Milton To Conduct Virtual Annual Town Meeting Training

MILTON, MA — Milton is planning to hold its annual town meeting remotely on June 15 for the first time in town history. The town has a little more than two weeks to teach town meeting members the unprecedented process. Town Moderator Robert Hiss said the town is proceeding as if the state legislature will approve a version of the bills passed by the House and Senate to allow an exception for communities to hold town meetings remotely this year due to the coronavirus health emergency.

While some towns, such as Hingham and Tisbury, have opted to hold their town meetings outside using proper social distancing, Milton has deemed that unfeasible given state restrictions on social gatherings expected in June.

"Given time is short, I am proceeding as if the bill will pass," Hiss said of the proposed reconciled legislation. "If it does not, then I will consult with the Select Board to conduct an in-person town meeting in a venue that permits us to follow social distancing principles."

The proposed virtual town meeting (VTM) will be held via Zoom. Hiss is asking those planning to participate to register and familiar themselves with Zoom, and take part in an upcoming training session.

"(Residents will) attend town meeting with the understanding that a VTM can only approximate our traditional experience," Hiss said.

Each town meeting member will need to create a Zoom account using as your user ID the email address you have on file with the town clerk. Download the Zoom application to the computer/device you will use for the VTM Register for the training and Town Meeting by clicking on this link.

Those without an email address, please contact Michael Lynch at mike@miltonaccesstv.org or by calling 617-898-4960 and he will assist you with the registration. Members will be able to attend the training and town meeting with full functionality on a smart phone, tablet, MAC or PC. Those with none of those can have arranged access to computers at the Milton Town Library the night of town meeting. Those with a device, but a weak/poor internet connection, you can also attend town meeting by going to the library.

Those who need access to the library should contact Hilary Waite at hwaite@townofmilton.org to reserve a spot. Those who believe they will an accommodation due to a disability should contact Robert Hiss at rhiss@townofmilton.org.

Training will be conducted on the following days:

Precinct 1: Monday June 1, 6 PM
Precinct 2: Monday June 1, 8 PM
Precinct 3: Tuesday June 2, 6 PM
Precinct 4: Tuesday June 2, 8 PM
Precinct 5: Wednesday June 3, 6 PM
Precinct 6: Wednesday June 3, 8 PM
Precinct 7: Thursday June 4, 6 PM
Precinct 8: Thursday June 4, 8 PM
Precinct 9: Monday June 8, 6 PM
Precinct 10: Monday June 8, 8 PM
Newly Elected TMM: Sunday June 14, 7 PM

"I would like to emphasize the importance of registering in advance and attending the training," Hiss said. "We have 288 voting members of town meeting. I will start the meeting on time at 7:30 p.m. on Monday June 15, 2020."

To ensure all meeting members can access the VTM on time, they are asked to complete the registration and training. There will be a help desk the night of town meeting, but the meeting itself will start as soon as there is a quorum.

"The help desk personnel will work to resolve any last-minute problems you have, but town meeting will go on," Hiss said.

The VTM Advisory Committee has prepared training materials and a Frequently Asked Questions document to help you. As town meeting approaches, the town will publish phone numbers members can call the night of town meeting to help resolve problems. Email rhiss@townofmiltonorg with any other questions.

"I would like to thank you in advance for your attention to these steps and your understanding of this new process," Hiss said. "We will be only the second town in the Commonwealth to conduct a VTM. I have consulted with other town moderators on their approach in order to incorporate best practices into Milton's VTM."