Village poised to allow remote voting by trustees

The Fredonia Village Board is drafting a new policy that would allow trustees to participate and vote in meetings remotely.

The board’s Technology Committee is looking at a policy that would allow trustees to attend meetings digitally if they are unable to physically attend the meeting due to illness or disability, business travel or family commitments.

“It is a tool to allow us to attend meetings we are elected to attend. It is not intended to be an excuse to not attend meetings,” Technology Committee Chairman Richard Abegglen said.

Under a plan reviewed by the Village Board last week, a trustee could attend a meeting remotely if he or she gives two days notice, physically attends at least 75% of meetings and a quorum of the board is present on site.

A board member attending remotely also would be allowed to participate in closed sessions as long as privacy of the meeting can be maintained.

The Village Board sent the draft plan back to the committee to prepare a final draft on which the board could vote.