NEWS

Renzulli appeals for relaxed open meeting laws during pandemic

Posted 12/15/21

Prior to the Dec. 6 meeting, Cranston City Wide Councilwoman Nicole Renzulli had perfect attendance for Council meetings and all the committees she is a member of. 

That changed when she was …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

E-mail
Password
Log in
NEWS

Renzulli appeals for relaxed open meeting laws during pandemic

Posted

Prior to the Dec. 6 meeting, Cranston City Wide Councilwoman Nicole Renzulli had perfect attendance for Council meetings and all the committees she is a member of. 

That changed when she was forced to miss committee meetings last week because her 12-year-old son tested positive for COVID. 

She couldn’t leave her son and five-year old twins home alone. She couldn’t find anyone to watch her children because of the risk of being infected with COVID. 

So she had to skip the meeting and the other committee meetings she belongs to last week. 

Renzulli thinks that State leaders can and should do something to allow elected officials to participate in meetings when they aren’t able to attend due to a medical reason. 

“We need to relax Open Meeting Law in Rhode Island again, allowing elected officials’ remote attendance at meetings with a valid medical/caregiving excuse,” said Renzulli on Twitter last week. 

In the spring of 2020 then Gov. Gina Raimando signed an Executive Order which allowed members of  public bodies to participate in meetings remotely. 

But on July 23, Gov. Dan McKee let the executive order expire. 

Before the Executive Order expired legislation was introduced which would’ve relaxed open meeting laws until July 1 2023. 

“The legislation, developed in partnership with the RI Department of Business Regulations, allows the state, municipalities, boards and commissions to continue using virtual meetings and electronic public participation by amending the Open Meetings Act in the hopes of protecting the public from the pandemic and generating greater public participation through electronic remote access to public meetings,” a press release stated. 

That legislation was never voted on. 

Under the Open Meetings Act public bodies are allowed to permit members of the public to participate in meetings virtually. However, elected officials aren’t allowed to. 

Renzulli in an interview last week said she watched the committee meetings throughout the week virtually but wasn’t able to speak. 

“Because of the Open Meeting Act you can’t be an elected official and participate online,” she said. 

Renzulli isn’t the only council member who thinks the rules need to be relaxed throughout the pandemic. 

“I agree with Councilwoman Renzulli’s request to relax the open meetings law to allow public officials to participate remotely,” said Council President Chris Paplauskas in a statement.

Paplauskas knows firsthand what the implications are of having COVID and not being able to meet because of the in person requirements. In the beginning of September he said he had COVID and had to reschedule a special Council meeting. 

“With Covid cases on the rise, public bodies in Cranston and across the state are being faced with challenges on meeting quorum requirements,” said Paplauskas. “In Cranston we have made the appropriate technology upgrades to future proof Council Chambers to allow Hybrid meetings. Currently we allow public participation in person, and on zoom while also streaming on YouTube. The only missing piece of the puzzle is to allow the elected members of the Council to participate as well. I hope the General Assembly or Governor will consider this request.”

Renzulli said losing a vote on a committee can be critical. For example she pointed to the Ordinance Committee which she is a member of. The Committee has seven members.  If they have an even number of committee members and the vote is a tie there aren’t any tiebreakers. It means that the proposed ordinance wouldn’t be able to get out of committee and therefore couldn’t go to the Council floor for a vote. 

But beyond that not being able to participate in the meetings means that constituents are losing a voice at meetings.

“If I’m not voting then I’m not working, I’m not representing whoever it is that elected me to represent them. Their voices aren't being heard,” said Renzulli. 

On Twitter last week Renzulli said that “this Covid uptick will disproportionately have negative effects on women and parents- even more so moms, especially  single moms and People of Color.”

Renzulli said she’s concerned  there is already a lack of women elected officials- and doesn't want to see it go back even further. 

“If they can’t go to work it looks like they're not working. Who's going to elect them?” said Renzulli. 

While she’s hopeful that permanent legislation will be passed on Smith Hill to allow for those with a medical reason to participate remotely in meetings she at the very least wants a temporary solution for the remainder of the pandemic so she and others won’t have to give up their votes because of COVID or another medical reason. 

“I’m not looking for an excuse to try not to go to work, I am trying to work,” said Renzulli. 

Renzulli, open meetings

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here