A Matter of Time

For years, East Hampton Town was exemplary when it came to making it easy for its residents to participate in local government. Its public meetings were among the first to be televised live in the region, and the town was a leader in getting links to videos on the town website. Moreover, the town used to hold two monthly “brown bag” work sessions in the farthest corners of the town, Springs and Montauk, which also happen to be among its most populated neighborhoods. It was especially beneficial to Montauk at a time when in-person meetings were the best way to get local lawmakers’ ears.

The work sessions in Springs ended several years ago, since televising the work sessions live became common, and the Springs Firehouse proved too cumbersome for the broadcast. The Montauk work sessions continued until the pandemic, and have not returned since. But the Town Board also has stopped holding a monthly regular meeting in the evening, scheduled to allow people who have to work during the day to attend.

The town has embraced the “hybrid” meeting infrastructure more than some municipalities and has arranged it so that people watching the meetings online, via YouTube, or on television can call in live and speak to the board, as though they were attending in person.

But there’s still no getting around timeliness. Both monthly meetings, on alternating Thursdays, are held during the day, at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Anyone with a typical 9-to-5 job, therefore, can’t even take advantage of technology to tune in and participate without taking a day off.

Hybrid meetings are a nice innovation to come out of the challenges of the pandemic. The town proudly notes that participation is up as a result. Still, virtual technology has limitations, and there’s nothing like hearing from residents in person at a public meeting when it comes to the important items on the Town Board’s agenda.

It’s time to return to a monthly evening meeting — one that’s also hybrid. It will be a bit inconvenient for Town Hall staff, but government should be about serving the community, first and foremost. The town’s track record in keeping the people’s business before the people is laudable, and adding back an evening meeting at least once a month would be right in line. It’s overdue to return.