COLONIE — The town is still planning to hold public meetings, but is going to do it remotely.
According to a memo by Director of the Planning and Economic Development Department Sean Maguire, the Planning Board meeting slated for March 24 and the Industrial Development Agency and the Local Development Agency meetings slated for Monday, March 23 are still being held.
“The Town of Colonie has determined that it remains in the public’s interest to continue the work of certain boards and to engage the public as it would during its normal course of business,” according to Maguire’s memo.
Some meetings require public comment by law, and the public can do so in real time through the web-based system Zoom.
The ability to hold public hearings remotely is in line with a governor’s executive order, which allows the “suspension of law allowing the attendance of meetings telephonically or other similar service,” and the town’s state of emergency, declared on March 16.
For those who only wish to observe and watch these meetings, please watch the meetings on the Town of Colonie YouTube channel at the address below. No further action is required. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAEwcIkO-Rthar8R38fU2Kg
For those who wish to provide public comment, please register at the link provided in the meeting agenda. You will receive instructions via email about how to participate. You will need to have access to at least a telephone to provide public comments and preferably access to a computer or smartphone with a camera, microphone, and speakers connected to the Internet.
The Planning, IDA, and LDC Board meetings will be recorded and uploaded to the Town’s meeting portal for on-demand access.