A
STATEMENT FROM MAYOR STEVE NOBLE AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT ANDREA SHAUT:
During
the Council Meeting on Tuesday, February 1, 2022, we experienced an equipment
failure with the microphone system, which inhibited our ability to properly
conduct the meeting. The meeting has been rescheduled for Monday, February 7,
2022.
We
have our Audio/Visual company working to diagnose the issue, and we hope to
have new equipment installed by Friday. However, the rescheduled February
meeting of the Council will be held virtually -- with no in-person component --
to ensure that we can conduct the meeting without further interruptions.
The
microphone issue is unrelated to our new hybrid equipment, but we wanted to
give the public an update. Currently, the City Hall conference rooms do have
the necessary equipment to conduct virtual and in–person meetings, but the
hybrid equipment for the Council Chambers has not yet arrived. The equipment
for the Chambers has been repeatedly delayed due to supply chain issues. We are
hoping to have that equipment soon. In the meantime, we ask the public’s patience
as we try our best to offer access to each and every meeting. We have made
strides to be transparent and open in our governmental process, and we will
continue to work on resolving these technical difficulties to provide
opportunities for public engagement.
“I
understand the frustration that the public is feeling in this moment, and we
too are frustrated by the unforeseen microphone problem that we experienced
last night,” said Mayor Noble. “As we await our hybrid equipment set-up for the
Council Chambers, my staff is doing our best to use the existing equipment to
make meetings available and accessible to the public. We have a team of
[engineers] diagnosing the microphone malfunction and will continue working to
fix this issue as soon as humanly possible.”
“I
share the frustrations of the public from last night’s meeting, as well as for
the delayed delivery of the new equipment,” said Council President Andrea
Shaut. My sincere hope is for a speedy fix to the problem in order for the
Common Council to return to Chambers to conduct the city’s business, and I am
grateful for the staff’s devoted attention – particularly in the IT
Department.”
We
would like to thank the IT Department at City Hall for all of their support
during these challenging times, and for their many hours of dedication to
supporting these hybrid meetings.
Rescheduled
meeting info:
Due
to technical difficulties at the 2/1 meeting, the February Council meeting has
been rescheduled to 2/7.
If
you were signed up to speak at the previous meeting, you will be signed up to
speak on 2/7.
To
be added to the public speaking list, please contact the City Clerk at [email protected] or call
845-334-3914 no later than 1:00pm on Monday, February 7, 2022.
Written
comment can be sent to [email protected]
or dropped in the dropbox at the side door entrance at City Hall no later than
9:00am on Monday, Feb 7, 2022.
THIS
MEETING IS VIRTUAL ONLY.
The
meeting will be held via Zoom, and will livestream on the City of Kingston
YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/CityofKingstonNY
Please
click the link below to join the Zoom webinar:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88154735903...
Passcode:
19eCEzsa
Or
dial by phone +1 646 558 8656
Webinar
ID: 881 5473 5903
Passcode:
27663226
Facebook
event: https://www.facebook.com/events/534678467653004