Bay Village City Council to get amplified

Bay Village residents will soon be able to listen to recordings of City Council meetings via the web, thanks to a $10,000 donation for microphones from Bay's chapter of the League of Women Voters.

The microphone project began a year ago in a conversation with Council President Paul Koomar about how Council could be more visible, open and transparent to citizens. Under Mr. Koomar's leadership, Council has since offered a series of town hall meetings covering timely and important topics. He also initiated posting meeting packets on the city's website, so citizens can review many of the materials behind agenda items. 

Microphones are the capstone. They will of course help people in the room hear better. But by making high-quality recordings possible, they will also allow people who cannot attend the meetings to hear what was said. Finally, voice-to-text software will enable efficient and complete production of minutes for all meetings.

Council President Koomar, along with Councilman Paul Vincent, who chairs the Services, Utilities and Equipment committee; Council Clerk Joan Kemper; and Bay's LWV chapter treasurer Alex Dade are to be commended for their hard work. It was not simple project, but for years to come, it will improve access to – and we hope involvement in – city government.

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Volume 7, Issue 2, Posted 9:47 AM, 01.20.2015