by Jason Klaiber
Fayetteville’s board of trustees debuted the use of BoxCast as its new live video streaming service at its Oct. 26 meeting.
The village drafted a policy putting into place a set of guidelines regarding the streaming system, which has been advertised by the Cleveland-based technology company as an “easy-to-use” option that offers high-definition picture quality.
Mayor Mark Olson said BoxCast, which will replace Zoom as the village’s livestreaming service of choice, will further benefit village residents who find themselves unable to attend public meetings. Residents can instead choose to watch live from wherever they are or catch up at a later time by clicking on the resulting videos the clerk’s office posts on the village website under the “Livestream Links” tab.
Olson said the draft policy, if adopted as final, would mandate that all official meetings of the village board of trustees, the planning board and the zoning board of appeals would be livestreamed via BoxCast. The village’s tree commission, historic preservation commission and parks commission would have the option to livestream their meetings if they so choose, unless any of these commissions meet to review an application, in which case they would be required to hold a livestream.
“I think if there’s an application in front of them, the village residents have a right to see that,” Olson said.
The commissioner or board chair would decided whether or not they wish to livestream in all other cases, and the same person would designate someone to start and turn off the recording at each end of the meeting.
Executive sessions entered into by any board would not be livestreamed.
This policy is subject to change upon review, according to Olson.
The livestream of the Oct. 26 meeting, which was filmed from an overhead view, was posted the same night.
Other news
3 The tentative finish date for renovations to the Fayetteville Senior Center has been moved to a week later than previously estimated.
“It is going slower than anticipated,” Olson said. “The project is progressing though.”
Recently, the kitchen and bathroom floors were tiled and concrete was poured for the new sidewalk. Work remains to be done on the side porch of the senior center.
The projected date of completion stands at Nov. 6, after which crews will walk away until the spring when work such as landscaping and other finishing touches will resume.
3A drive-through Halloween event hosted by the village’s fire department will be held in the back parking lot of 425 E. Genesee St. from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31. Members of the fire department, who will be wearing masks and gloves, will give away bags of candy to the children who show up.
Cars are expected to enter through the driveway off East Genesee Street.
3 The village is still looking for people interested in serving on the Fayetteville Tree Commission. Those who wish to volunteer can call the village hall at 315-637-9864.
