Sea Bright Council Considers Live Video Streaming

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By Liz Sheehan
SEA BRIGHT – The borough council plans to discuss the idea of “live streaming” video of its public sessions over the internet, for the convenience of residents who want to be informed of what’s happening in town, but can’t always make the meetings.
Councilman Mark Leckstein believes it can be possible to get up and running in a matter of months. With just a click on their computer or smartphone on a link posted to the borough website, viewers can watch and hear digital video of a council meeting. Presently, the council and Unified Planning Board offer audio recordings of their meetings, and post important public information on the town website. Providing live streams will be “the icing on the cake,” he said.
Leckstein was inspired by the gratitude and feedback he got on Aug. 23, after posting live video recordings on the Facebook Group “All About Sea Bright.” The recordings were of a public forum related to the proposed controversial referendum on bond issues to fund the replacement of the library, police headquarters and firehouse destroyed by Sandy and of the existing Borough Hall, which later met voter approval. One of the videos, which was shot on his smartphone, has been viewed more than 1,000 times. It also sparked 120 comments.
Under discussion at the Jan. 12 meeting will be the type of streaming method and costs.
Councilman Brian Kelly said he was not opposed to streaming the council meetings. He said it will “give people more access” to observe meetings. Now, Kelly said, “some people can’t get to meetings.”
Councilman John Lamia said, “I think it’s a good idea to have people know what’s going on,” when asked his opinion about streaming meetings. He questioned how web viewers would have the opportunity to ask questions or respond to what is happening at the meeting.
Leckstein said that as of now there were no plans for watchers to place comments or questions on the web stream.
Councilman Jack Keeler said “I don’t really have strong feelings one way or another,” about the streaming. “I don’t know of any negatives,” he said, “I think it’s worth trying.”
Mayor Dina Long said Tuesday she supported anything that “would bring more citizen participation into government.”
“I’m not opposed to it,” she said.
One concern Long voiced is if streaming might inhibit those who did not want to appear on the video from speaking at meetings.
George White, the executive director of the New Jersey Press Association (NJPA) said the proposal to stream the council meetings was “fantastic.”
He said the NJPA “applauded making the actions and deliberations (of governing bodies) as open to the public as possible. This is a great step towards that.”
Live and archived meeting recordings could join information already posted on the town website. In addition to podcasts of past council and planning board meetings, agenda and meeting minutes, current postings include information on buying season passes to the beach at a discount, a borough directory, library hours, contacts for emergency management and police, the tax department and health department, and more.