Regional Board Recording is ‘Old Business,’ But Current Concern

In a fairly intricate debate last week, members of the West Morris Regional High School District Board of Education mulled whether to allow the voice recording of public comments at meetings. 

Held in the West Morris Central High School library, talking points of the meeting had already fervently touched on a number of items before it got to this measure of ‘old business.’

But spearheaded by Chester Township member Marcia Asdal, the conversation escalated as she insisted that comments must be recorded as to understand, for future purposes, what the public is talking about.

Asdal said that without a recording of the public section of the meetings, much of the fervor of a night’s meeting could be lost, especially as members of the board must later painstakingly transcribe it from hand-written notes along with the recorded minutes.

“But it’s not required by state statute,” said Board President from Chester township, James Johnston.

Before Asdal could further her argument for extending voice recordings for this segment, Chester Borough member Donald Storms communicated a strong disapproval for it.

“I’m against this,” he said ardently. “It’s a strenuous task, and believe me, I’ve done it, where after all of the meetings, you must go back in and listen to the whole recording. It costs money and requires staff time.”

“I agree with Don,” said Mendham Borough member Jacqueline Schram. “I have a brief summary in my notes, plus residents can write-in their comments. And I know what went on (at the meetings).”

Though a definitive solution did not seem to be met, members discussed the move to the ‘cloud’ at the next meeting and from now on.

In the soon-to-be paperless meetings, everything will be accessed via electronic device; although it’s tough to say whether that will include a voice recording of the public comments section of the meetings.