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<p class="MsoNormal">Hey Ken, <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I believe the covid era regulations dealt with having members present remotely to institute a quorum. As for not having a quorum in order to open a public hearing, yes you would have to readvertise. MGL 40A is very strict with advertising
requirements and most Special Permit hearings need a super majority present in order to have a quorum. Hope this helps!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:none">Best, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:none">Rob<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Cambria",serif;mso-ligatures:none">Robert Watchilla,
<a href="https://www.credly.com/badges/314e3c90-9e15-4bf3-b47c-bcf8c15e8680/public_url">
<span style="color:windowtext;text-decoration:none">AICP</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Cambria",serif;mso-ligatures:none">Planner<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Cambria",serif;mso-ligatures:none">Staff Liaison: ZBA and DRB<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><img border="0" width="100" height="100" style="width:1.0416in;height:1.0416in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.png@01DA0CA7.2E8C0150"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Cambria",serif;color:#2F5496;mso-ligatures:none">Town of Amherst<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Cambria",serif;color:#2F5496;mso-ligatures:none">4 Boltwood Avenue,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Cambria",serif;color:#2F5496;mso-ligatures:none">Amherst, MA 01002<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Cambria",serif;color:#2F5496;mso-ligatures:none">413-259-3120 (direct)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Cambria",serif;color:#2F5496;mso-ligatures:none">413-259-3030 (main)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Cambria",serif;color:#2F5496;mso-ligatures:none"><a href="https://www.amherstma.gov/"><span style="color:#2F5496">amherstma.gov</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="mso-ligatures:none">From:</span></b><span style="mso-ligatures:none"> MassPlanners <massplanners-bounces@masscptc.org>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Comia, Ken via MassPlanners<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, October 31, 2023 3:50 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> massplanners@masscptc.org<br>
<b>Subject:</b> [Massplanners] Opening and Continuing Public Hearings with no quorum<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hello planners,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It’s perfect we have another question of the day regarding public hearings!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I somehow recall that during COVID times there may have been an opportunity for the chair to open and continue a public hearing or some arrangement when there wasn’t a quorum to open a hearing before remote meetings became a thing. Was
I imagining something like that where the Board Chair without a quorum could open and continue a public hearing if there was no quorum?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As a refresher, what is the most appropriate process in opening a public hearing and/or continuing etc. when you do not have a quorum to act on a permit? If a Board is unable to open a hearing due to lack of quorum to act on a permit or
even lack of quorum to open a hearing, does the board have to readvertise for a future date? What are towns and cities doing now?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thanks in advance for sharing your public hearing opening and continuation processes!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Ken<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="mso-ligatures:none">Kenneth Comia, AICP <o:p>
</o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="mso-ligatures:none">Deputy Director, Land Use and Environment Department<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-ligatures:none">Pioneer Valley Planning Commission<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-ligatures:none">60 Congress Street – Floor 1<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-ligatures:none">Springfield, MA 01104<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-ligatures:none">p: 413-285-1175 | e:
<a href="mailto:kcomia@pvpc.org">kcomia@pvpc.org</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-ligatures:none">w: <a href="http://www.pvpc.org/">
pvpc.org</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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