GRETNA, La. (AP) - The City Council has gone to a system of electronic agendas for its meeting, and city officials said the move away from paper will save $27,000 a year.
The Times-Picayune reported (https://bit.ly/1lVZhLi) the agendas are now being posted online for public viewing at www.gretnala.com.
The council also revamped its agenda format to shorten meetings.
Routine matters, such as approval of previous meeting minutes and requests for events, are handled through a consent agenda.
Ordinances for introduction are provided online and are no longer read aloud at meetings.
Councilman Wayne Rau said the council had been considering the move for some time. Mayor Belinda Constant pushed through the idea.
“That’s $27,000 worth of paper that we use in a matter of a year printing out agendas for everybody,” Rau said. “They are used for that meeting and thrown in the garbage can.”
Gretna paid $5,500 for the NovusAgenda software, city finance director Raylyn Stevens said.
The electronic version summarizes each action before the council and provides ordinances, resolutions and supporting applications and other documents. Jefferson Parish has used similar software for years to conduct its business.
Rau said the paperless agendas let council members make comments or add questions that might be relevant during the meetings.
It also allows residents to tailor their appearances comment on topics of interest, instead of waiting for public comment periods at the end of council meetings, he said.
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Information from: The Times-Picayune, https://www.nola.com
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