PLYMOUTH TOWN MEETING TO CONVENE ON APRIL 2ND, BUT IT MIGHT NOT CONTINUE
In Plymouth, Town Meeting is scheduled to be a virtual one held on April 2nd. In fact, the Select Board, on the recommendation of Town Moderator Steven Triffletti, voted 3 to 2 early last month for that to happen. But following the Select Board’s meeting this week, that outcome is in doubt.
Bobbi Clark files the story:
Acting Town Manager Lee Hartmann:
“That three to two vote was to allow for Town Meeting to be held virtually—that requires a ratification by Town Meeting to actually say, yes, we agree, we’ll go virtually. So, there was no provision in that vote to allow for the alternate of what happens if Town Meeting chooses not to go virtually.”
And that choice routinely takes place on the day Town Meeting convenes. So, the purpose of the deliberation this week…
“…was to discuss allowing a second option should Town Meeting choose not to go virtually. And, during that discussion there was a 2-2 vote to allow for that option, so it did not carry.”
Selectman Patrick Flaherty was absent. And Hartmann says, the previous vote…
“… of allowing only the option of a virtual Town Meeting stands. The effect of that is, if Town Meeting decides not to have a virtual Town Meeting and wants to be an in-person, we will then have to go back through the process of re-endorsing a new warrant, posting it, and doing the legal portions of that warrant for an in-person meeting.”
The possibility of a hybrid meeting was discussed at length:
“The people who want to stay home can stay home, the people who want to be in-person can choose to be in-person. However, town counsel is very adamant that that position is not included in the laws and that option is not available to the town at this time.”
Town Moderator Steven Triffiletti told WATD that…
“…if Town Meeting does not vote to proceed with remote participation, then, it will be the responsibility of the Select Board to post a new warrant.”
