Selectmen Adopt E-mail Policy

E-mails to the Westborough board of selectmen's general mailbox will generate two responses soon.

The sender will receive an automated confirmation that the board got the e-mail. And the town manager will reply on the board's behalf.

Selectmen approved this policy this past week.

Selectman Timothy Dodd noted that the board's goals for the year included "some discussion about having a more streamlined policy" for responses to inquiries e-mailed through selectmen@town.westborough.ma.us, which are "sent to all of us and the town manager."

Dodd said he drafted a new policy by working with Town Manager Jim Malloy, and reviewing other towns' policies.

The approved policy also includes adding to the town website "a very short how to guide for residents that are looking to ask general questions, invite us to events, place an item on the agenda (and) apply for a license," Dodd said.

Selectmen Chairman Leigh Emery suggested alloting time for selectmen to weigh in on the e-mail's topic to Malloy before he responds.

"Any one of us might have a different opinion" from Malloy, she said.

Malloy expressed concern that responses from multiple selectmen would violate the state's open meeting law.

"I'm not going to give an opinion on behalf of the board of selectmen. If somebody's asking for the board's thoughts on something, my response will probably be" to ask if they want to be placed on an agenda, Malloy said.

Selectmen can ask for an item to be placed on an agenda when they're copied on Malloy's response, he added.