Live from 100 North Street it’s the legislature

by: Bill Liblick

Just like CSPAN and live telecasts of the New York State Legislature it will probably go unnoticed to the average everyday Sullivan County resident, but broadcasting sessions of the Sullivan County Legislature via the Internet is a step in the right direction.

Legislator Alan Sorensen who has been a maverick in opening up legislative meetings to the public pushed hard for the live broadcasts.

Unlike his other proposal to schedule meetings at night in an attempt to make them more accessible to the working public, there appears to be bipartisan support behind the webcasts.

The only concerns some legislators have expressed publically are the expenses to broadcast the meetings. That argument is total nonsense, because the benefits would so out way the costs.

Perhaps the real unease confronting legislators is that all meetings will be documented for the entire public to see. This could be potentially damaging to elected officials.

Live recordings will force legislators to act more productively and openly because they know the cameras will be rolling. In essence, it will compel them to get things done.

The best option according to video experts would be to purchase the equipment and install cameras in the two legislative meeting rooms.

The initial onetime cost would be in the neighborhood of $6,000. Then there will be an ongoing cost of $110 per meeting that will include encoding the audio and video signals, plus storing the images for retrieval.

Webcasts will be free for viewing after logging onto to a given website, most likely the county official website.

The only downside to all this is that video clips could be taken out of context by people with political agendas and posted on the Internet on such sites as youtube.

Former Mamakating Supervisor Charles Penna often saw his public outbursts on the popular website. Those video clips were taken by gallery members who utilized their own video devices to record the meetings.

Alan Sorensen who ran on a campaign of open government agrees with me that webcasting meetings will force the legislature to be more open and accountable.  

Sorensen told me, “My measure to have all committee meetings and legislative meetings taped and webcast will give all residents an opportunity to see their legislators at work - when they get home from work.  More importantly, it will require the meetings to be held in the legislative chambers and out of the back room where our residents have to stand in the hallways just to listen to the committee meetings.”

He added, “The current policy that forces residents to stand in the hall during committee Meetings is inconsiderate and elitist.” I will go one step further by saying it is deplorable.

Discussing the costs webcasting will entail, Sorensen said, “projected annual costs moving forward will be less than $20,000. This is a small price to pay to ensure open government.  You can’t put a price tag on democracy. It is worth every penny of the cost to allow Sullivan County residents to see what really goes on at meetings."

In all honesty, how could anyone really disagree with Sorensen?

You know, there even might be a way for Sullivan County to receive an income from this type of stuff - all we have to do is record meetings of the Monticello Village Board.

I bet reality show producers would be intrigued by all the antics displayed there, and in return we could have a hit reality comedy show that would be a ratings bonanza on television. The potential revenue could possibly get us out of our pending financial crises.

In all seriousness, recording public meetings is the right thing to do. And, Alan Sorensen must be applauded for bringing it to Sullivan County.

Now, all that is left for our legislators to do is sharpen their lips and get a new wardrobe.

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