Coronavirus: Sudbury Declares State Of Emergency

SUDBURY, MA — The Sudbury Board of Health on Wednesday declared a state of emergency in town, a maneuver that many local communities have been making to confront the growing new coronavirus outbreak. The declaration passed the Board of Health unanimously during an emergency meeting on Wednesday afternoon.

Sudbury's declaration refers to a general need to "expedite the use of resources" to protect residents against COVID-19. The declaration also talked about the need to limit access to public buildings, and to possibly make emergency expenditures.

The Sudbury emergency declaration is open-ended and does not have an expiration date.

Under interpretations of state law, emergency declarations can allow local governments to do things like spend money outside what's already been budgeted. The emergency declaration can also allow municipalities to move outside the state's Open Meeting Law. Gov. Charlie Baker on March 12 declared a statewide state of emergency, which did loosen the Open Meeting Law so boards can hold meetings virtually.

In more extreme cases, towns can use an emergency declaration enact curfews, close roads, and more.

Sudbury this week also closed police and fire department buildings to the public in most cases.