Council reviews and re-adopts remote participation policy required by Virginia code

The council took up its annual adoption of the city’s remote participation policy as required by the Virginia code. City Attorney Miss Mickelson explained that the policy allows council members to participate remotely and vote if a quorum is present in chambers and if certain conditions are met.

According to the city attorney, remote participation is permitted in two situations: for medical or disability reasons (no limit) and for personal convenience (limited to two occasions per member each calendar year under one section, with another section interpreted as a percentage cap that can translate to up to six meetings depending on meeting frequency). She stressed that when members participate remotely the minutes must note that participation and include a general description of where the member participated from (examples given in the presentation included "Waynesboro, Virginia" or an out-of-state location).

Councilmembers asked whether a visual connection is required; the city attorney said audio is required but video is not mandatory. The attorney also explained that other boards and commissions must adopt their own remote participation policies to permit full remote meetings outside emergency declarations; only the governing body may adopt this specific annual policy.

The council proceeded with this annual re-adoption as an administrative step; no contested legal interpretation or formal challenge was recorded in the excerpt.

Next steps: The mayor will receive and note remote participation approvals when members seek to participate remotely and the clerk will record approved remote participation and location details in the minutes.