By Mike Sunnucks | Rose Law Group Reporter
Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich has issued a legal opinion saying city councils, county boards of supervisors and other public bodies can conduct meetings online and remotely in response to the Coronavirus outbreak and not run a foul of the state’s Open Meetings Laws.
The Attorney General said meetings can be conducted remotely and digitally. The public just needs to have access to those proceedings and the ability to provide comments to the councils, boards and other bodies.
Brnovich said in his opinion that public bodies need to post information on their website about which meetings will be held remotely, provide links to video conferencing for residents to watch meetings, provide conference call numbers for telephone meetings and have technical support at the ready for such meetings.
Several jurisdictions including Tempe, Prescott and Gilbert will hold council and other public meetings without public attendance but will allow public comments online. Other cities and counties have postponed or canceled meetings in the midst of the COVD-19 pandemic.
