Indiana Township officials consider livestreaming meetings

People who attend Indiana Township supervisor meetings, particularly ones involving proposed development, know seating can be a problem.

There soon might be a way to watch the local government in action without having to travel to the town hall.

Supervisors are expected to decide whether to livestream their meetings.

Their next voting session is at 7 p.m. Feb. 14 at 3710 Saxonburg Blvd.

It is unclear whether the livestreaming would include planning commission and zoning hearing board meetings.

Some supervisors reserved comment until the February meeting while others voiced support for the measure.

“I am for the streaming of all public meetings by the township,” Supervisor Jonathan Neumann said via email.

“As township supervisors, we are to act as public servants. We should be using livestreaming to make our service to the community as accessible to the public as possible.

“Having the meetings livestreamed and taped recordings easily available afterward allows all our residents to stay engaged with local democracy when work, child care, disability and illness might otherwise prevent them from attending monthly meetings in person.”

Mayor Albert Kaan said he would like to review more information about the idea before taking a vote.

“Based upon what is presented at that meeting, I will (move) for or against it,” Kaan said.

“Right now, I have not been presented with both sides of the issue.”

Supervisor Paul Jorgensen also said it would be premature to voice an opinion before February’s meeting.

It is unclear how much a system would cost to stream the meetings.

“We need to choose the right technology and weigh the costs and benefits of all our options,” Neumann said.

“I want to make sure we implement a streaming format that provides the highest value to our taxpayers, both in terms of cost-effectiveness and ease of use.”

February’s meeting will not be the first time livestreaming came up for discussion.

Supervisor Sarah Hertweck said it was a topic of conversation years ago around the time the pandemic began, but it failed to make it to a vote.

“I have been in support of it during my time as a supervisor for several reasons,” Hertweck said.

“Accessibility is the first and foremost. As a person who has always worked in shifts, it’s been extremely difficult for me to take off work to participate in local government. By the time the minutes are added to the website, formal action has been taken on business that was before the board.

“I am also a mother, which makes my time even more difficult to negotiate.”

Hertweck said she spoke to residents who expressed interest in their local government but have disabilities that restrict them from coming to meetings.

She also noted the Fox Chapel Area School District records its meetings and posts them to the district’s YouTube page.

“With how cheap and easy technology is today, there is no reason to further restrict any accessibility by denying streaming services,” Hertweck said.

“Several of our supervisors choose to participate remotely, often due to travel for work or pleasure. It is not a large feat to extend this access to our citizens.”

Messages to township Manager Daniel Anderson were not returned as of press time.