4-20-20 BOC Regular Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

REMOTE PARTICIPATION POLICY FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION FOR THE LEE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONER MEETINGS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC WHEREAS, COVID-19 is a respiratory disease that causes flu-like symptoms, but with markedly higher rates of death,particularly among the elderly and medically vulnerable populations; WHEREAS, as a result of issues presented by COVID-19 and pursuant to the authority under Article lA of Chapter 166A of the North Carolina General Statutes and Chapter 14 of the Lee County Code of Ordinances, the Chair of the Lee County Board of Commissioners declared that a State of Emergency exists within the jurisdiction of Lee County; and WHEREAS, recommendations and directives from national, state and local public health officials have addressed the need to take protective measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19; and WHEREAS, at its March 16, 2020 meeting,the Board of Commissioners understood that COVID-19 was beginning to spread throughout North Carolina and at that time voted to suspend its current remote participation policy during this state of emergency to allow for remote participation of Board members if it became unsafe to meet in person and authorized staff to research the best practice of conducting such meetings; and WHEREAS, The Board of County Commissioners adopted a remote participation policy for meetings of the County Board of Commissioners on January 5, 2015 and will adopt a new policy on April 20, 2020 covering board meetings during the COVID-19 pandemic; and WHEREAS, it has become necessary in order to adhere to the CDC,the President of the United States and the Governor of North Carolina's recommendations and orders in regards to social distancing and mass gatherings,the Lee County Board of Commissioners may band or restrict public access to its Board meetings in order to protect the safety of its employees and the public; and WHEREAS, during this uncertain and unprecedented time, County business must continue, and therefore, public hearings may need to be held to prevent the delay of necessary business. The County will try to schedule public hearings on matters that can wait until in-person meetings that are open to public attendance resume,however some matters will need to move forward. This policy will govern the public participation for a public hearing or public comment during the COVID-19 pandemic: 1. The Lee County Board of Commissioners meetings will continue to be live streamed and will be available for viewing after the meeting. The public will also have the option to call in to hear the meeting if they do not have access to view the live stream. 2. Public comments to be read either during the public comment section or during a public hearing will be accepted in a variety of ways. Please notate if you are submitting as part of a public comment or as part of the public hearing. The allowable ways to be received are as follow: a. An individual can email a comment that they wish to be read during the meeting to public.comments gleecountncy.gov.