Keep the public in public meetings

Rehoboth Beach commissioners recently discussed whether to live stream meetings so those not able to attend could watch the meetings, as they occur, from other locations. The idea drew general support except from Commissioner Stan Mills, who is concerned live streaming could prompt questions from people no one can see or identify. Mills pointed out an audio record of all the meetings can already be found on the city website after the meeting.

Mills said live streaming, with comments from unidentified members of the public, would rob the commissioners of the ability to respond, face-to-face, with people who have questions.

Still, the real question behind this debate goes far beyond live streaming. The larger question, in our electronic age, is, what makes a public meeting public?

Rehoboth has no policy on using cell phones and laptops during meetings, and some commissioners and city officials use them. What's to stop someone who is not present at the meeting – or even someone who is present – from texting commissioners in an attempt to privately influence their votes? What's to stop a quorum of commissioners from receiving texts during the meeting – essentially creating a secret meeting within a public meeting, one that even people in attendance can't hear?

While the city solicitor says Rehoboth is following the rules on cell phone use, courts in other states have found texts and emails written or received by public officials during public meetings, even on their private cell phones, are public records that must be made available for the public. Without this safeguard, it is already impossible to know who is communicating with officials as they make their decisions, even when their actions take place in public.

Live streaming would clearly create more transparency, but it is critical that communication by public officials during public meetings is public.

Public officials must turn off cell phones and laptops during public meetings and focus their full attention on the meeting. City policy and state law should reflect this.