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Our members are the local governments of Massachusetts and their elected and appointed leadership.
Lauren Goldberg, managing partner at KP Law, discusses the open meeting law and the implications for virtual and hybrid public meetings during the Massachusetts Select Board Association’s virtual Annual Business Meeting on Jan. 28.
The Massachusetts Select Board Association’s virtual Annual Business Meeting on Jan. 28 featured a discussion about the future of virtual and hybrid public meetings.
Lauren Goldberg, managing partner at KP Law, began the session with a review of what is authorized by the open meeting law currently, as well as bills moving quickly in the Legislature that would extend remote meeting provisions past their April 1 expiration date.
Goldberg highlighted important considerations for remote meetings, including roll call procedures, the introduction of remote members, and specific requirements for remote executive sessions. She also discussed requirements for conducting a hybrid meeting that complies with the open meeting law.
She presented an analysis of future implications for holding in-person, remote, and hybrid public meetings. She responded to questions about issues such as requirements when recording public meetings, use of the chat in remote meetings, and remote town meetings.
The meeting featured welcoming remarks from MSA President and Winchester Select Board Member Michael Bettencourt, followed by a report from the MSA Nominating Committee and a vote on the 2022 MSA officers.
The new board officers are:
President: Michael Walsh, Select Board chair, Westwood
First Vice President: Andy Hogeland, Select Board member, Williamstown
Second Vice President: Jill Hai, Select Board chair, Lexington
Secretary: Diane Kennedy, Select Board member, Cohasset
• In Person, Virtual and Hybrid Meetings – What have we learned? – Lauren Goldberg presentation (150K PDF)