County Board Committee

Adjusts Policy To

Affirm Public, Press Have Rights

Regarding the county Board of Representatives’ policy, “Use of Photographic and Recording Devices At County Meetings,” the stated goal – “to allow meetings to be conducted in an orderly manner” – was never objectionable.
Two aspects of the policy were: One, that reporters need to “sign in” (i.e., register with a local government to do their job) and, two, if failing to do so would be “excluded” from board or committee meetings at a chairman’s fiat, with no due process.
This was not simply a press concern, but a public one. As originally drafted, members of the public could have been prevented using iPhones to record aspects of meetings unless they previously registered, and could likewise be
excluded on a whim.
These concerns were affirmed in an opinion from Bob Freeman, executive director of the state Committee on Open Government, an arm of the New York Department of State.