Schongau: Reluctance to take part in hybrid meetings

Hybrid sessions could also be offered in Schongau in the future, if one so wishes.

However, there were different reactions to the initial information that city councils could also attend the meetings digitally.

A strong counter-argument in Schongau too: technology and safety.

Schongau -

The Peitinger municipal council has just discussed the possibility of hybrid meetings in detail (we reported).

The Schongau managing director Bettina Schade also informed the committee in Lechstadt about the new possibilities.

After a change in the municipal code, this type of meeting is now possible

A change in the municipal regulations by the Bavarian state parliament makes it possible that the committee members no longer have to come to city council meetings in person, but can now also attend them digitally.

And not just as a passive listener, as Schade explained.

The committee members can also vote on the individual agenda items.

“This is certainly an option in times of pandemic, but it also involves high technical requirements,” Schade summed it up in a nutshell.

What happens if someone is thrown off the network during an important vote?

It is also questionable how to proceed with a resolution if, for example, the Internet connection was interrupted at that moment.

"According to general principles you will say that if this has occurred in a city council, this technical problem is your own fault," said Schade.

But what if the internet goes on strike for several committee members?

"In my opinion, it makes sense to wait for more information about hybrid sessions and then deal with them in more detail," she recommends.

Enough space in the Jakob-Pfeiffer-Haus

Stefan Konrad (SPD) wanted to know specifics about the program that would be used for it: MS teams or a zoom session?

Mayor Falk Sluyterman did not go into this, but brought his arguments to the point why it is better not to tackle the issue: "We discussed it only weeks ago and decided against the Corona Committee," said the town hall chief.

"We have a sensible hygiene concept in the Jakob-Pfeiffer-Haus for the city council meetings, and we are disciplined." He also hopes that the subject of hybrid meetings will have been dealt with after the summer break.

Previously, Sluyterman had earned laughter for his addition that they were about to get “a sensible testing and vaccination strategy”.

Incidentally, hybrid meetings are not generally accessible, i.e. not intended for citizens.

"The subject of online broadcasting from city council meetings on the Internet is not affected," said Sluyterman.

"I think the possibility of a hybrid session has its charm, I would make it possible," said Bettina Buresch (Greens).

For example, when you're out and about, you still don't miss a session.

And if your health is not good enough to leave the house, you can still take part.

"I think this would be a great opportunity if everything is legally clarified," said Buresch.

After all, you have to rule out someone listening in the background, for example, without permission.

Critical points: technology and safety

Nina Konstantin brought the costs of the technology into the discussion with a view to the budget that had just been decided.

Jiri Faltis (CSU) also found these two points critical: technology and safety.

"It all breathes a lot of uncertainty, but we wanted to inform you," said Sluyterman.

As reported, Peiting is already one step further and has voted on the topic: the majority of the municipal council rejected the possibility of a hybrid meeting in its most recent meeting.

There, too, the uncertainty about the costs was a strong argument, especially since these would probably be left to the municipalities alone and the permits for the hybrid meetings initially only run until the end of 2022.

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