Milton Select Board Endorses State's 'Virtual' Town Meeting Bill

MILTON, MA — The Milton Select Board has sent a letter to the state legislature in support of a bill that would allow towns to hold their 2020 annual town meetings remotely due to the coronavirus health emergency.

The Select Board argued that is should be allowed to conduct its annual town meeting — rescheduled from May 4 to June 15 — remotely as to not defy any of the state's limits on public gatherings.

The Select Board said average attendance for a typical town meeting is 250 residents with a quorum of 145 required.

"Convening such a meeting may no be permissible on June 15 under state and local orders," the letter stated, "and town meeting and other attendees may otherwise choose not to attend out of concern about their own safety. Based on that, our town moderator has assembled a committee that is currently planning for the logistical and substantive needs of a remote participation town meeting."

The Select Board said that swift passage of the bill will allow the town moderator, town meeting members and staff time for the extensive preparations needed to organize a remote town meeting."

The text of House Bill 4398 can be found here. For more information, read the bill or contact the Select Board Office at 617-898-4843.