A Norwegian Township man again asked Schuylkill County commissioners to make it easier for disabled people to participate in public meetings.

Chris Melusky wants people who are physically unable to attend the meetings to be able to participate and have their voices heard via electronic means.

Currently, the county offers a livestream of commissioners meetings and a Zoom option. The livestream doesn’t allow participation; the Zoom option offers only the audio of meetings, and also does not allow remote participation.

County officials have said they’ve tried having people participate by sending email and letters to be read publicly, and telephone participation.

However, as commissioners Chairman Larry L. Padora Jr. said, some people have taken advantage of the phone participation by being verbally abusive and inappropriate. Letters and emails are difficult to verify as being from the person authoring them.

Melusky on Wednesday said evolving technology would resolve those issues.

“Technology already exists to make these meetings more accessible, transparent and inclusive, like platforms such as Microsoft Teams and Zoom. Counties across Pennsylvania are already using these systems successfully,” he said.

“This can be done in a controlled in a professional manner. The county can require residents to sign up 24 hours in advance, verify identification and enforce the three minute speaking limit, mute microphones and remove disruptive participants when necessary,” Melusky said. “The county maintains full control of these meetings at all times.

“This isn’t about losing order or control, guys, it’s about expanding access to the very people who elected you. Right now, many residents are effectively silenced because they cannot physically attend meetings due to work schedules, disabilities, transportation issues, caregiving responsibilities, illness or age. A resident shouldn’t lose their voice in county government simply because they cannot sit in the room during these weekly business hours.”

Padora said that he has spoken with the information technology department about solutions.

“We’re working on it,” he said.