Washington Twp. Officials Investigating Meeting Broadcasts

Does televising meetings open them up to more residents, or does it discourage shy residents from sharing their opinions in public? 

Members of the Washington Township Council continued discussing the idea of broadcasting public meetings their most recent meeting last week. Some residents, like David Snyde, have supported the idea for years. 

"I think it'll make for a better town," Snyde said.

The majority of the council also expressed support for televising meetings, but Councilman Richard Hrbek said he had spoken to some residents who were opposed to the plan.  

"When you're standing down here looking at the dais, it can be very intimidating," Hrbek said, remembering his first time speaking at a council meeting. Being on TV would make the experience even worse, he said.

Hrbek said he believed reporters "do a fantastic job of covering the issues that come up at the meetings."

Council President Steve Cascio said he didn't think a stationary camera would be intimidating and added that some of the comments at meetings lose something when written down and read in local news, as opposed to being heard straight from the speakers' mouths.

"This way, the residents all get a true feeling of how things were presented," Cascio said.

Officials said they would continue to investigate their options, such as using a stationary camera or having one with an operator, how much the equipment would cost and how much effort would be required to operate it.

The next council meeting is scheduled for August 5.