The Shadow
CLIFTON FORGE — Clifton Forge Town Council will hold its public meetings through electronic communications until Coronavirus restrictions ease.
Council held a called meeting Tuesday at noon to approve emergency ordinances related to the Coronavirus pandemic.
One of the ordinances modifies public meeting and public hearing practices to allow council’s business to proceed during the virus pandemic.
“The ordinance allows meeting of the town council and its boards and commissions to be conducted by electronic means. Most, if not all, public meetings will be held during this emergency via telephone conference call,” Town Manager Darlene Burcham said.
Burcham will work with Lumos to establish a system for the conference calls.
A maximum of 50 people would be allowed on a line for the conference calls, Mayor Jeff Irvine said. Public comments will possibly be handled through e-mails.
“Agendas published for these meetings will include the phone number to be used as well as the access code. Council will not be allowing verbal public comments but will read aloud during the meeting all comments received by mail, or e-mail prior to the meeting,” Burcham said.
Vice Mayor Pam Marshall participated in Tuesday’s meeting via conference call. The remaining four members of council were present for the meeting at town hall. The meeting lasted approximately 45 minutes.
In March, Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring issued an advisory opinion to give local governments guidance on handling meetings electronically.
The Virginia Freedom of Information Act requires a quorum of members to be physically present in a room to conduct business, and to make the meeting open and accessible to the public.
But Herring said that in a state of emergency, those rules can be relaxed. His advisory opinion tells local governments they can meet electronically if “the purpose of the meeting is to address the emergency,” which includes meeting “to make decisions that must be made immediately and where failure to do so could result in irrevocable public harm.”
Marshall said the emergency ordinance passed by town council Tuesday stays in effect for 60 days.
On Monday, Gov. Ralph Northam issued a stay-home order for Virginians that remains in effect until June 10.
Prior to that action, Northam banned all public gatherings in the state that involved more than 10 people.
In other action related to the Coronavirus pandemic, Clifton Forge Town Council voted to affirm a local emergency that was declared by Alleghany County Administrator Jon Lanford on March 17.
Council also approved an ordinance amendment that will defer penalties and interest on late payment of food and beverage taxes from March 1 to May 31.
The taxes will still be due and penalties and interest will accrue on June 1, Burcham said.
