(Red Oak) The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors is back to recording their meetings.
One week ago, Jan Norris of West Township voiced her concern when she learned the meetings were no longer being recorded. She acknowledged that although the Iowa Code does not mandate it, many counties have found that recording their meetings is a best practice. For example, Page County and the City of Red Oak both maintain YouTube channels where they post recordings of every meeting.
Norris says the public should explain why this service has been discontinued and how Board members feel about it.
Meanwhile, Montgomery County Board of Supervisor Chairperson Charla Schmid said before this (Tuesday) morning’s meeting that she wants the recordings of the meetings; however, they must be consistent.
Audio PlayerNorris stated that transparency, in this case, is a win-win for both the Board and the public. Recording your meetings serves a similar function to a body camera for police officers—it provides protection against unfounded accusations and gives the public a chance to be more informed and engaged.
Former Supervisor Donna Robinson also voiced concern over discontinuing the recordings during Tuesday’s meeting.
