Format Changes for Town Board Meetings

(Below this paragraph is a copy of an announcement from New Castle Supervisor Rob Greenstein, which he emailed, announcing several changes to how town board meetings will be for the public. A quick instruction guide is posted at this link on New Castle NOW, which also received Greenstein's overview statement)

Starting at 7:45 p.m. this Tuesday, January 14, New Castle Town Board meetings will be streamed on-line by NCCMC and will be interactive. Our goal is to keep residents informed and involved through the use of technology. We want an active community where people want to participate in government.Before the meeting, you can email your questions to ask@mynewcastle.org . During the meeting, you can ask questions via a chat function on the live stream on New Castle Community Media Center (NCCMC)’s site—http://new.livestream.com/nccmc. Residents can just click on the Town Board meeting pane to view and chat. (Don’t frustrate yourself by trying to sign up too early: the meeting has to begin before you can register. Once you register, however, you wont’ have to do it ever again.)

We’re encouraging residents to interact. This will help the town board gather information from residents who can’t attend the meetings in person. We want to hear ideas and constructive criticism from our residents. We want to be accessible, and to benefit from the wisdom of our most important resource, our residents. The extra convenience of participating through Livestream will provide residents with an opportunity to share opinions and engage directly with the Town Board.

When will questions be answered?

During the Supervisor’s Report, we’ll answer some questions that have been emailed in advance toask@mynewcastle.org . Toward the end of the meeting we’ll answer some of the questions sent through NCCMC’s Livestream. Please specify whether you want your name read or withheld.

Community segment at the start of each meeting

This Tuesday, January 14, we will also be introducing a a segment of around five minutes brief five to ten minute community segment at the beginning of the meeting, at 7:45 p.m. In the community segment, we will recognize a business that has opened up or is celebrating a milestone. Some weeks we might have a town staff department head briefly explain the services they provide to the public. Other weeks we might recognize the work of a particular community group.

Coming soon

In the future, we plan to enable residents to sign up to receive emailed meeting agendas, as well as minutes following the meetings.

So join us Tuesday, January 14. The meeting begins at 7:45 p.m. Let’s see how our new Livestream-ability works – and send us feedback afterwards, at ask@mynewcastle.org !

Immediate replay—and immediate rewind ability

Note: Meetings will still be replayed both on NCCMC’s TV channels and on its website in “Video on Demand,” but you can view the Livestreamed video right away at Livestream.com. Not only that—you can tune in to the Livestreamed meeting late and have the ability to rewind right away. Likewise, during replay you can scroll backward or forward at will.

There are free apps for the iPhone and Android at their respective stores—and the apps are very easy to use!