In Plymouth, it looks like Spring Town Meeting will again be held virtually.
Selectmen Quintal, Cavacco and Flaherty voted to approve Town Moderator Steven Triffletti’s request for a virtual meeting, based on pandemic related health concerns. But two Selectmen disagreed with the majority vote.
Bobbi Clark has more on the story:
Selectman Harry Helm says it’s time to get to a new normal:
“This will be the fifth Town Meeting that has been held virtually as opposed to in person, I believe that we are far enough along that we need to begin to strive towards a new normal—incorporating Covid into normality, but get more towards normal. This to me was replaying the tape of the darkest time.”
Helm says he can relate to those Town Meeting members who want a return to an in-person meeting:
“Their thoughts, their expressions to me about this did impact my thinking on it. I can understand why Town Meeting members want to get back to in-person meetings, and I’d also like to point out that we were not given the opportunity of choice for a hybrid meeting. It was virtual or not.”
Selectman Charlie Bletzer, who also did not vote with the majority to approve a virtual Town Meeting, previously served as a Town Meeting member. He told WATD that there is no substitute for the interaction that takes place between members at an in-person Town Meeting.
Spring Town Meeting is scheduled to begin on April 2nd.
