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City video to include committee meetings
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MONROE - The city plans to record Plan Commission and all standing committee meetings beginning April 1 with the use of the camera usually reserved solely for Monroe Common Council proceedings.

The plan is to include a video recording of each session. Currently, only council meetings are recorded. The videos are uploaded to the city website, and are listed under the media category in the minutes center.

Council unanimously agreed to alderman Michael Boyce's suggestion. Aldermen Reid Stangel and Jeff Newcomer were not present.

"The idea is to extend what we're doing in council now to standing committees and the Plan Commission," Boyce said. "I know the videos we have in place have really helped me. I would find it very convenient to review deliberations of other committees as well."

Standing committees include the Board of Public Works, Finance and Taxation Committee, Judiciary and Ordinance Review Committee, License Committee, Public Safety Committee and Salary and Personnel Committee. The License Committee, Finance and Taxation and Judiciary and Ordinance Review generally meet monthly, while the others meet every two weeks.

City Clerk Carol Stamm is looking for software to streamline the process. Stamm said she has been using three separate programs to maintain the video log, audio record and transcript of minutes. She is hopeful the city can increase the speed in which videos are uploaded to the website.

City Administrator Phil Rath recommended members of each committee sit in the desks usually reserved for council meetings "for ease of use." The microphones at each designated seat can be used more efficiently than setting up a separate system at the table in council chambers usually reserved for committee meetings. Rath said it could be a temporary arrangement until a more permanent solution is found.