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Still getting Qs about @GovNedLamont Executive Orders on municipal (including land use) commissions in Orders 7B & 7I.
THIS THREAD summarizes what I just sent to @CT_APA listserve & said on @UConnCLEAR webinar here: https://bit.ly/2UNJxkO 1/
THIS THREAD summarizes what I just sent to @CT_APA listserve & said on @UConnCLEAR webinar here: https://bit.ly/2UNJxkO 1/
The laws covered by these acts include: state statutes, Special Acts, local charters/ordinances, local resolutions/regs. These are essentially suspended & "rewritten" for the period of the emergency. 2/
The EOs made changes to: the in-person meeting requirement, timelines, notices, petitions, appeals, & a couple other things. Couple of images from my @UConnClear webinar:
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NOTICE requirements - by newspaper, in the clerk's office, or by physical sign - are all suspended. You can notice a meeting or agenda item on the website. EMAIL notice might be OK if it's "known or reasonably available." More slides from @UConnCLEAR webinar...: 4/
So in summary, municipal boards/commissions (including land use boards) CAN meet by Webex/GoToMeeting/etc., as long as the public can listen in. This has raised a Q about public participation (by video or phone)... Specifically, do we HAVE to let the public talk? 5/
My take: If an item IS NOT noticed as a public hearing matter, the public should not be allowed to speak - b/c someone with a contrary view might have showed up to speak if they thought there was a public hearing. Same standard practice of boards/commissions pre-COVID. 6/
However, if an item IS a public hearing matter, the public must be given a reasonable opportunity to be heard. Meeting chairs might, e.g., read into the record any received written testimony, then be told by an admin who has "e-raised their hands," then open the phone lines. 7/
People must state their names & if applicable titles. I've developed a script that I'll be reading as Chair of P&Z at the beginning of each of our meetings (including one on Tuesday, via @DDSHartford, www.): https://bit.ly/2U1Fbrn 8/
Feel free to DM me for more (w/caveat: this is not legal advice, just my take!). Remember that the @GovNedLamont EOs were drafted with the help of @CTBar COVID-19 Task Force to ensure business could proceed - safely. 9/
Hartford P&Z public participation was UP at our first e-meeting, so let's see if these digital-age changes stick post-COVID-19. If it's useful, I also wrote about these Emergency Orders here:
https://bit.ly/3e0VSuM
Carry on, & happy meeting!
10/End
https://bit.ly/3e0VSuM
Carry on, & happy meeting!
10/End
