CANTON – The Canton Town Council will convene a special meeting today, Thursday, March 19, at 3 p.m. to briefly discuss and document the town’s COVID-19 State of Emergency response.

The town council is expected to have a quick discussion on the status of the response to document it for the record and then convene to discuss issues identified as appropriate for a closed session, said Town Supervisor Mary Ann Ashley.

Due to safety reasons over COVID-19 exposure and under the powers of the State of Emergency declaration, the public will not to be allowed to attend the meeting, Ashley said.

According to the state Committee on Open Government, a declaration of a State of Emergency allows municipalities to exclude the public from attending meetings in person. However, the municipality must make an effort to stream or broadcast the meetings contemporaneously or to make the sessions available through a conference call.

Ashley said the town lacks the technology and turnaround time to set it up before the special meeting today. However, the meeting will be recorded and the minutes will be available to the public once approved by the board.