As the President of the American Council of the Blind of New York Inc. (ACBNY), I wish to state clearly and unequivocally the organization's position on Governor Spitzer?s Executive Order No. 3 and its relevance to the ?Executive Board? put forth to review services being provided to people who are blind in New York.
As there seems to be some controversy on where and when web casting is and should be mandated, I am posting Executive Order No. 3 wherein it clearly defines a board as an ?Agency?: "Agency" shall mean any state agency, department, office, board, commission or other instrumentality of the State, other than a public authority. (Spitzer, Executive Order No. 3) Because ACBNY believes the above definition cannot be misconstrued to represent the ?Executive Board? as anything but an agency, we have determined that the ?Executive Board? is subject to any and all mandates within Executive Order No. 3: including but not limited to web casting.
All questions comments and concerns can be forwarded to:
Mike Godino
President, ACBNY
516-887-1336
President@acbny.org
WHEREAS, it is essential to the maintenance of a democratic society that the public business be performed in an open and public manner; and
WHEREAS, the citizens of this State be fully aware of and able to observe the performances of public officials and attend and listen to the deliberations and decisions that go into the making of public policy; and
WHEREAS, the people must be able to remain informed if they are to retain control over those who are their public servants; and
WHEREAS, the Open Meetings Law requires every meeting of a public body shall be open to the general public; and
WHEREAS, the majority of New Yorkers are unable to attend such meetings; and
WHEREAS advances in technology allow for the broadcast of meetings on the Internet through the use of web casting;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Eliot Spitzer, Governor of the State of New York, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the State of New York, do hereby order as follows:
1. Definitions
"Agency" shall mean any state agency, department, office, board, commission or other instrumentality of the State, other than a public authority.
"Public authority" shall mean a public authority or public benefit corporation created by or existing under any State law, at least one of whose members is appointed by the Governor (including any subsidiaries of such public authority or public benefit corporation), other than an interstate or international authority or public benefit corporation.
2. Requirement to Broadcast Public Meetings
By March 1, 2007, every agency and public authority shall submit to the Secretary to the Governor a plan that:
(a) identifies all meetings of such agency or authority that are subject to the Open Meetings Law; and
(b) specifies a timetable for ensuring that all such meetings are broadcast on the Internet.
Such plan may identify circumstances in which such web casting is either impractical or inappropriate, and may seek approval for exemption from the requirement for web casting. Except in those circumstances where an exemption is granted, all agency and authority meetings that are subject to the Open Meetings Law shall be broadcast on the Internet commencing no later than July 1, 2007. Every agency and public authority shall submit a report to the Secretary to the Governor by December 31, 2007, setting forth the number of meetings webcast during the prior year, together with a summary of any comments received from the public regarding the web casting, and any recommendations for changes or improvements to the program.
G I V E N under my hand and the Privy Seal of the State in the City of Albany this first day of January in the year two thousand seven.
Eliot Spitzer, Governor
Richard Baum, Secretary to the Governor