[Massplanners] Question - In-person board meeting with remote participation and quorum issue

[Matthew Heins]

Dear MassPlanners,

In the old days before Covid, I recall that it was allowable for one board member to participate remotely in a board meeting (under certain rules and restrictions, of course), provided that a quorum of the board was still physically present at the meeting. Then with Covid, of course, entirely remote meetings became allowed, and I believe that state legislation was recently extended in mid-July. So my understanding is that entirely remote meetings (or hybrid meetings) are still allowed.

Now here's my question: If we specify on the agenda that a planning board or zoning board meeting is taking place in person (with no mention of it being remote or hybrid, and no mention of a remote option), is it allowable (under the current rules) if we don't have a quorum physically present, but we do have a quorum counting both those participating remotely and those physically present?

I appreciate any advice you can provide.

Best,

Matthew Heins
Planning Board Assistant
Town of Pembroke
Email: mheins at townofpembrokemass.org<mailto:mheins at townofpembrokemass.org>
Phone: 781-709-1433 / Fax: 781-709-1453
Address: Office of the Planning Board, Pembroke Town Hall, 100 Center St., Pembroke, MA 02359

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