(A) Title. This section shall be known as the "Policy for Participation By Town Board Members By Electronic Means for the Town of Sellersburg, Indiana" (the "Electronic Participation Policy").
(B) Authority. Pursuant to I.C. 5-14-1.5 et seq., this Council hereby establishes the Electronic Participation Policy.
(C) Policy.
(1) Attendance By Electronic Means: Town Council members are permitted to participate in no more than four public meetings per year by an approved electronic means of communication. A member may attend two consecutive meetings (a set of meetings) by electronic communication. A member shall physically attend at least one meeting between sets of meetings that the member attends by electronic communication, unless the absence is due to:
(a) Military service;
(b) Illness or other medical condition;
(c) Death of a relative; or
(d) An emergency involving actual or threatened injury to persons or property.
(2) Notice: Except for emergency situations, members shall provide notice to the Town Manager or Executive Secretary, within 72 hours of the public meeting, that the member will be participating by electronic means.
(3) Required physical attendance: There shall be at least three members physically present at the public meeting wherein any member is participating by electronic means.
(4) Voting: All votes taken during a meeting wherein a member is participating by electronic means shall be taken by roll call.
(5) Issues prohibited to participate by through electronic means: A member may not participate in a meeting by electronic communication if the governing body is attempting to take final action to:
(a) Adopt a budget;
(b) Make a reduction in personnel;
(c) Initiate a referendum;
(d) Establish or increase a fee;
(e) Establish or increase a penalty;
(f) Use the governing body's eminent domain authority; or
(g) Establish, raise, or renew a tax.
(Ord. 2022-OR-001, passed 2-1-22)