Gap council approves virus emergency plans, procedures

BIG STONE GAP — Council passed three resolutions Tuesday night regarding emergency measures during the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak.

• One resolution formally declared a state of emergency in the town that warrants “coordinated local government action to prevent or alleviate any potential damage, hardship, suffering, or possible loss of life.”

• Another resolution confirms Wise County’s March 19 declaration of an emergency due to the outbreak’s threat to public health and safety.

• A third resolution establishes temporary changes in certain deadlines and modifies public meeting/hearing practices and procedures.

The resolution gives local and regional boards, commissions, committees and authorities, including council, the planning commission and the town’s Housing and Redevelopment Authority, permission to meet through electronic means without having a physical quorum present on location.

The resolution notes that a locality may, by ordinance, assure continuity of government for up to six months in the event of a disaster.

It further notes that under state law, council can hold electronic meetings to address the emergency. Prior to holding any such electronic meeting, council must provide at least three days’ public notice in advance of the electronic meeting identifying how the public may participate or otherwise offer comment.

Any such electronic meeting must provide for electronic participation by the public. For any matters requiring a public hearing, public comment may be solicited by electronic means in advance and shall also be solicited through telephonic or other electronic means during the course of the meeting. All such public comments will be provided to board members at or before the electronic meeting and made part of the record for such meeting.

The minutes of any such electronic meeting must identify how the meeting was conducted, what members participated and what actions were taken. The minutes can be approved at a subsequent electronic meeting, but must later be approved at a regular or special meeting after the emergency and disaster have ended.