Verified against NY State statutes and guidance, with AI assistance from Claude.
VILLAGE OF RED HOOK RESOLUTION #___ – 2026 DATED: APRIL 13, 2026
RESOLUTION TO REQUIRE VIDEOCONFERENCE ACCESS FOR ALL PUBLIC MEETINGS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
WHEREAS, the Board of Trustees is committed to ensuring public access to all its meetings, a principle reinforced by the Open Meetings Law and by our own procedures adopted April 10, 2023 (as Resolution 7-2023), which require that the public be able to observe and participate in Board meetings by video; and
WHEREAS, unauthorized individuals interrupted the Zoom videoconference of a recent Board meeting, broadcasting offensive content, and said disruption overrode the security settings in place at the time, demonstrating that standard Zoom meeting controls are insufficient to prevent such attacks; and
WHEREAS, the appropriate response to a disruption of public access is to strengthen security, not to restrict or eliminate the public’s ability to attend remotely; and
WHEREAS, a Zoom Webinar license is available at approximately $34 per month under the nonprofit discount for which the Village qualifies, and provides the security controls necessary to prevent the type of disruption experienced; and
WHEREAS, there is no fiscal or technical justification for curtailing public videoconference access to Board meetings; and
WHEREAS, this Resolution addresses public access only and does not alter the requirements for Board member attendance or the quorum rules established under the Board’s videoconferencing procedures adopted April 10, 2023;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Red Hook as follows:
1. The Village shall obtain and maintain a Zoom Webinar license for public meetings, at approximately $34 per month with nonprofit pricing.
2. Every meeting of the Board of Trustees at which a quorum is present shall provide a virtual attendance option for the public via the selected platform. This includes regular meetings, special meetings, workshops, public hearings, and informational sessions.
3. The videoconference link shall be posted on the Village website, included in the meeting agenda, and in all videoconferencing-related communications of the Board. No member of the public shall be required to contact any Village official in advance to obtain the link.
4. The Village Clerk shall establish a process for receiving public comment from members of the public attending by videoconference, ensuring they are afforded the same opportunity to speak as those attending in person.
5. The Board hereby authorizes expenditure from the General Fund for the selected videoconference platform. The Chief Budget Officer is directed to include this appropriation in the current and subsequent fiscal year budgets.
6. The Village’s IT consultant shall be responsible for platform setup, security configuration, and training the Village Clerk on the operation of the selected platform. The Village Clerk shall be responsible for posting the videoconference link on the Village website and including it in meeting agendas and all videoconferencing-related Board communications.
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7. Nothing in this Resolution modifies the Board’s adopted procedures governing Trustee attendance by videoconference or the requirements for establishing a quorum.
8. Severability. If any provision of this Resolution is held invalid, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.
9. This Resolution shall take effect immediately.
Motion by: ____________________
Seconded by: __________________
The foregoing resolution was duly put to a vote, which resulted as follows:
| Mayor Smythe | □Aye | □Nay | □Abstain | □Recuse | □Absent/Excused |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeputyMayor Kjarval | □Aye | □Nay | □Abstain | □Recuse | □Absent/Excused |
| Trustee Uku | □Aye | □Nay | □Abstain | □Recuse | □Absent/Excused |
| Trustee Allen | □Aye | □Nay | □Abstain | □Recuse | □Absent/Excused |
| Trustee Rothstein | □Aye | □Nay | □Abstain | □Recuse | □Absent/Excused |
| Vote Total | |||||
| Result | Motion: |
I hereby attest that the above Resolution was approved by the Board of Trustees at its April 13, 2026 meeting, and that I have been authorized to sign this Resolution by decision of the Board of Trustees.
Jennifer Cavanaugh, Clerk Date Date: _______________
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