Jul 19, 2022
CITY OF EASTHAMPTON UPDATED GUIDANCE ON HOLDING PUBLIC MEETINGS
On July 16, 2022, Governor Baker signed into law An Act Relative to Extending Certain State of Emergency Accommodations, which, among other things, extends the expiration of the provisions pertaining to the Open Meeting Law to March 31, 2023. Specifically, this extension allows public bodies to continue holding meetings remotely without a quorum of the public body physically present at a meeting location, and to provide "adequate, alternative" access to remote meetings. The Act does not make any new changes to the Open Meeting Law other than extending the expiration date of the temporary provisions regarding remote meetings from July 15, 2022, to March 31, 2023.
City boards/committees now have the option to meet either in-person, hybrid, or fully remote. Every agenda posted will clearly have the type of meeting listed in BOLD/CAPITALS at the top for public to easily know how the meeting will be held. Agendas will still include access information such as meeting room or Google Meets link.
Full content for extension requirements per OML can be found here.