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Council votes to remove barriers and pursue hybrid meetings; city attorney to advise on proxy voting
Summary
The Lynn City Food Policy Council approved a motion to remove barriers to meeting participation—by using hybrid/Zoom meetings and exploring assigned voting representatives—while city staff will consult the city attorney about proxy voting rules.
The Lynn City Food Policy Council voted to remove barriers to participation by encouraging hybrid meeting options (in-person plus Zoom) and exploring assigned voting representatives to make quorum and official business easier.
Chair told members the city clerk and city attorney have warned that proxy voting may raise legal issues, but the council will consult further with the city attorney (Jim Lamanna) and the clerk to determine what is allowable under the city charter. In the meantime the council approved a broad motion to reduce access barriers, including using the city’s official Zoom account or a designated laptop/camera to enable hybrid participation.
Why it matters: Members said hybrid meetings and the option of assigned voting representatives would help maintain quorums and increase public engagement while protecting the integrity of council business. The council also noted the need to ensure hybrid meetings are run from an official city Zoom instance to make remote participation part of the formal record.
Outcome and next steps: The motion passed by roll call. Chair said staff will follow up with the city clerk and city attorney to clarify whether proxy or assigned representative voting is permitted, and will work to secure basic equipment (camera/laptop) to enable hybrid meetings at future sessions.
