Audio and Video Recording Policy for the Fire District

WHEREAS, the Board of Fire Commissioners of the _________ Fire District acknowledges it is essential to the maintenance of a democratic society that the public business is performed in an open and public manner.

WHEREAS, according to Article 7 of the Public Officers Law, commonly referred to as the Open Meetings Law, the citizens of New York State and the ________ Fire District are to be fully aware of and able to observe the performance of public officials, to attend and to listen to the deliberations and decisions that go into the making of public policy by the Boards of Fire Commissioners; and

WHEREAS, the people must be able to remain informed if they are to retain control over those who are their public servants, more particularly the commissioners of the ________ Fire District; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to §100 of the Public Officers Law, “It is essential to the maintenance of a democratic society that the public business be performed in an open and public manner and that the citizens of this state be fully aware of and able to observe the performance of public officials and attend and listen to the deliberations and decisions that go into the making of public policy. The people must be able to remain informed if they are to retain control over those who are their public servants. It is the only climate under which the commonwealth will prosper and enable the governmental process to operate for the benefit of those who created it”; and

WHEREAS, the Board of Fire Commissioners of the __________ Fire District recognizes its responsibility to conduct business publicly, and in a manner conducive to the unhindered and free exchange of ideas, and to further bring issues affecting the fire district to the attention of the Board as well as the community.

NOW, therefore, the Board of Fire Commissioners of the __________ Fire District establishes the following policy regarding the public recording of the meetings of the Board of Fire Commissioners:

Public meetings of the Board of Fire Commissioners may be audio recorded, videotaped or recorded by other visual means by member(s) of the public, subject to the following conditions:

a. The Board reserves the right to direct that a contemporaneous audio tape and/or videotape or other visual recording be made of the public meeting to ensure a reliable, accurate and complete account of the proceeding.

b. (If the board wishes to make the recording the official...