North Countryman Editorial
The right to record open meetings in New York L
ights … camera ... action. As of April 1, New York state will give its citizens the right to r ecord open meetings with a variety of media. As part of Sunshine Week — celebrated the third week of March (March 13-19, 2011) each year to r emind r esidents about their rights under the Open Government Laws — we are excited to have some actual news to report about those laws, rather than simply hitting readers over the head with the same old line about “Your Right to Know.” Yet, here we go again. It’s our duty to remind citizens that they are guaranteed certain rights under the Fr eedom of Information, Open Meetings and Personal Privacy Protection Laws. And ther e is a gr oup under the New York State Department of State — the Committee on Open Government — responsible for overseeing those laws and advising r esidents about them. During his tenure, the Committee’s executive director, Robert Freeman, has become a best friend to news organizations looking for fr eedom of information o pinions, w hich a re l isted o n the Web site: www.dos.state.ny.us/coog. The Committee reminds us that in March
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2010, state lawmakers passed legislation during Sunshine Week amending the Open Meetings Law to allow people to photograph and record these meetings: “In short, the courts have determined that anyone may record open meetings, so long as use of a r ecording device is not disr uptive or obtrusive. Those bodies will be statutorily required to allow meetings to be photographed, broadcast, Webcast or otherwise recorded and/or transmitted by audio or video means. The new pr ovision also states that public bodies may adopt reasonable rules governing the use of cameras and recording devices during open meetings, in which case such rules must be written, conspicuously posted, and provided to those in attendance upon request.” To help government bodies with this amendment, the Committee on Open Government has pr epared model r ules r egarding the photographing, r ecording and broadcasting of public meetings. These suggested rules, which are available on the Web site, may be modified and adopted by public bodies. This law takes effect April 1.
State Webcasts New York state agencies ar e alr eady r equired to W ebcast their open meetings so citizens can watch from the comfort of their homes or workplaces.
Former Gov. Eliot Spitzer signed the Executive O rder i n M arch 2 007. H is r eason: most New Yorkers can’t make the meetings, and the technology exists, so let’s just do it. And while we feel it was an unr easonably expensive unfunded mandate for agencies, especially smaller ones like the Adirondack Park Agency, those Webcast meetings have provided extraor dinary access to our state government like never before. For example, we can watch an APA meeting live on the APA W eb site (www.apa.state.ny.us). The Agency doesn’t have to broadcast it live — so long as they broadcast it over the Internet within a r easonable amount of time after the meeting — but they show it live anyway, as a courtesy and a public service because not everyone from around the 6-million-acre Adirondack Park can make it to Ray Brook to attend the monthly meetings. Many times, the meet-
ings include time-sensitive decisions, and taxpayers can watch their government at work as the issues unfold. And if they can’t watch live, they can log on to the APA Web site and see the prerecorded meetings, bookmarked by agenda item. We give the APA staf f high marks for meeting this mandate and exceeding expectations. People can even see the PowerPoint presentations of staf f and guests. W e encourage you to watch these Webcast videos or listen to the audio versions (MP3). After all, it’s your right to know.
This editorial is the collaborative opinion of a board comprised of Thom Randall, Lindsay Yandon, Fred Herbst, Lou Varricchio, Keith Lobdell, Jer emiah Papineau, Andy Flynn and John Ger eau. Comments may be directed to denpubs@denpubs.com.
Letters to the Editor
What can you do to help Relay for Life?
Four years ago, a gr oup of students started a movement on the SUNY Plattsburgh campus called Relay for Life. Over the course of this time, they have raised over $138,500, and it has inspired a new campus tradition and, most of all, supported the fight against cancer. Having the privilege of serving as the gro up’s campus advisor the last couple of years, I have tried to add to the spirit of the evening. Last year, the group set a goal of $45,000. I told them if they r eached it I would once again step up to the plate to take on a student challenge. That challenge was dancing with Plattsburgh State’s Car dinalette Kickline. To no surprise they surpassed this goal raising $47K! You can find me dancing with them here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYZ-4BSobe4. This year, our campus will hold our 5thAnnual Relay for Life with the goal of raising $55,555! We are still working on Cashman’s challenge, but I promise you that if the group hit the goal it will be just as fun as last year! Last year, so many of my family and friends helped me recognize this amazing group of students by making a donation. More importantly, we came together to Celebrate, Remember and Fight Back. I have witnessed family and friends battle with this horrible disease. I know you have, too. I realize everyone is tight for money right now . But I am asking you to join me by making small sacrifice. Each of us has something in our daily or weekly lives that could give-up just once that together will add up to a lot. * Could you go without that morning cup of cof fee from Dunkin
March 19 - 25, 2011
Donuts or Tim Horton’s? * Could you go without a value meal from your favorite fast food? * Could you go without a night out, maybe one less drink or maybe no dessert? Whatever you can do — $5, $10, $20 or mor e — it all counts towards finding a cure. I hope you will join me. Please pass this message along to other family and friends. I know cancer has impacted my friends and family. If you would like to join my team the night of Relay you can also email me at mscashman@gmail.com. Together we can Celebrate, Remember and Fight Back, while sending a strong message to this amazing group of college students they amazing for working so hard towards such a worthy cause. Michael S. Cashman Plattsburgh
Dodge has the books you need Yippy! Summer is almost here. I haven’t heard the geese yet, but I know they’re on their way. Thank goodness. We had a lot of snow, and that was great for skiers and winter enthusiast. Those of us that are not as graceful in the winter may have put on a pound or two. Those robust pots of stew will do it. Now we have to start concentrating on getting in shape to get our home and gar dens in shape. Have you heard of Timothy Ferriss’s new book, “The 4-Hour Body”? It’s an incredible book. It truly will change your life. Come check it out at The Dodge Library. See LETTERS, continued on page 7
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