In accordance with what has become standard operative procedure at Greensboro city hall, a notice went out on the afternoon of Tuesday, March 22, making revisions to the City Council “Strategy Session” on Wednesday, March 23 and Thursday, March 24.
The start time of the meeting according to the agenda is 1 p.m. But according to the official notice the meeting time had been changed to 1:30 p.m., although no public notice of this could be found, but it was revised again to 1:15 p.m.
The second revision is downright misleading.
The email to which the official notice is attached states, “the meetings will be held remotely. There is a link provided for public viewing on the City Website.”
The attached official notice states, “Please take notice that the special meeting of the Greensboro City Council scheduled on Wednesday, March 23, 2022 at 1:30 P.M. will begin at 1:15 P.M. and Thursday, March 24, 2022 at 9 A.M. in the ACC Hall of Champions Boardroom, Greensboro Coliseum Complex, 1921 West Gate City Blvd, Greensboro, NC for the purpose of holding the 2022 Greensboro City Council Strategy Session (Retreat) AND will now be held as a remote meeting.
In the past a “remote meeting” has meant a virtual meeting, i.e. a meeting where city councilmembers, city staff and the public all participate via Zoom. In other words, “remote” meetings are meetings that can be observed but cannot be attended in person because the participants are all participating via Zoom and are not in one location.
The email stated the meetings would be held “remotely” with no mention of a location. The official notice states the meeting “will be held as a remote meeting” but also that the meeting would be in the ACC Hall of Champions Boardroom at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex, which are contradictory.
When contacted, Mayor Nancy Vaughan said that she was also confused by the email and official notice of the meeting, but that the meeting would be an in person meeting at the ACC Hall of Champions, but could be viewed remotely.
So the meeting is not a “remote” meeting according to the city’s definition of a “remote” meeting and is not even a “hybrid” meeting according to the city’s definition, a meeting where people can participate in person or via Zoom. This is an in-person meeting that can be watched on the City of Greensboro website, as meetings have been for years, long before COVID.
So for those who wish to attend the meeting, it will be held at the ACC Hall of Champions or can be viewed at https://www.greensboro-nc.gov/government/city-council/council-meetings.
And at least as of Tuesday afternoon the official start time of the meeting is 1:15 p.m., but of course that is subject to change.
And Mandate Mayor and supporters want to raise salaries. For staff that can’t even press release properly or in accordance with open meeting laws. For shame, our leaders prefer to do business in backrooms with zero public input or ability to attend.
This is your council. Remember to vote….for a new council.