KINGSTON – The Ulster County Legislature is following the lead of the Orange, Sullivan and Dutchess legislatures, among others, that webcast all of their committee meetings live.
Those committee sessions are typically where the debate and discussion on the issues is held.
Ulster webcasts the regular meetings, but most of the issues have been hammered out already in committee with little discussion at the monthly sessions.
“The public deserves to be informed and aware of the business of their government and our meeting times are not always conducive to working families. By livestreaming our meetings, we will allow those who do not have the time or means to access or attend our committees to better understand our processes and be more engaged in their government,” said Legislator Manna Jo Greene (District 19 – Rosendale & Marbletown), the author of the budget amendment providing for this service.
“Livestreaming is the latest in a committed history of transparency we in the legislature have sought to bring to county government,” said Chairwoman Tracey Bartels (District 16 -Gardiner & Shawangunk).
She said in 2012, she sponsored legislation that required recordings of meetings to be posted in a public manner, and this year we required all boards and commissions to post their audio recordings as well.
“Livestreaming committee meetings will allow the public to see the deliberation taking place as we examine legislation and receive information from executive staff and department heads, improving government transparency and accessibility to all who may not be able to attend these meetings in person,” Bartels said.
The Ulster County Legislature YouTube channel is @UlsterCountyLegislature, where users can subscribe to see livestreams directly on their homepage, which is also available as a direct link on both the Legislative website and Legislative Calendar
