ELKINS — Elkins City Clerk Jessica Sutton has presented a plan for Elkins City Council and committees to begin meeting in person amid the COVID-19 pandemic, but there is no timetable for when the face-to-face meeting may begin.

Council has been meeting virtually through the Zoom application for both regular meetings and for committee gatherings. During the last council meeting several members expressed interest in returning to in-person meetings.

“The administrative officers and mayor are not recommending the return to in-person council meetings at this time,” Sutton said. “We have to have a device installed in our sound system. Right now, we can not meet the Open Meetings Act (regulations) at this time.”

Sutton explained Electronic Services needs to install a piece of hardware on the microphones in council chambers to allow the sound to be broadcast to Zoom. Sutton hopes to have a timeline of when the upgrade can occur early next week.

“Given the necessary and potential number of attendees at council meetings and the typical length of the meetings, all council meetings will continue to be held virtually until further notice,” the plan Sutton presented to council states.

According to the plan, the date for beginning in-person committee meetings will be determined once the sound system upgrades are complete. The plan also lists several requirements that must be met for in-person meetings, including:

∫ Meetings will be limited to one hour to limit continued exposure.

∫ Any person experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or having a known exposure to the virus within the last 14 days should not attend.

∫ In-person attendance is permitted for: committee members, the mayor, administrative officers and the city attorney; and any guests invited by the committee for a particular agenda item.

∫ Meetings will be held in council chambers. All participants must enter City Hall 15 minutes before the meeting; put on a mask before entering the building; sanitize hands upon arrival to the second floor of |City Hall; maintain six feet of distance from others; remove masks only when all participants and attendees are seated at appropriate distances; and limit movements to council chambers only.

∫ Access to the meeting for all others, including non-committee councilors, press and the public, will be provided by Zoom.

Elkins City Council will meet in special session 7 p.m. Thursday to discuss a “statement of solidarity.” The meeting will be hosted virtually and log-in information can be found at www.cityofelkinswv.com.