John Scarffe, Nederland. The Nederland Board of Trustees approved an electronic meeting policy and a Declaration of Local Disaster Emergency during a virtual meeting on March 17, 2020, according to Board minutes. Miranda Fisher, Deputy Town Administrator and Town Clerk, reviewed with the Board the Electronic Meeting Participation Policy.

Trustee Kristen Conrad asked for the definition of an emergency. Town Attorney Jennifer Madsen stated that the Town Administrator or Mayor would determine what constitutes an emergency. With regards to advisory boards and commissions, Trustee Jonathon Baumhover recommended that the March meetings be postponed. 

All Trustees were in agreement. Mayor Larsen confirmed that the policy before the Board is specific to Trustee meetings and that the Board should think more about how it applies to advisory boards and commissions. Mayor Pro Tem Julie Gustafson recommended asking the advisory boards and commissions to email the Board with their recommendations on whether they want to be able to meet virtually in the future if necessary.

Mayor Larsen asked about the Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA) and Planning Commission (PC) meeting virtually. Madsen shared that it is her legal recommendation that the BZA and PC meetings not be held virtually because it could be difficult to hold public hearing sessions. 

Madsen explained that it is not a legal issue and that the Board may need to revisit the BZA and PC meeting virtually in the future. Mayor Pro Tem Julie Gustafson made a motion to approve the resolution, and the motion was unanimously approved. 

Mayor Larsen reviewed the resolution for a Declaration of Local Disaster Emergency. Larsen explained that the Board needs to ratify the order for it to stay in effect past the seven days from the date of declaration. Gustafson asked how long the declaration would stay into effect. 

Madsen stated that the declaration will remain in effect until a later action by the Board.

The Board was in agreement that the declaration was appropriate and shared similar concerns with regards to providing funding to businesses and individuals who have lost income during this time. 

The Board unanimously approved the resolution. The Board also met on April 21 and May 5, 2020.

(Originally published in the April 30, 2020, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)