Athens City Council will talk about purchasing new Chromebooks for its members at their weekly meeting.
The sound of shuffling papers during legislative discussion at Athens City Council’s weekly meetings could soon be replaced by the clack of keyboards.
After council members used their personal laptops at their last meeting, they will discuss making the move to paperless meetings at its meeting Monday evening.
“It kind of worked OK,” Council President Chris Knisely said about using computers at council’s last meeting.
City officials are considering purchasing a computer for each council member.
Council is considering purchasing seven, used Chromebooks which would cost about $100 each, said Knisely.
“That’s not a massive amount of money,” Knisely said.
Council members will also read a draft of an ordinance that would create a permit system allowing non city-affiliated groups to ask city officials to hold an event in Athens.
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Currently, for a group to host an event, organizers have to present before council, which then has to pass a slew of ordinances to close streets, create glass-free container zones and otherwise create a safe environment for attendees.
The new method, which Knisely said was in the “preliminary stage,” would allow event organizers to submit an application that would go to city officials, fire officials and the police department.
Knisely said that would create a “standardized procedure for everyone.”
The new application would also allow city officials to look at the costs involved in hosting the events ahead of time.
Council members will also see a presentation from Athens Public Transit.
The presentation will include updates on the number of runs the transit system makes per year, as well as its ridership.
Michael Lachman, transportation service manager for Athens Public Transit, will be updating council on how the addition of an expanded route has affected the system.
The expanded route transports residents from The Plains to the City of Athens.
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