Candidate Calls Out City Council for Remote Meeting “Abuse,” Demands Reform
This article first appeared in The Metro Record on September 25th, 2025. Read below to learn about my proposed reforms to the Springfield City Council to ensure City Councilors do not misuse the Remote Participation Policy.
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Juan F. Latorre III, a candidate for Springfield City Council At Large, is leveling sharp criticism at the very institution he hopes to join, accusing sitting councilors of overusing remote participation in public meetings and eroding public trust in the process.
In a detailed analysis of City Council meetings since January 1, 2024, Latorre contends that a majority of the current at-large councilors have chosen to log in virtually nearly half the time, rather than appear in person at City Hall. He frames the practice not as a convenience, but as a dereliction of duty.
“Every day in Springfield, hardworking residents wake up and travel to work,” Latorre said in announcing his proposed reforms. “Whether they are police officers, nurses, teachers, sanitation workers, restaurant employees, and every position in between, they are expected to come into work to do their job. Why should we accept any less from our elected officials, who represent us and vote on our behalf?”
The Remote Divide
Springfield’s council meetings remain open to virtual participation under a policy designed to ensure continuity during emergencies and provide flexibility in extenuating circumstances. But Latorre argues the policy has been stretched beyond its intent.
His analysis highlights several consequences of what he calls “misuse”:
Residents lose the chance to speak directly to their representatives face-to-face on contentious issues.
Meetings are extended because voice votes cannot be taken when members are remote.
Councilors often turn off their video feed, reducing accountability and discouraging collaboration.
The overall effectiveness of the body suffers.
Proposed Reforms
To restore transparency and accountability, Latorre is calling for new rules:
Remote participation must be explicitly documented in meeting minutes.
Councilors must state a reason—such as illness, bereavement, caregiving responsibilities, or out-of-state business—for joining remotely.
Transitions between in-person and remote attendance, or arriving late and leaving early, must be documented.
Remote participation would be prohibited if a councilor is found to be operating a motor vehicle during the meeting.
Latorre has also set a personal benchmark: if elected, he pledges 100 percent in-person attendance. “Our city deserves no less,” he said.
A Candidate of Civic Commitments
Latorre, who lives in Springfield’s Outer Belt neighborhood, is an engineer in the telecommunications industry. His civic résumé is extensive: he serves on the executive board of Revitalize CDC and the Springfield Library Foundation, previously sat on the board of the Western Massachusetts Council of the Boy Scouts of America, and helps to run two Scouting units in Forest Park. He is also chair of the Springfield Restaurant Week Committee, has chaired the Springfield Young Professional City Council Subcommittee, and is active in a variety of local volunteer efforts.
His campaign message is clear: councilors should be held to the same standard as the residents they represent—present, accountable, and willing to do the work in person.