Yanceyville adopts remote-meeting ordinance to allow virtual council sessions

The Yanceyville Town Council unanimously adopted a Remote and Electronic Meeting Ordinance on May 12, authorizing the town to conduct council meetings remotely when necessary and aligning local procedures with state open-meetings guidance.

Town Attorney Lee Farmer described the ordinance as similar to those adopted elsewhere in North Carolina and said it spells out the processes required to hold meetings electronically in accordance with the state open meetings law. "The Ordinance will allow the Town to continue to conduct Town Council Meetings in a remote status when necessary," Farmer said.

Councilman Keith Tatum moved to approve the ordinance; Councilwoman Margie Badgett-Lampkin seconded the motion, which passed by a unanimous vote of the five members present (Alvin Foster; Odessa Gwynn; Brian Massey; Margie Badgett-Lampkin; Keith Tatum).

Mayor Foster had earlier noted that the Yanceyville rules and procedures reflect revisions to North Carolina's open meetings law and that a copy of the council rules is available upon request. The ordinance gives the town a formal process for conducting meetings on platforms such as Zoom and is intended to provide transparency and legal compliance while in remote status.

Next steps: the ordinance is in effect and can be used when the council determines remote meetings are necessary; staff will follow the procedures outlined in the adopted text.