By Liz Moomey
liz.moomey@salisburypost.com

LANDIS — After months of difficulty providing Landis residents a way to attend and watch the monthly Board of Alderman meetings, the town has set up a live stream for residents to view starting during Monday’s meeting at 7 p.m.

Since the February board meeting, when concerns about financial matters rose to the forefront, residents have filled town hall, filing onto the front lawn or into the fire department bay.

So, after complaints from attendees in the overflow room about being unable to hear or see the meeting, Interim Town Manager Kenny Isenhour said, the town decided to forgo the overflow area and, instead, live stream and archive the videos to refer back to. Citizens have asked the board to move the meetings to a larger location, but the board has not agreed.

Mayor Mike Mahaley posted a letter on the town website’s transparency section saying the meeting will continue to be held at Town Hall. He also said in the letter that  there is no size requirements for board meeting rooms. 

Mahaley did not respond to requests for comment.

Isenhour said the decision to change the location of the meeting is the board’ alone.

In another change for public participation in town government, the board at the April meeting shortened individual public comment time from five to three minutes. May’s meeting will have the same rule.

Residents Katie Sells and Meredith Smith led a Concerned Citizens of Landis meeting on April 28 to listen to other residents. Sells, who has since declared her candidacy for the Board of Aldermen in 2019, said the concerned citizens group would compile comments to use their time in an efficient way.

Monday’s agenda also has a note stating the board and staff will not be able to address the State Bureau Investigation into possible embezzlement of two former town employees. Isenhour said he would only give a statement.

In other business on Monday’s agenda:

• The board will award a contract for auditing services. Isenhour said this will be for their normal, yearly audit. A forensic audit will be done separately as a part of the investigation.

• Aldermen will consider adopting a budget amendment.

• Aldermen will set a time for a May budget meeting.

Landis Town Hall is located at 312 S. Main Street.