilpersons may answer questions brought forward or defer to allow for further research and thought.
• Personnel matters should be directed to the appropriate Supervisor or Department Head.
• Respectful discourse is required.
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