April 23, 2020
By: Dwayne Page
The DeKalb County Commission will meet in regular session by way of a conference call on Monday, April 27, 2020 at 6:30 p.m. The meeting will be broadcast live on WJLE.
On March 20, 2020, Governor Bill Lee signed Executive Order No. 16 (“the Order”), which suspends the requirements of the Tennessee Open Meetings Act (“TOMA”) to the extent necessary to allow any governing body subject to the requirements of TOMA to meet and conduct essential business by electronic means if the body determines meeting electronically is necessary to protect the health, safety, and welfare of Tennesseans in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Order applies to any state, county, or municipal governing body or any other public body that may be subject to the requirements of TOMA. It allows members of the governing body to participate and vote in public meetings without being physically present to protect public health, safety, and welfare and prevent the spread of COVID-19. This is a temporary measure that expires on May 18, 2020, unless further action is taken by the Governor. Except as specifically provided in this new executive order, the public notice provisions, meeting minute provisions, and other requirements of TOMA still apply to meetings of governing bodies being held electronically. If a governing body seeks to conduct electronic meetings in accordance with the Order, it must make reasonable efforts to ensure that the public may access the meeting live via electronic means.