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<p><font size="+1"><font face="Times New Roman">Hi Richard,</font></font></p>
<p><font size="+1"><font face="Times New Roman">If you are meeting
in person, by my reading of this Act, you are not required to
do anything further than we used to be required to do before
the pandemic. After all, folks can put their shoes on and
attend in the public place. They're then free ask for the
floor. <br>
</font></font></p>
<p><font size="+1"><font face="Times New Roman">My take is that the
section you highlighted was intended to clarify that merely
recording, broadcasting or providing minutes, after the fact,
for Remote Participation meetings where no public
participation is required, doesn't cut it when it comes to
Hearings where Public input is a requirement. (Again this only
applies to non- in- person gatherings.)<br>
</font></font></p>
<font size="+1"><font face="Times New Roman">Best,</font></font><br>
<font size="+1"><font face="Times New Roman">H .LaCortiglia</font></font><br>
<font size="+1"><font face="Times New Roman">Georgetown P.B. <br>
</font></font>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix"><br>
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<div class="moz-cite-prefix"><br>
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<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 6/17/2021 10:31 AM, Richard McCarthy
wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite"
cite="mid:5a195ed571b39a1e71ea269ddd2ea479@mail.gmail.com">
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:4.8pt"><span
style="font-size:14.0pt;color:#141414">Christian and Harry,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:4.8pt"><b><span
style="font-size:14.0pt;color:#141414"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:4.8pt"><span
style="font-size:14.0pt;color:#141414">Sounds like I’m
missing it but I raised the question based on highlighted
text in AG guidance. 40A Section 11 requires date, time and
place for public hearings. I will restate my question this
way. If we are holding public hearings in person are we
required to provide adequate alternative means?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:4.8pt"><span
style="font-size:14.0pt;color:#141414"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:4.8pt"><b><span
style="font-size:14.0pt;color:#141414">Updated guidance on
holding meetings pursuant to the Act Extending Certain
COVID-19 Measures</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:14.0pt;color:#141414">Guidance Update –
June 16, 2021</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span
style="font-size:14.0pt;color:#141414">On June 16, 2021,
Governor Baker signed into law An Act Extending Certain
COVID-19 Measures Adopted During the State of Emergency.
This Act includes an extension, until April 1, 2022, of the
remote meeting provisions of his March 12, 2020, Executive
Order Suspending Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law.
The new law has two major parts.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span
style="font-size:14.0pt;color:#141414">First, the new law
allows public bodies to continue providing live “adequate,
alternative means” of public access to the deliberations of
the public body, instead of holding meetings in a public
place that is open and physically accessible to the public.
“Adequate, alternative means” may include, without
limitation, providing public access through telephone,
internet, or satellite enabled audio or video conferencing
or any other technology that enables the public to clearly
follow the proceedings of the public body in real time.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span
style="font-size:14.0pt;color:#141414">Second, the new law
authorizes all members of a public body to continue
participating in meetings remotely; the Open Meeting Law’s
requirement that a quorum of the body and the chair be
physically present at the meeting location remains
suspended.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span
style="font-size:14.0pt;color:#141414">The new law provides
that a municipal public body that, for reasons of economic
hardship and despite best efforts, is unable to provide
alternative means of public access that will enable the
public to follow the proceedings in real time, may instead
post a full and complete transcript, recording, or other
comprehensive record on its website as soon as practicable
after the meeting. In light of the various free and
low-cost technologies that could be used to provide the
public with real time access, the Division of Open
Government strongly recommends that a municipal public body
consult with our office before determining that it is unable
to provide the public with real time access to a meeting. <span
style="background:yellow">Furthermore, this provision is
not available for meetings when another general or special
law, regulation or a local ordinance or by-law requires
allowance for active participation by members of the
public, such as in the case of certain public hearings.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span
style="font-size:14.0pt;color:#141414">All other provisions
of the Open Meeting Law and regulations, such as the
requirements regarding posting notice of meetings and
creating and maintaining accurate meeting minutes, remain in
effect. Public bodies are reminded that notice of all
meetings must be posted at least 48 hours in advance, not
including weekends and holidays, and the meeting notice must
clearly specify how the public may access the meeting,
whether in-person, remote or both.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old
Style","serif";color:#1f497d">Richard J.
McCarthy, Jr.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old
Style","serif";color:#1f497d">Town Planner</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old
Style","serif";color:#1f497d">1 Liberty Lane</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old
Style","serif";color:#1f497d">Norfolk, MA
02056</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old
Style","serif";color:#1f497d">508-440-2807</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old
Style","serif";color:#1f497d">Office Hours-
Monday through Thursday 9am to 6pm</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old
Style","serif";color:#1f497d">Closed Fridays</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old
Style","serif";color:#1f497d"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span
style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">Please
be advised that the Secretary of State has determined that
e-mail sent by or received by municipal employees is a
public record.</span><span style="color:#1f497d"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Bookman Old
Style","serif";color:#1f497d"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"">From:</span></b><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"">
MassPlanners [mailto:<a
href="mailto:massplanners-bounces@masscptc.org"
moz-do-not-send="true">massplanners-bounces@masscptc.org</a>]
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Christian Brandt<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Thursday, June 17, 2021 10:22 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> Harry LaCortiglia<br>
<b>Cc:</b> <a href="mailto:massplanners@masscptc.org"
moz-do-not-send="true">massplanners@masscptc.org</a><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [Massplanners] S2475</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Good Morning All!</p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">The AGO released this new guidance
pertaining to virtual and hybrid meetings which you can
find here: <a
href="https://www.mass.gov/service-details/updated-guidance-on-holding-meetings-pursuant-to-the-act-extending-certain-covid-19-measures"
moz-do-not-send="true">https://www.mass.gov/service-details/updated-guidance-on-holding-meetings-pursuant-to-the-act-extending-certain-covid-19-measures</a></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">I've pasted the first three paragraphs
below:</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
</div>
<div>
<p
style="margin-top:0in;box-sizing:inherit;margin-bottom:1.75rem"><span
style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:#141414">This
Act includes an extension, until April 1, 2022, of the
remote meeting provisions of his March 12, 2020,
Executive Order Suspending Certain Provisions of the
Open Meeting Law. The new law has two major parts.</span></p>
<p
style="margin-top:0in;box-sizing:inherit;margin-bottom:1.75rem"><span
style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:#141414">First,
the new law allows public bodies to continue providing
live “adequate, alternative means” of public access to
the deliberations of the public body, instead of holding
meetings in a public place that is open and physically
accessible to the public. “Adequate, alternative means”
may include, without limitation, providing public access
through telephone, internet, or satellite enabled audio
or video conferencing or any other technology that
enables the public to clearly follow the proceedings of
the public body in real time.</span></p>
<p
style="margin-top:0in;box-sizing:inherit;margin-bottom:1.75rem"><span
style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:#141414">Second,
the new law authorizes all members of a public body to
continue participating in meetings remotely; the Open
Meeting Law’s requirement that a quorum of the body and
the chair be physically present at the meeting location
remains suspended.</span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>So, based on that I think the very
short answer is that you can continue to hold
virtual-only meetings for the time being.</b></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Best,</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Christian Brandt, AICP</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Planner and Community Engagement
Specialist I</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Metropolitan Area Planning Council</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">617-933-0796 | <a
href="mailto:cbrandt@mapc.org" moz-do-not-send="true">cbrandt@mapc.org</a> </p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
</div>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Den tor. 17. jun. 2021 kl. 10.07 skrev
Harry LaCortiglia <<a
href="mailto:hlacortiglia@comcast.net"
moz-do-not-send="true">hlacortiglia@comcast.net</a>>:</p>
</div>
<blockquote style="border:none;border-left:solid #cccccc
1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in
6.0pt;margin-left:4.8pt;margin-right:0in">
<div>
<p><span style="font-size:13.5pt">Hi Richard,</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:13.5pt">Respectfully, you're
wrong.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:13.5pt">My read is that for
Hearings, virtual is ok provided we allow for
"Participation". </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:13.5pt">We've been conducting
Hearings this way via Zoom for months now. The Public
posting of the Meeting on the town website provides a
link and a phone number for anyone who wishes to join
us. We've conducted Hearings with participation of
well over a hundred citizens. When Public comment time
comes, folks hold their virtual hands up for
recognition by the Chair. They are then un-muted and
provide testimony or ask questions. (It's actually
working far better than I had anticipated.) </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:13.5pt">This latest extension
language from the legislature and signed by the
Governor is below. (Please excuse the line numbers and
the crude paste job...)</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:13.5pt">I do recognize that some
communities may be using a Remote Participation
Application that doesn't allow for the public to join
them without a specific invitation. If that's the
case, then you're up the creek... or more accurately,
you're in the real world meeting room again. ;)</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:13.5pt">Good Luck,</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:13.5pt">H. LaCortiglia</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:13.5pt">Chairman Georgetown
P.B> </span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span
style="font-size:13.5pt"><br>
<br>
138 SECTION 20. (a) For the purposes of this section,
“adequate, alternative means of public<br>
139 access” shall mean measures that provide
transparency and permit timely and effective public<br>
140 access to the deliberations of the public body,
including, but not limited to, providing public<br>
141 access through telephone, internet, satellite
enabled audio or video conferencing or any other<br>
142 technology that enables the public to clearly
follow the proceedings of the public body while<br>
143 those activities are occurring.<br>
144 (b) Notwithstanding section 20 of chapter 30A of
the General Laws or any general or<br>
145 special law to the contrary, a public body, as
defined in section 18 of said chapter 30A, shall not<br>
146 be required to conduct its meetings in a public
place that is open and physically accessible to the<br>
147 public; provided, that if the public body does not
conduct the meeting in a public place that is<br>
148 open and physically accessible to the public, the
public body shall ensure public access to the<br>
149 deliberations of the public body for interested
members of the public through adequate,<br>
150 alternative means of public access. Where active,
real-time participation by members of the<br>
151 public is a specific requirement of a general or
special law, regulation or a local ordinance or by-<br>
152 law, pursuant to which the proceeding is
conducted, any adequate, alternative means of public<br>
153 access shall provide for such participation and
shall be sufficient to meet such participation<br>
154 requirement. A municipal public body that for
reasons of economic hardship and despite best<br>
155 efforts is unable to provide adequate, alternative
means of public access that will enable the<br>
156 public to follow the proceedings of the municipal
public body as those activities are occurring in<br>
157 real time may instead post on its municipal
website a full and complete transcript, recording or<br>
158 other comprehensive record of the proceedings as
soon as practicable upon conclusion of the<br>
159 proceedings. This paragraph shall not apply to
proceedings that are conducted pursuant to a<br>
160 general or special law, regulation or a local
ordinance or by-law that requires allowance for<br>
161 active participation by members of the public. A
public body shall offer its selected adequate,<br>
162 alternative means of public access to its
proceedings without subscription, toll or similar
charge<br>
163 to the public.<br>
164 (c) Notwithstanding subsection (d) of section 20
of chapter 30A of the General Laws or<br>
165 any other general or special law to the contrary,
a public body may allow remote participation by<br>
166 all members in any meeting of the public body and
a quorum of the body and the chair shall not<br>
167 be required to be physically present at a
specified meeting location.<br>
168 (d) A public body that elects to conduct its
proceedings under this section shall ensure<br>
169 that any party entitled or required to appear
before it shall be able to appear through remote<br>
170 means, as if the party were a member of the public
body and participating remotely as provided<br>
171 in subsection (b).<br>
172 (e) All other provisions of sections 18 to 25 of
chapter 30A of the General Laws and the<br>
173 attorney general’s implementing regulations shall
otherwise remain unchanged and fully<br>
174 applicable to the activities of public bodies.<br>
175 (f) Notwithstanding said section 20 of said
chapter 30A, if this section does not take<br>
176 effect until after June 15, 2021, a public body
may provide for remote meetings as specified in<br>
177 this section and any action taken thereof shall be
ratified, validated and confirmed as if this<br>
178 section had been in place.</span></p>
<p> </p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">On 6/17/2021 9:38 AM, Richard
McCarthy wrote:</p>
</div>
<blockquote style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt">
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Good
morning all,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Seeking
clarity, if we have public hearings those have to be
in person the extension only pertains to business
that’s not a public hearing.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">I’m
right or wrong? </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Sincerely,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Richard
J. McCarthy, Jr.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Town
Planner</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">1
Liberty Lane</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Norfolk,
MA 02056</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">508-440-2807</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Office
Hours- Monday through Thursday 9am to 6pm</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Closed
Fridays</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span
style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"">Please
be advised that the Secretary of State has
determined that e-mail sent by or received by
municipal employees is a public record.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> </p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
</blockquote>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal">-- <br>
MassPlanners mailing list<br>
<a href="mailto:MassPlanners@masscptc.org" target="_blank"
moz-do-not-send="true">MassPlanners@masscptc.org</a><br>
<a
href="http://masscptc.org/mailman/listinfo/massplanners_masscptc.org"
target="_blank" moz-do-not-send="true">http://masscptc.org/mailman/listinfo/massplanners_masscptc.org</a></p>
</blockquote>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br clear="all">
</p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal">-- </p>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><em>Christian Brandt</em></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>90 School Street,
Somerville, MA 02143</i></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><em><a
href="mailto:christian.w.brandt.12@gmail.com"
target="_blank" moz-do-not-send="true">christian.w.brandt.12@gmail.com</a> </em></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><em>208.596.2895</em></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</blockquote>
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