![](https://cdn.socast.io/6616/sites/389/2020/03/20111243/TIM-GLEASON1-1-300x225.jpg)
By Blake Haas
BLOOMINGTON – Set to vote on an emergency ordinance Monday night, the Bloomington City Council meeting was canceled due to technical difficulties.
“Last night we had had a trial run with some of the elected (officials),” Bloomington City Manager Tim Gleason told WJBC’s Scott Miller. “I think at the end of the day we provided too many options on how you can call into the meeting and then it played out. We always have a township meeting before the council meeting, the last council meeting of the month. I do think it was best, given the challenges and problems and the importance of what the township was talking about and what we were talking about at council to cancel it, and let’s get this fixed.”
The proposed emergency ordinance would give Gleason emergency purchasing powers, among other things. However, technical difficulties would not allow for the public to comment, which Gleason says was a vital component of the meeting.
“A component (of the agenda) was providing public comment. Also, there were a couple of public hearings that were problematic as well, so we are going to have a quick turnaround, have a special meeting for the township hopefully but definitely for the council this Thursday and Friday.”
Meanwhile, Mayor Renner extended another two days to allow restaurants to provide carry out and curbside pickup of alcohol.
The Mayor has signed a 48-hour order that extends Friday's order to allow for package, curbside, & delivery of alcohol for off-premise consumption. In short, there is no disruption to this & restaurants & taverns may continue to engage in this practice. https://t.co/Mh57OlXIxr pic.twitter.com/qrT2q58jxM
— City of Bloomington (@cityblm) March 24, 2020
“I think it would have been far worse if we would of just tried to proceed through it (technical difficulties) given some of the topics that we had to discuss,” Gleason added. “I think it was the best move. It might not quite be the answer that some of the people that had that feeling are looking for, but at the end of the day it is what it is we cut it off, we are going to regroup, and we are going to do it right.”
If the emergency ordinance is approved, it will last until April 30.
Blake Haas can be reached at [email protected].