By Thane Grauel

WESTPORT — To Zoom or not to Zoom?

That’s a question Planning and Zoning Commission members have begun to discuss.

The commission has met electronically since the pandemic lockdown began, while many other major town bodies have resumed meeting in person at Town Hall or elsewhere.

Member Patrizia Zucaro raised the question after receiving public feedback indicating it was difficult to discern how members vote during online meetings, and whether in-person meetings are now warranted.

Most major town bodies have resumed in-person meetings, including the Board of Selectwomen, Board of Education, Board of Finance and the full Representative Town Meeting.

The P&Z is not alone in continuing to meet electronically. Other agencies still meeting on Zoom, and sometimes broadcast on cable television, include the Zoning Board of Appeals, Historic District Commission, TEAM Westport, Conservation Commission and the Flood and Erosion Control Board.

The P&Z took up the question at the tail end of its lengthy Sept. 19 meeting. The discussion was continued to its online meeting Monday, Oct. 3, which also promises to be a marathon meeting.

“Patrizia had gotten some feedback from a member of the public that they couldn’t tell how we voted because it wasn’t clear …” commission Chairwoman Danielle Dobin said Sept. 19. Zucaro couldn’t make the meeting but her concerns were addressed.

“Patrizia also wanted us to have a conversation about in-person versus Zoom,” Dobin said.

Dobin said that a few members of the public had asked for an in-person meeting about the Hamlet at Saugatuck application.

The Hamlet project could drastically alter Saugatuck. Numerous buildings would be razed and replaced with retail, hotel and residential structures several stories tall.

“I wanted to see how you all felt about that,” she said.

Dobin said an in-person meeting could be scheduled after the Oct. 3 hearing, possibly Oct. 24.

“I personally would not be opposed to having a meeting in person because we’re looking at such a large rezoning,” Dobin said.

“I would prefer it,” said commission member Amie Tesler. “I don’t like being at home, I don’t like working at home, doing these meetings at home. But that’s me.”

Member Michael Cammeyer said he prefers Zoom.

“With family responsibilities I could probably hit the 7 o’clock Zoom, but Town Hall I don’t know,” he said.

Member Paul Lebowitz asked why an in-person meeting would make a difference.

“I personally believe that it is far more accessible to do the meetings on Zoom,” Dobin said. “I think tonight bears that out — we had 70 people join us I think at our first Zoom meeting for the Hamlet, and I don’t think that most people would have waited until 10:30 or whenever we started going to members of the public if we were in the auditorium, but there has been a request and Patrizia mentioned it as well, that she thought it would be valuable because this is such a big rezoning that we’re contemplating doing, that ensuring that there was a forum that where everybody had an opportunity, if they didn’t feel comfortable on Zoom for some reason, it just doesn’t seem like a bad idea to me do it.”

Dobin believes Zoom meetings are more accessible for people with kids to care for at home, who might be traveling or have to get up early.

“But,” she said, “we want to make sure that everyone’s had an opportunity to be heard.”

“We’re getting good numbers on Zoom,” Cammeyer said.

He said he knows people who’ll ask for a link and watch online, and if they want to comment they’ll log in on Zoom. “But they’re not coming to Town Hall, ever,” he said. “Too busy.”

He said, however, he understands the value of in-person meetings.

“I’m willing to give it a go,” said member Jon Olefson. “I’d be a hypocrite if I said no because jeez, I go everywhere else these days.”

Alternate member John Bolton acknowledged that Zoom is great if you’re away traveling, but …

“Here’s what bothers me,” he said. “I have yet to meet Paul Lebowitz in person to say hi, you swore me in. I have yet to meet Michael Cammeyer. I have yet to meet Jon Olefson …”

“We were not meant to be alone all the time as people so once in a while, and while I completely get it for Zoom,” he said. “It would really be nice to see you guys once in a while. Sit down, and make thoughtful decisions with everybody near each other. It’s a great group of people, and I haven’t met a majority of them. And that’s wrong.”

He said the issue is difficult, because both sides are right.

Thane Grauel, executive editor, grew up in Westport and has been a journalist in Fairfield County and beyond more than three decades. Reach him at editor@westportjournal.com. Learn more about us here.