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Woodstock selectmen require full names for Zoom attendees; public raises access concerns
Summary
The Board of Selectmen adopted a new rule requiring Zoom participants to enter full first and last names or be placed in the waiting room; public commenters said the rule could discourage passive viewers and asked the board to seek the town attorney’s clarity on whether passive watching should require identification.
At the start of the meeting the Board of Selectmen announced a new attendance rule for virtual participants: anyone joining board meetings by Zoom must present a full first name and last name when they enter the meeting or they will be returned to the waiting room until they comply.
“Starting today, if you plan to attend a board of selectmen's meeting via Zoom, you'll be required to enter your full first name and last name upon joining,” the Board of Selectmen Chair said. The chair said the town had consulted the town council and decided to treat online and in‑person attendees the same to avoid perceptions of unequal access.
The meeting’s public‑participation segment included several residents who said they understood the transparency rationale but worried the rule could discourage people who only want to watch. One resident said, in effect, that people who only want to view and not speak should not be required to identify themselves. The chair said the town would check with the town attorney about whether passive watchers must supply names and noted that recordings of meetings would remain available for later viewing.
The board said enforcement will be operational: Zoom participants who do not set their display name will be placed in the waiting room and must either edit their Zoom display name or announce themselves live so the clerk can record attendance.
Why it matters: The policy affects how residents can observe local meetings remotely and balances transparency for meeting minutes against remote‑access ease for passive viewers.
Next steps: the board will consult the town attorney for formal guidance and will consider public feedback about whether passive viewing should require identification.
