|
Streaming Online Council Meetings Earn Accolades For Brick
By Keith Hagarty
 | | --Photo Submitted By Brick Township Republican Steve Acropolis was officially sworn in last week as the mayor of Brick after defeating Democrat Dan Kelly last month by nearly 2,000 votes for the township's top administrative post. |
|
Although it began only two months ago, Brick's decision to broadcast township council meetings online has already earned the township top honors.
For using the latest video technology to broadcast council meetings to the public via the Internet, Brick was recently named recipient of the 2007 Innovation in Governance Award for Records Management in the 21st Century by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs and the League of Municipalities.
In September, the township contracted the San Francisco-based Granicus, Inc. to provide the online service for a little over $10,000. Some $9,640 of that was devoted to startup costs, and $684 a month for storage, distribution management, support, 24/7 system monitoring and continuous software upgrades.
"We are tremendously proud of Brick Township's success with our streaming solutions," said Sal Baglio, Granicus Northeastern regional sales director. "The Innovation Award validates that streaming video with integrated public documents is a more effective information platform that exceeds today's standard for on-demand information. We are excited to continue our work with Brick Township as they deliver critical public services in the 21st century."
The award also credits Brick for its comprehensiveness of its online records; linking streaming video and public documents in a unified online portal.
Newly elected Mayor Stephen Acropolis accepted the award on the township's behalf last week at the New Jersey League of Municipalities Conference in Atlantic City.
"This award is a great honor and an affirmation that our efforts to have open and transparent government are working," said Acropolis.
Archives of township council meetings available for viewing can be found by visiting the township's official Web site at www. bricktownship.net. and then clicking on Resources and accessing the link for BTV.
When the council initially made the decision to provide online access of council meetings, Acropolis, then council president, praised the efforts of the governing body for making it easier for residents to know what's going on in their local government.
"This council has made open and transparent government a top priority. We started televising council meetings and have worked to increase public input and involvement in government," Acropolis said in a written statement. "Making council meetings available on the Internet is another example of these ongoing efforts."
Shortly before starting the project in September, Baglio was excited by the town's opportunity to be able to open communication to those residents who may not normally be able to make it to meetings in person.
"Our partnership with Brick Township helps expand traditional communication beyond one-way channels- providing citizens with quick and convenient access to local government anywhere, anytime," said Baglio. "The Brick solution represents the best way to see government in action -- through the integrated public record - - which combines legislative documents, voice and video."
The council is hoping to also include the broadcasting of planning and zoning board meetings on their Web site as well.
"We are getting a great return for our investment," said Councilwoman Ruthanne Scaturro. "You can't put a price on good government and giving residents more opportunities to watch their government at work is good government."
The council has also been broadcasting council meetings on television since 2004, via their Comcast cable municipal access station, BTV, Channel B-20. However, having the council meetings simultaneously broadcast and archived online gives non- Comcast subscribers an added opportunity to be kept abreast of the latest township news, said Acropolis.
"Using technology to give residents more access to their government is something we are always striving for," said Acropolis. "This administration will continue to look for ways to use new technologies to increase efficiency and improve services for residents, which in the long run will save taxpayers money."
| 
)