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<p><font size="4"><font face="Times New Roman">Hi All,</font></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><font face="Times New Roman">It would be very
informative to hear from those groups.<br>
</font></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><font face="Times New Roman">However, I would ask
the hivemind here if the continuation of Remote Meetings is
something that might<u> not</u> need Legislative action? <br>
</font></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><font face="Times New Roman">I recall that before
the pandemic emergency legislation came into play, <a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="https://casetext.com/regulation/code-of-massachusetts-regulations/department-940-cmr-office-of-the-attorney-general/title-940-cmr-2900-open-meetings/section-2910-remote-participation">940
CMR 29.10</a> made provision, under the Open Meeting Law
Regulations, to provide for Remote Participation. <br>
</font></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><font face="Times New Roman">Although quite
limited in scope </font></font><font size="4"><font
face="Times New Roman">and not very widely used at the time
due to its limitations.</font></font><font size="4"><font
face="Times New Roman"> I believe it </font></font><font
size="4"><font face="Times New Roman"> required the physical
presence of a quorum of the board</font></font><font size="4"><font
face="Times New Roman"> and only allowed for Board and
Committee Members to participate remotely, not the members of
the public or outside consultants. <br>
</font></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><font face="Times New Roman">Couldn't the AG
revise the regulations to be more in line with what so many
communities are accustomed to, and now technologically capable
of doing?</font></font></p>
<p><font size="4"><font face="Times New Roman">Maybe just a
Regulations update would do the trick?<br>
</font></font></p>
<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><br>
</p>
<p><br>
</p>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 2/10/2023 7:42 AM, Susan
Affleck-Childs via MassPlanners wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite"
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<div class="WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Good
morning,
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">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!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Thanks.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Susan
E. Affleck-Childs<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Planning
and Economic Development Coordinator
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Town
of Medway</span><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">155
Village Street<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Medway,
MA 02053<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">508-533-3291<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:3.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><img
style="width:.7569in;height:.7569in" id="Picture_x0020_5"
src="cid:part1.UpEM9Zfh.XPRHgpJp@comcast.net" class=""
width="73" height="73"></span><span
style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<div>
<div style="border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1
1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in">
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>From:</b> MassPlanners
<a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:massplanners-bounces@masscptc.org"><massplanners-bounces@masscptc.org></a>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Alicia Hunt via MassPlanners<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Thursday, February 9, 2023 10:02 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> Eric Salerno
<a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:esalerno@tyngsboroughma.gov"><esalerno@tyngsboroughma.gov></a>;
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:massplanners@masscptc.org">massplanners@masscptc.org</a><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [External] Re: [Massplanners] continued
remote meetings<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">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.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">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.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">I strongly recommend that everyone on
this list reach out to their legislators about the
importance of continued remote only public meetings.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">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. <o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thanks,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Alicia<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Alicia L Hunt<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Director of Planning, Development
& Sustainability<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">City of Medford<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">City Hall, Room 308<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:white"><a
href="x-apple-data-detectors://1/0"
moz-do-not-send="true">85 George P. Hassett Dr.</a></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:white"><a
href="x-apple-data-detectors://1/0"
moz-do-not-send="true">Medford, MA 02155</a></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:white"><a
href="mailto:Ahunt@medford-ma.gov"
moz-do-not-send="true"
class="moz-txt-link-freetext">Ahunt@medford-ma.gov</a></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">(w) <a href="tel:781-393-2480"
moz-do-not-send="true">781-393-2480</a> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:white"><a
href="http://www.medfordma.org/departments/community-development/"
moz-do-not-send="true"
class="moz-txt-link-freetext">http://www.medfordma.org/departments/community-development/</a></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:white"><a
href="http://gogreenmedford.com/"
moz-do-not-send="true"
class="moz-txt-link-freetext">http://gogreenmedford.com/</a></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Twitter: @GoGreenMedford<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a
href="https://www.facebook.com/GoGreenMedford"
moz-do-not-send="true"><span style="color:white">https://www.facebook.com/GoGreenMedford</span></a><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br>
<br>
<o:p></o:p></p>
<blockquote style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt">On Feb
6, 2023, at 2:34 PM, Eric Salerno via MassPlanners
<<a href="mailto:massplanners@masscptc.org"
moz-do-not-send="true" class="moz-txt-link-freetext">massplanners@masscptc.org</a>>
wrote:<o:p></o:p></p>
</blockquote>
</div>
<blockquote style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt">
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">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.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="color:#222222"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p
class="MsoNormal"
style="text-align:center" align="center"><a
href="http://tyngsboroughma.gov/"
target="_blank" moz-do-not-send="true"><span
style="color:#1155CC;text-decoration:none"><img
style="width:.5972in;height:.5972in" id="_x0000_i1028"
src="https://cdn.gifo.wisestamp.com/im/sh/YS81NjY3ZjZlYS0yM2QyLTQyODktYWNjYi0zMGQ4ZGIyZTBjZjQucG5nI2xvZ28=/rounded.png"
moz-do-not-send="true" width="57" height="57" border="0"></span></a><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
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</td>
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style="padding:0in
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<table
class="MsoNormalTable"
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nowrap="nowrap">
<p
class="MsoNormal"><b><span
style="font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#AB332C">Eric Salerno</span></b><br>
<b><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#646464">Town
Planner / Eco.
Dev. Dir.</span></b><b><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#646464"><br>
Town of
Tyngsborough</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p
style="margin:.1pt"><span
style="font-size:8.5pt;color:#212121">978-743-5361 | <a
href="http://tyngsboroughma.gov/"
target="_blank" moz-do-not-send="true"><span style="color:#212121">tyngsboroughma.gov</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td
style="width:.3pt;padding:5.25pt
0in 0in 0in"
width="0"
nowrap="nowrap">
<p
style="margin:.1pt"><span
style="font-size:8.5pt;color:#212121"><a
href="mailto:esalerno@tyngsboroughma.gov"
target="_blank" moz-do-not-send="true"><span
style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">esalerno</span>@tyngsboroughma.gov</a></span><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
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style="width:.3pt;padding:5.25pt
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nowrap="nowrap">
<p
style="margin:.1pt"><span
style="font-size:8.5pt;color:#212121">25 Bryant Lane, Tyngsborough MA
01879</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
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<td
style="padding:10.5pt
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class="MsoNormalTable"
cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0">
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<td
style="padding:0in
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<p
class="MsoNormal"
style="text-align:center" align="center"><a
href="http://facebook.com/tyngsboroughma"
target="_blank" moz-do-not-send="true"><span
style="color:#1155CC;text-decoration:none"><img
style="width:.25in;height:.25in" id="_x0000_i1027"
src="https://cdn.gifo.wisestamp.com/s/fb/AB332C/48/circle/background.png"
moz-do-not-send="true" width="24" height="24" border="0"></span></a><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td
style="padding:0in
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<p
class="MsoNormal"
style="text-align:center" align="center"><a
href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/town-of-tyngsborough/"
target="_blank" moz-do-not-send="true"><span
style="color:#1155CC;text-decoration:none"><img
style="width:.25in;height:.25in" id="_x0000_i1026"
src="https://cdn.gifo.wisestamp.com/s/ld/AB332C/48/circle/background.png"
moz-do-not-send="true" width="24" height="24" border="0"></span></a><o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td
style="padding:0in
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<p
class="MsoNormal"
style="text-align:center" align="center"><a
href="http://twitter.com/TyngsboroughMA"
target="_blank" moz-do-not-send="true"><span
style="color:#1155CC;text-decoration:none"><img
style="width:.25in;height:.25in" id="_x0000_i1025"
src="https://cdn.gifo.wisestamp.com/s/tw/AB332C/48/circle/background.png"
moz-do-not-send="true" width="24" height="24" border="0"></span></a><o:p></o:p></p>
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</td>
<td style="padding:0in 0in 0in
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valign="top">
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class="MsoNormalTable"
style="border-collapse:collapse"
cellspacing="0"
cellpadding="0" border="0">
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style="padding:10.5pt
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class="MsoNormalTable"
cellspacing="0"
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style="padding:0in
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style="padding:0in
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style="padding:0in
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="color:#222222"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#666666">In
Massachusetts, the term “public
record” is broadly defined to
include all documentary
materials or data created or
received by any officer or
employee of any governmental
unit, regardless of physical
form or characteristics, unless
it falls under one of the
statutory exemptions to the
Public Records Law. G.L.c. 4,
7(26). Consequently, email is
subject to the disclosure,
retention, and maintenance
provisions as required by law.
G.L.c. 66</span><span
style="color:#222222"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">On Fri, Feb 3, 2023 at 2:09 PM
Michael McCarthy via MassPlanners <<a
href="mailto:massplanners@masscptc.org"
moz-do-not-send="true"
class="moz-txt-link-freetext">massplanners@masscptc.org</a>>
wrote:<o:p></o:p></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">
<p class="MsoNormal">Alvin,<br>
<br>
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:
<a
href="https://www.mma.org/remote-meeting-extension-for-local-boards-signed-into-law/"
target="_blank" moz-do-not-send="true"
class="moz-txt-link-freetext">
https://www.mma.org/remote-meeting-extension-for-local-boards-signed-into-law/</a>
and from the AG's office:
<a
href="https://www.mass.gov/service-details/updated-guidance-on-holding-meetings-pursuant-to-the-act-extending-certain-covid-19-measures"
target="_blank" moz-do-not-send="true"
class="moz-txt-link-freetext">
https://www.mass.gov/service-details/updated-guidance-on-holding-meetings-pursuant-to-the-act-extending-certain-covid-19-measures</a>.<br>
<br>
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.
<br>
<br>
Mike McCarthy<br>
Asst. City Planner<br>
City of New Bedford<br>
<br>
-----Original Message-----<br>
From: MassPlanners <<a
href="mailto:massplanners-bounces@masscptc.org"
target="_blank" moz-do-not-send="true"
class="moz-txt-link-freetext">massplanners-bounces@masscptc.org</a>>
On Behalf Of Alvin Blake via MassPlanners<br>
Sent: Friday, February 3, 2023 1:46 PM<br>
To: <a href="mailto:massplanners@masscptc.org"
target="_blank" moz-do-not-send="true"
class="moz-txt-link-freetext">massplanners@masscptc.org</a><br>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] [Massplanners] Zoom only
meetings<br>
<br>
Can a planning or ZBA have a zoom only meeting? I
have read several different interpretations of
current tips<br>
<br>
Sent from my iPhone<br>
<br>
-- <br>
MassPlanners mailing list<br>
<a href="mailto:MassPlanners@masscptc.org"
target="_blank" moz-do-not-send="true"
class="moz-txt-link-freetext">MassPlanners@masscptc.org</a><br>
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href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__http:/masscptc.org/mailman/listinfo/massplanners_masscptc.org__;!!HrHZwXtSIu7ehiYZ!ryb56bQIpXVsurCzQ3TjJUjV_yyA9dfTyGxDlZWbZV79NNxYhKS7P0U10q4dFVrXLD4wc_oC3GvF1E6B2-eDFdXDO0YR79WfSZURhgVU$"
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