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<p><font size="4"><font face="Times New Roman">Hi Matthew,</font></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><font face="Times New Roman">While I would submit
that you are allowed to do so, although I would have
reservations about your ability to accomplish it adequately
from a purely technical perspective. <br>
</font></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><font face="Times New Roman">Both Board Members,
as well as the public, must be able to see and hear the remote
attending members (and the remote attendees need to be able to
see everyone else, too). While this is simple in a fully
remote meeting, it can be challenging in a hybrid situation
such as the one you are proposing, depending upon the
equipment you have available to you.<br>
</font></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><font face="Times New Roman">Ultimately, however,
I believe it is the Chairperson's call. <br>
</font></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><font face="Times New Roman">If the Chair believes
you can overcome those technical hurdles then</font></font><font
size="4"><font face="Times New Roman"> the meeting/hearing </font></font><font
size="4"><font face="Times New Roman"> can move forward. If the
remote attendees lose connection or the Chair decides that the
technical problems are disrupting the meeting, then they can
determine that there is no quorum and </font></font><font
size="4"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="4"><font
face="Times New Roman">you can ministerially continue the
hearing due to a lack of quorum. <br>
</font></font></font></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><font face="Times New Roman">Again, I believe it
is entirely the Chairperson's call. <br>
</font></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><font face="Times New Roman">If any members are
attending remotely be sure to take roll call attendance at the
beginning of the meeting, and all votes should be by roll
call, if you do try it.</font></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><font face="Times New Roman">Finally, if you are
meeting in person, while the State law allows in person
meetings without a requirement for the quorum to be present,
check to ensure that your local Remote Policy/Regs/Ordinances
of Pembroke don't prohibit it. Many communities adopted 940
CMR 29.10 by local acceptance. (That may be where you got the
"old" requirement for the full quorum to be physically
present. ) If so, you may have a conflict there. <br>
</font></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><font face="Times New Roman">FYI- the legislature
extended the Remote Meeting Order until March 31, 2023.</font></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><font face="Times New Roman"><br>
</font></font></p>
<font size="4"><font face="Times New Roman">Good Luck!</font></font><br>
<font size="4"><font face="Times New Roman">H. LaCortiglia</font></font><br>
<font size="4"><font face="Times New Roman">Georgetown P.B.<br>
</font></font>
<p><font size="4"><font face="Times New Roman"></font></font><br>
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<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 8/22/2022 10:36 AM, Matthew Heins
via MassPlanners wrote:<br>
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<blockquote type="cite"
cite="mid:BL3PR01MB7115ACB1E67E8F6D8D20732BB4719@BL3PR01MB7115.prod.exchangelabs.com">
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<p class="MsoNormal">Dear MassPlanners,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p 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></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p 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></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I appreciate any advice you can provide.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Best,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Matthew Heins<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Planning Board Assistant<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Town of Pembroke<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Email: <a
href="mailto:mheins@townofpembrokemass.org"
moz-do-not-send="true" class="moz-txt-link-freetext">mheins@townofpembrokemass.org</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Phone: 781-709-1433 / Fax: 781-709-1453<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Address: Office of the Planning Board,
Pembroke Town Hall, 100 Center St., Pembroke, MA 02359<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span
style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#000066"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p 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></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
<br>
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