[Massplanners] [External] Re: continued remote meetings

Fri Feb 10 07:42:26 EST 2023

Good morning,

Perhaps someone from the Mass Municipal Association or the Mass Municipal Lawyers group could weigh in on the status of such legislation to either extend or make permanent the provisions for remote meetings.  The end of March will be here soon!

Thanks.

Susan E. Affleck-Childs
Planning and Economic Development Coordinator
Town of Medway
155 Village Street
Medway, MA 02053
508-533-3291

[cid:image001.jpg at 01D93D23.2282FDE0]

From: MassPlanners <massplanners-bounces at masscptc.org> On Behalf Of Alicia Hunt via MassPlanners
Sent: Thursday, February 9, 2023 10:02 PM
To: Eric Salerno <esalerno at tyngsboroughma.gov>; massplanners at masscptc.org
Subject: [External] Re: [Massplanners] continued remote meetings

Well, I reached out to my legislative delegation, and they acted like this was the first they had heard of the idea of extending the rule and making it permanent, but they proceeded to indicate they really liked it.

I was a little perplexed by their reaction since there was such a strong movement last year, that I had assumed that momentum would just carry them through to finishing the legislation this year.
I strongly recommend that everyone on this list reach out to their legislators about the importance of continued remote only public meetings.

Here in Medford, we will lose several members of our key boards and commissions if they no longer have a remote option. We do not have the staffing and technical support to provide fully hybrid meetings. The best I would be able to offer would be a room where the public could watch the remote meeting, and I would still have to staff that space, so I’m not even sure about that. In person meetings would also be a significant problem for scheduling consultants and proponents. We have had a huge increase in public meetings over the past few years and a return to in person meetings would make things much more complicated.

Thanks,
Alicia

Alicia L Hunt
Director of Planning, Development & Sustainability

City of Medford
City Hall, Room 308
85 George P. Hassett Dr.<x-apple-data-detectors://1/0>
Medford, MA 02155<x-apple-data-detectors://1/0>
Ahunt at medford-ma.gov<mailto:Ahunt at medford-ma.gov>
(w) 781-393-2480<tel:781-393-2480>

http://www.medfordma.org/departments/community-development/
http://gogreenmedford.com/
Twitter: @GoGreenMedford
https://www.facebook.com/GoGreenMedford

On Feb 6, 2023, at 2:34 PM, Eric Salerno via MassPlanners <massplanners at masscptc.org<mailto:massplanners at masscptc.org>> wrote:

If anyone has any ideas on how to collectively (and effectively) encourage the new administration to make the remote option permanent, I am sure I'm not the only one that thinks it would be a good idea. I'm happy to offer any help I can.

[https://cdn.gifo.wisestamp.com/im/sh/YS81NjY3ZjZlYS0yM2QyLTQyODktYWNjYi0zMGQ4ZGIyZTBjZjQucG5nI2xvZ28=/rounded.png]<http://tyngsboroughma.gov/>
Eric Salerno
Town Planner / Eco. Dev. Dir.
Town of Tyngsborough

978-743-5361  |  tyngsboroughma.gov<http://tyngsboroughma.gov/>

esalerno at tyngsboroughma.gov<mailto:esalerno at tyngsboroughma.gov>

25 Bryant Lane, Tyngsborough MA 01879
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On Fri, Feb 3, 2023 at 2:09 PM Michael McCarthy via MassPlanners <massplanners at masscptc.org<mailto:massplanners at masscptc.org>> wrote:
Alvin,

Yes, but they have to provide "live 'adequate, alternative means' of public access to the deliberations of the public body."  Here is guidance from MMA for the current remote meeting provision: https://www.mma.org/remote-meeting-extension-for-local-boards-signed-into-law/ and from the AG's office: https://www.mass.gov/service-details/updated-guidance-on-holding-meetings-pursuant-to-the-act-extending-certain-covid-19-measures.

For example, our PB voted to move complete remote each time this Act was extended. BUT you should be aware that the most recent extension is expiring at the end of March. I have not heard about any coming extension, so we are preparing to return fully to in-person.

Mike McCarthy
Asst. City Planner
City of New Bedford

-----Original Message-----
From: MassPlanners <massplanners-bounces at masscptc.org<mailto:massplanners-bounces at masscptc.org>> On Behalf Of Alvin Blake via MassPlanners
Sent: Friday, February 3, 2023 1:46 PM
To: massplanners at masscptc.org<mailto:massplanners at masscptc.org>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] [Massplanners] Zoom only meetings

Can a planning or ZBA have a zoom only meeting? I have read several different interpretations of current tips

Sent from my iPhone

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