Zoom meetings have been rejected by McMinnville officials.
The Board of Mayor and Aldermen has two regular meeting nights a month on the second and fourth Tuesdays. The board met via online Zoom conferencing Tuesday for its first session in January and decided once was enough.
“I would like the board to discuss and give their thoughts about meeting in person versus Zoom going forward,” said Mayor Ryle Chastain. “Let’s open it up and everybody weigh in on that and we can decide if we meet via Zoom or in person later this month and going forward.”
Alderman Sally Brock stated, “I would much rather meet in person.”
That sentiment was shared by all board members.
“We’ve got 10 people,” said Vice Mayor Everett Bock. “Right now we are under the 10-person quota per the governor. If we take the seven board members, legal counsel, Nolan (Ming, city administrator) and Shirley, (Durham, city recorder), that gives us 10. Everybody else can come in on Zoom or however, as could visitors. This way is unwieldy. It really is.”
Gov. Bill Lee’s recommendation is that gatherings be limited to 10 people or less.
“I agree,” said Chastain. “Meeting via Zoom is not preferred. We opted to do this just this one time seeing that COVID is in a fever pitch right now and just have everybody weigh in. What the governor has said is a recommendation. However, we are only doing this twice a month.”
Board members met in person in December. The lobby of City Hall was used. Social distancing, face masks and temperature checks were required by everyone in attendance.
“As we did in December, we will be taking most of the precautions they recommend,” said Chastain. “If we are doing that, I really don’t see a problem with it. If it’s OK with everybody else, we will just plan on meeting in person at City Hall on Jan. 26.”
In-person attendance will be optional for board members. Hybrid government meetings, where some elected officials are in person and some access the meeting via Zoom or by phone, is allowed by the state.
No vote was taken but verbal confirmation was given for the city of McMinnville to hold its two monthly sessions in person as opposed to using Zoom.