Weston Selectmen Approve Remote Meeting Participation

Following a measure added to the state’s Open Meeting Law guidelines in early November, the Weston Board of Selectmen voted to allow members of town boards and committees to participate in meetings even when they’re unable to attend, in what one member deemed “mainly a courtesy” to promote meeting participation.

At last night’s Board of Selectmen meeting at Weston Town Hall, the board discussed the measure put forth by the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office last month to allow remote participation at town meetings, and unanimously agreed to make the change, effective immediately.

A press release from the office of Attorney General Martha Coakley states the purpose of these new regulations is "to promote greater participation in government, while upholding the main purpose of the Open Meeting Law – transparency,” and says that while in certain extenuating circumstances members of public bodies are permitted to participate remotely, "we encourage physical attendance when at all possible.”

Reading from a statement at Tuesday’s meeting, Weston Town Manager Donna VanderClock listed the “extenuating circumstances” for remote participation as personal illness, personal disability, emergency, military service or geographic distance, such as a business trip or vacation.

VanderClock also discussed provisions for ensuring there was “some way to hear the person participating remotely,” which Board Chair Doug Gillespie later said would likely be “speakerphone technology,” as well as the fact that for any given meeting, a quorum must be physically present, as is mandated by the current Open Meeting Law.

As well, she added, members who intend to chime in from afar “must notify the (board or committee) chair as soon as possible” that they intend to do so.

Before voting, board members expressed curiosity and interest in the proposal, calling it mainly “a courtesy” that they could decide to rescind later if they found it wasn’t working.

“It’s beneficial to all involved if it means more members can participate” overall, said selectman Michael Harrity, adding that he “didn’t see the difference” in whether members could participate remotely if in either scenario, traditional or remote-participation meetings, a quorum is required.

When one resident, Henry Viles, asked the board to explain the necessity of the measure, selectman Steven Charlip reiterated the board’s stance that the measure was mostly one of consideration.

“It’s not a necessity but more of a courtesy if someone can’t be there but still wants to participate,” he replied, later adding that remote meeting participation will be “the exception, not the rule. The majority of the time, (board and committee members) should go to meetings.”

According to Gillespie, the measure will take effect immediately, pending notification of town boards and committees.