Dedham Select Board To Consider Lowering Town Meeting Quorum

Press release from the Town of Dedham:

October 23, 2020

DEDHAM SELECT BOARD

NOTICE OF MEETING TO CONSIDER REDUCING QUORUM
FOR NOVEMBER 30, 2020 ANNUAL TOWN MEETING

The Select Board hereby provides notice of its intention to considering an adjustment of the quorum requirements for the November 30, 2020 Fall Annual Town Meeting. House Bill 4777, signed by the Governor on June 5, 2020, and codified as Chapter 92 of the Acts of 2020, attached hereto, authorizes a Select Board to reduce the quorum for an Annual or Special Town Meeting, regardless of whether such quorum is set by bylaw or charter. In Dedham, Section 85-10 of the Town Bylaws establishes a quorum of 170 registered voters.

As background, based upon the orders and guidance issued by the Governor and the Commonwealth Department of Public Health, among others, restricting large gatherings and various public functions, and the declaration of a State of Emergency in the Commonwealth, the Annual Town Meeting was delayed while additional information about the transmission of COVID-19 became available and some of the restrictions imposed by the Governor were relaxed. The goal, of course, was to ensure that all who wished to participate were able, particularly vulnerable members of our community, and we were pleased with the planning and holding of our first-ever outside Spring Annual Town Meeting. As we have moved into the fall, the phased reopening of the Commonwealth remains ongoing; however, COVID-19 transmission numbers continuing to increase. While some of the Governor’s Executive Orders have been relaxed, many continue in full force and effect. Following consultation with various Town public health and safety officials, to best protect the members from COVID-19, the Select Board, at the request of the Moderator, approved use of a remote platform for the Fall Annual Town Meeting. Significant planning has been, and will continue to be, undertaken with respect to holding the remote town meeting.

As Town Meeting Representatives are aware, turnout was high for the August 10, 2020 Town Meeting. We are hopeful that we will have the same result for the Fall Annual Town Meeting. We understand that while many Town Meeting Representatives are glad not to choose between their health and attending Town Meeting in person, there are also many Town Meeting Representatives that may not feel comfortable using the Zoom platform. Please note that Moderator is offering five (5) different dates for training, and will also arrange one on one coaching if and as needed. To ensure that the Town can address the business on the warrant, and recognizing the significant work that has been undertaken to prepare for the meeting, the Select Board, after consultation with the Moderator and other appropriate Town officials, will meet on November 5, 2020 to discuss whether to reduce the quorum as a way to ensure that the Town Meeting can accomplish the important business appearing on the Fall Annual 2020 Town Meeting warrant.

Therefore, to preserve the option for Town Meeting to be held with a lower quorum, the Select Board hereby provides notice of its intent to meet on a virtual platform on November 5, 2020 at 7:10 p.m. to discuss whether it should lower the quorum to ensure that Town Meeting can efficiently and effectively undertake its responsibilities. Such meeting will be conducted via a virtual platform with public access to allow the public to follow the deliberations in real time. Please check the Town website at www.dedham-ma.gov for information about how to join the meeting.

The Select Board looks forward to seeing you at the Zoom Trainings, Mini-Town Meeting, and November 30, 2020 Fall Annual Town Meeting.

If there are questions in the meantime, please contact Town Manager Leon Goodwin at (781) 751-9100.

This press release was produced by the Town of Dedham. The views expressed here are the author’s own.