Township Considering Airing Council Meetings Online

It may not be long before township residents will be able to attend council meetings without leaving their homes.

Mayor David Mayer announced during Wednesday night's township council meeting that his administration was looking to have council meetings aired live on the township website, www.glotwp.com.

"We're working out the technical details of that now," Mayer said.

The mayor indicated he plans to have details of the program to council by "early next year."

Ray Polidoro, chairman of the township's Republican committee, had requested that council amend a 1995 law that bars public use of electric outlets in council chambers to power recording devices.

He has been airing recorded council meetings on his website, www.gloucestertownshipnews.com, but was hoping to begin streaming them live in the new year.

"I can't do that without some form of electricity. The alternative is that I could come in here with a 4-by-3 solar panel and a battery, which would look totally ridiculous," Polidoro said.

Solicitor David Carlamere noted council passed a measure in 1995 barring public use of electric outlets due to safety concerns, noting there would be meetings with three or more extension cords running across the chamber's floor.

"If we had one individual doing it, set in one location, that's OK," Carlamere said. "But, if you had the ability to do that and someone came in with three, four different cameras and you had plugs all over the place, the then-council felt that would be too disruptive ... and it could be a trip hazard."

Polidoro later said he did not feel there would be a line of people waiting to record the meetings should council relax or altogether abolish the outlet restriction.

Polidoro explained his video equipment—and probably most video equipment—only allows him to consecutively record for little more than three hours on one battery. After about 186 minutes, he has to switch batteries—something he does not want to do so as to avoid the apperance he is editing video.

"There are meetings that go longer (than 186 minutes), and I'll assume some responsibility for that at some public portions," he said, drawing some chuckles from council members.