China Manager: virtual meetings considered public & legal

by Mary Grow

At China’s March 26 Broadband Committee’s virtual meeting, Town Manager Dennis Heath and committee members explained how virtual meetings are temporarily considered public and therefore legal.

The difference is Governor Janet Mills’ declaration of an emergency, committee member Jamie Pitney said. Normally, only a few state agencies were allowed to hold some of their meetings without gathering in person. Now and until 30 days after the emergency is declared over, municipal boards and committees can do the same, provided that they give public notice.

Heath added that the declaration allows members not physically present at a meeting to vote, another change from past procedure. The recording of the meeting legally serves as minutes.

China has subscribed to a virtual meeting system that allows meeting participants to see and talk with each other and signed-in non-participants to watch and listen via computer and/or cellphone, depending on audience members’ computer capabilities. Heath said he paid $150 for a year’s service.

The March 26 meeting was not streamed on the China’s live stream and therefore was available only to those who signed in. Heath plans to have future virtual board and committee meetings live-streamed so they can be seen on the town website.

People seeking information on future meetings may visit the website, email the town office at info@chinamaine.org or call the town office at 445-2014 during office hours.

Broadband Committee members, joined virtually by two representatives of Mission Broadband Inc., discussed two main topics: the previously-planned broadband census to find out how many China residents need better service and why they don’t already have it, and ways to expand service.

Mike Reed and John Dougherty, of Mission Broadband, a national company promoting increased broadband service, said the company is planning a state-wide survey or census, simpler than the one originally proposed for China. Their version is currently on-line only and has alternatives – that is, a person’s answer to one question determines which question appears next.

Heath would like a paper census as well, to reach people who cannot or will not reply by computer or cell phone. Reed plans to review Mission Broadband’s draft to see if it can be adjusted for paper. Heath hopes to send a direct mailing to China residents by the end of March.

Committee members continued discussion of ways to increase the reach of existing broadband in town, suggesting more questions for Heath to ask Peter Hussey, of Hussey Communications, in Winslow, with whom town officials are working.

Committee member Tod Detre said there is not yet enough equipment to cover the town. The tower at the town office and the repeater at the China Village fire station offer limited service.

Heath said Hussey installed an omnidirectional antenna at the town office to reach the town garage and transfer station. The downside is a shorter range, he said. After census results more accurately define town-wide needs, he intends to explore more options.

Committee members scheduled their next, presumably-virtual meeting for 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 8. One agenda item will be a proposal to ask the Maine legislature to study the possibility of continuing to allow virtual meetings after the coronavirus emergency ends.

Heath feared virtual meetings would limit public participation. Pitney suggested the town office could be opened so people could go there to watch virtual meetings just as they could attend person-to-person meetings before the emergency.