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As of January 1, 2022, the Town Board in Jewett, New York decided to discontinue offering a way for us to view and participate in town meetings virtually after doing so for well over a year. 

The town has easily and successfully held meetings via zoom and has been the platform of choice. It has allowed for better attendance given the pandemic and also for folks that pay taxes here but aren't necessarily physically in town for meetings. It has allowed folks to attend meetings that are away on business, vacation or have obligations and situations that make it difficult to get to the town building for personal reasons, health complications, transportation issues, weather challenges, physical challenges and more. Virtual access to public meetings has also allowed media and the public in neighboring towns to better follow our government and vice versa. This has been particularly helpful in keeping us informed when there are advancements, achievements and new laws in the mountaintop towns as they tend to mirror each other and work together.   

It takes only a few minutes to set up a zoom link and post it to the website. Assistance and donation of equipment has been offered. While zoom is preferred as it can allow controlled participation of the public when needed, YouTube is also a viable solution that is easy, free and does not require management of participants. There is absolutely no reason to stop offering this option to accommodate those that can't physically make it to meetings every month or don’t feel comfortable attending in person due to the ongoing pandemic especially since masks are no longer being worn at the meetings and not everyone is vaccinated.

***If you are a full-time or part-time resident, a home owner or land owner in Jewett or a resident in a nearby town that stays informed of our local governments: Please Sign This Petition and urge the Jewett Town Board to continue to offer an option to view and participate in public meetings on zoom.***