3/12/07 Legislators consider recording meetings

(As published by Cortland Standard, Corey Preston reporting)

The occasional discrepancy over accuracy and a desire for more transparency prompted three legislative committees last week to discuss recording county committee meetings, either with audio and visual equipment, or just audio.
The General Services Committee on Tuesday, the Health Committee on Wednesday and the Personnel Committee on Thursday each discussed the possibility, with most legislators agreeing that recording the meetings was a good idea, with the only issue being cost.
County Administrator Scott Schrader told the General Services Committee, and subsequently the other two, that the cost of running audio/visual capabilities from the Legislature’s main chambers to two committee meeting rooms next door would be approximately $10,000 per room.
The high price tag gave members of each committee pause, and suggestions for reducing the cost, included only wiring the rooms for audio recording, or simply holding any committee meetings where recording was desired in legislative chambers.
Most legislators seemed to agree that recording the meetings was a good idea, and each committee agreed to discuss the issue further next month.
“That’s where a lot of the work is really done, in committee,” said Legislator Sandy Price (D-Harford and Virgil). “It’d be really nice if it was something we could get broadcast, so the people would be able to see it.”