In Plymouth, the Select Board meets Tuesday and a discussion concerning the format of Town Meeting, scheduled for October 15th, is on the agenda. The Select Board is on the record as preferring an in-person Town Meeting.
Town Moderator Steven Triffletti has not been in favor of this. In fact, the last six town meetings have been held virtually.
WATD’s Bobbi Clark has more…
Select Board Chair Betty Cavacco, refers to the lifting of COVID-related state and local public health emergency declarations, and emphasizes the Select Board’s preference for an in person meeting:
“There is no longer a public safety hazard. So, yes, we all want to be in person,” said Cavacco. “I would love to have the hybrid option, but until that happens we have to go with how the law governs us.”
The hybrid meeting combines virtual and in-person attendance, but at this point, the law allowing Town Meeting to be held virtually does not specify that hybrid meetings are permitted.
The town’s attorneys have interpreted that to mean a hybrid meeting is not allowed. However, Town Meeting last June requested the state Legislature to allow hybrid meetings but this cannot not be addressed until the next legislative session begins in January.
So, is there some sort of compromise possible using Plymouth North High School?
“I would love to see having anyone that wanted to join in, in the auditorium that we normally are in, and then maybe having one, no more than two, additional rooms for people, that didn’t feel comfortable in that setting,” said Cavacco.
But what will happen should Town Meeting convene on the 15th and Town Moderator Triffletti postpones it?
“For the reasons that are clear under the law, I don’t see where that can happen. The Selectmen, they are the authority, and, of course, we have to remember, Town Meeting can overrule the Moderator by a two thirds vote.”
The Select Board meets Tuesday, the 13th at Town Hall at 6 p.m.
