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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br />February 27, 2023 <br />6:00 o’clock p.m. <br />_____________________________________________________________________________________ <br /> <br />Page 5 of 22 <br /> <br />we giving staff direction to put more information into these? I'm saying no, I think we already exceed it <br />so that’s my vote on that and maybe now's a good time for a motion? <br /> <br />Edwards explained staff was asking for a motion on which set of minutes to approve, and then direction <br />on what the expectation is on minutes -- two separate but related items. <br /> <br />Johnson said I think we should do it in reverse order, because then we'll answer our question on this other <br />one. So my motion is to keep our method that we're currently using for maintaining the minutes, status <br />quo. <br /> <br />Crosby said he would second it. <br /> <br />Benson asked to have a little more discussion. I would just like to understand what it is about verbatim <br />capturing because I would agree with Councilmember Johnson. I think it's tricky to leave flavor up to <br />anybody, whether it's a Council member or a transcriptionist. That's why for where we are right now, with <br />some of the issues that we're grappling with, having a verbatim capture, I don't see the downside to that. <br />Maybe we pay a little bit more in the interim for 100 percent accurate notes. There's a distinction between <br />what's appropriate best practices for other cities, and then there may be what's appropriate for us, as a <br />City. And I think those two things right now are different. I'm trying to understand from other Council <br />members, what is the downside to a verbatim capture at this time? <br /> <br />Walsh said I think everybody appreciates your opinion of the matter. But I think you're making the <br />opinion that you want verbatim minutes for a particular agenda of what's going on that you're projecting <br />on the Council through what's happening in the public. And that's your opinion. <br /> <br />Benson said she was elected by the public so she is here to represent the public. <br /> <br />Walsh pointed out the other four Council members were also elected by the public. <br /> <br />Benson responded she meant no disrespect and she does respect the order of meetings. I know how much <br />this Council has supported the idea of transparency. So I'm trying to understand what it is about this ask <br />that doesn't support that. <br /> <br />Walsh said you have your opinion of what you want, and your opinion is valid. We have different <br />opinions, of course, and the three opinions that rule the roost are the three opinions that vote yes or no on <br />every item. That's how the Council works. <br /> <br />Crosby said the videotaping of the meetings is full transparency and it doesn't leave opinions. Somebody <br />can sit there and watch it and get the tenor of the meeting and so forth in the conduct of everybody that's <br />present. It doesn't leave it up to opinions, or somebody deciphering it. I think the way the minutes have <br />been is fine and nonpartisan. <br /> <br />Benson pointed out the videos have no closed captioning. Folks who don't have the ability to watch or <br />listen to the videos are unable to understand exactly what's happening in those meetings with some of