2021-12-16 Merit Appeals Board Minutes

Home

the public testimony. Physical Location Open to Public Even for a remote meeting, the meeting notice must list at least one physical meeting location that will be open to the public and connected via ICT to the remote meeting. However, unlike an in-person meeting,there is no requ irement for board members to appear in-person at the physical meeting location to participate in the remote meeting; the physical location is simply a convenience for members and the public, allowing those without the ability or inclination to use their own connection to an online meeting the option to attend where the board has set up and will maintain the remote meeting connection. If the connection to the remote meeting fails at the requisite physical location,then the meeting will be recessed or terminated, as discussed below. While the board is required to provide at least one physical location that is guaranteed to remain connected to the remote meeting, the board also has the option to provide one or more "additional"physical locations without a guarantee thatthose locations will remain connected to the remote meeting. To be considered an "additional" location,the notice must specify that in the event that location is disconnected from the remote meeting, the meeting will not be terminated or interrupted to restore connectivity. Conducting the Meeting At the beginning of a remote meeting,the chair must list the members present, and members attending from a private location must state who else is present with them. A quorum of members must be visible through out the public portion of the meeting, but so long as that requirement is met, additional members not needed to maintain the quorum visibility requirement can participate via audio only,such as by turning the camera off or calling in by phone. In this way, a member with a poor internetconnection or other difficulties in maintaining a visual connection can still participate,so long as a quorum of members are visibly present throughout the remote meeting. All participating members must maintain an audio connection at all times. Votes during a remote meeting must be done by roll call unless the vote is unanimous. In practice this means the chair can ask if there are any objections or abstentions and call the roll on ly when members object or abstain. Quick Review: Sunshine Law Requirements for Remote Meetings (revised 10/2021) Page 2