New Castle County citizens are currently unable view public deliberations and decision-making unless they physically attend the Tuesday afternoon meetings on the 8th floor of the City/County Building, in Wilmington.
In reality, most of the important debate takes place at public afternoon meetings when many residents are generally unavailable to attend. Given demands on our time, most of us are also unable to attend the Tuesday evening general meeting in Council chambers.
When land use decisions are made, if you had the opportunity to view both the presentation of evidence and the sheer lack of logical deliberation by the decision-makers, you could decide for yourself if there are undue influences at work.
Decisions how our tax money is spent go unwitnessed every Tuesday, when your county government is in session. Indeed, you would be surprised to learn whose personal political allies or family members get appointed to various boards, whose decisions also impact our lives on a daily basis.
Elected officials could be held more accountable if their decision-making was always being scrutinized by the watchful eyes of the citizens by whom these public servants are employed
Posting a video link next to the existing audio link on the county's website is easy and inexpensive. Live broadcasts and on demand viewing should be available.
In fact, the New Castle County Council chambers already has the video equipment installed for Wilmington City Council meetings which are held in the very same chambers on Thursday evenings.
The public has a right to both observe and determine if their elected officials are maintaining the highest standards of ethical behavior and fiscal prudence. It is now economically and practically feasible to broadcast County Council proceedings at a nominal cost due to advancements in modern technology. Video access would strengthen the public’s awareness and engagement in local decision-making; thus promoting our county government’s transparency, efficiency, effectiveness and fiscal prudence.
Related Links:
The below videos were produced and paid for by Friends of Bob Weiner. Hopefully the rest of Council will support videorecording of all future meetings to be posted on the County's website.
5/13/2014 - New Castle County Council Meeting
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5/6/2014 - New Castle County Planning Board Meeting
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5/6/2014 - New Castle County Council Land Use Commitee Meeting
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5/6/2014 - New Castle County Council Boards and Commissions Sub-Commitee Meeting
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4/22/2014 - New Castle County Council Meeting
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4/22/2014 - New Castle County Council Executive Committee Meeting
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4/15/2014 - New Castle County Council Technology Subcommittee Meeting
Councilman Bob Weiner, Chair of the New Castle County Council Technology Subcommittee is working hard to advance transparency and open government for the public, through his advocacy of technology. At the April 15, 2014 meeting, the agenda featured a presentation from the Department of Land Use: Integrated and Streamlined Development Review Process and Shortening Time and Reducing Cost.
The agenda and previous meeting minutes are provided. The next meeting is Tuesday May 20 at 1:30 pm in Council’s 8th floor Conference Room, in the City/County Building, 8th and French Streets, Wilmington, DE.
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4/8/2014 - New Castle County Council Meeting
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The untimely passing of two past Presidents of the Delaware State Bar Association honored by New Castle County Council in unanimously passing Councilman Weiner’s Honorary Resolutions.
See Councilman Weiner’s comments at end of the April 8 Council meeting highlighting the lifetime achievements of Arthur “Art” Connolly and Helen Winslow: two individuals who were both “Pillars of the Bar”, and who also both gave generously of their time to help others in need:
R14-089: HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF ARTHUR GUILD CONNOLLY, JR.
R14-091: HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF HELEN LITTELL WINSLOW. |
4/8/2014 - New Castle County Council Executive Committee Meeting
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3/25/2014 - New Castle County Council Meeting
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3/25/2014 - New Castle County Council Executive Committee Meeting
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3/18/2014 - New Castle County Council Technology Subcommittee Meeting
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3/18/2014 - New Castle County Council - Land Use Committee Meeting
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3/11/2014 - New Castle County Council
Regular Council Meeting
Tuesday, March 11, 2014 marks the first time in New Castle County history that a New Castle County Council meeting was videotaped and posted to the Internet.
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2/18/2014 - New Castle County Council
Technology Subcommittee Meeting
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2/4/2014 - New Castle County Council
Technology Subcommittee Meeting
For the first time, a County Council meeting was video recorded. You can now SEE your county government in action (instead of just hearing the audio).
At this meeting citizens were able to view the New Castle County soon-to-be-released interactive user-friendly county website platform.
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