The Pa. State Association of Boroughs (PSAB) recently updated the State's Borough Code. Boroughs across the state, including Fountain Hill, have set language in the code that permits council members to telecommute to meetings.

The code states that council members are permitted to telecommute to meetings as long as a quorum is established by the majority of members being physically present.

"This is something that we've never done," said Fountain Hill Borough Council President Lawrence Rapp. "No one has ever asked to do it."

A member may telecommute as long as audio communication is available. Under the code, the telecommuter must be able to hear and speak to the members and public who are physically present at the meeting.

"If they can't make the meeting, there is a speaker phone in the room where everyone can hear," Rapp said.

He noted that the council has not had any issues with attendance.

"Once in a while someone goes on vacation, but nobody misses two (meetings) in a row," Rapp said.

According to the code, the council may only authorize participation by telecommunication if the member is ill or disabled; he/she is caring for the ill or a newborn in the member's immediate family; an emergency; and family or business travel. These updates were brought before council by Donald Lipson, borough solicitor.

"These are going to become the legitimate reasons to miss a council meeting," Lipson said.

Norman E. Blatt, Jr., council vice president, commented during the council workshop meeting that the council will have to set a new procedure for telecommuting members. Along with telecommunication, Lipson highlighted that language has been added to the code that gives the option of digitally keeping borough records.

According to the code, boroughs may electronically submit copies of adopted ordinances to the county law library or the county office where ordinances are retained. Any ordinance that is electronically stored is required to be accessible by the public during regular business hours. However, the borough is still required to retain a printed copy of the transmitted ordinance.

Fountain Hill has already been keeping electronic records of ordinances that can be found on the borough's website.