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<div style="font-size: 13.3333px; font-family: Tahoma; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; background: none 0% 0% / auto repeat scroll padding-box border-box rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Note that the provisions to allow for remote meetings was extended until the end of March, 2023, not July. See: <a href="https://www.mass.gov/the-open-meeting-law">https://www.mass.gov/the-open-meeting-law</a></div>
<div style="font-size: 13.3333px; font-family: Tahoma; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; background: none 0% 0% / auto repeat scroll padding-box border-box rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"> </div>
<div style="font-size: 13.3333px; font-family: Tahoma; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; background: none 0% 0% / auto repeat scroll padding-box border-box rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">The answer to your question is probably answered on the summary on the website, in part: "Specifically, this extension allows public bodies to continue holding meetings remotely without a quorum of the public body physically present at a meeting location, and to provide "adequate, alternative" access to remote meetings."</div>
<div style="font-size: 13.3333px; font-family: Tahoma; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; background: none 0% 0% / auto repeat scroll padding-box border-box rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"> </div>
<div style="font-size: 13.3333px; font-family: Tahoma; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; background: none 0% 0% / auto repeat scroll padding-box border-box rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">I would personally be wary of allowing committee/board members to participate remotely without advertising it as such to allow the public to also participate remotely. In Arlington, we are generally doing either totally remote or totally in person, due to the challenges of attempting to go hybrid. Only the Select Board has really attempted to be remote because they have the proper meeting facilities and staff to make it work. </div>
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<div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: tahoma; font-size: 13.33px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; background: none 0% 0% / auto repeat scroll padding-box border-box rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Daniel Amstutz, AICP<br />
Senior Transportation Planner<br />
Department of Planning & Community Development<br />
Town of Arlington<br />
730 Massachusetts Avenue<br />
Arlington, MA 02476<br />
(781) 316-3093<br />
<a href="mailto:damstutz@town.arlington.ma.us">damstutz@town.arlington.ma.us</a><br />
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<blockquote class="as91pFk8AX8sDPOUp66RUy8IoCRjefxNG8oLk8fg" style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">From: Matthew Heins via MassPlanners <massplanners@masscptc.org><br />
To: "MassPlanners@masscptc.org" <massplanners@masscptc.org><br />
Date: Mon, 22 Aug 2022 14:36:08 +0000<br />
Subject: [Massplanners] Question - In-person board meeting with remote participation and quorum issue<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">Dear MassPlanners,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">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.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">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?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">I appreciate any advice you can provide.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">Best,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><b>Matthew Heins<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">Planning Board Assistant<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">Town of Pembroke<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">Email: <a href="mailto:mheins@townofpembrokemass.org">mheins@townofpembrokemass.org</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">Phone: 781-709-1433 / Fax: 781-709-1453<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">Address: Office of the Planning Board, Pembroke Town Hall, 100 Center St., Pembroke, MA 02359<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#000066"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:9.0pt;color:#000066">This electronic message is confidential and intended for the named recipient only. Any dissemination, disclosure or distribution of the contents of this communication is unlawful and prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please contact by return email or telephone (781-709-1433), and delete the copy you received. Thank you.</span></i><span style="font-size:9.0pt;color:#000066"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></div>
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