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Selectmen to consider discontinuing Zoom for meetings; item placed on next agenda
Summary
A Selectman proposed placing an agenda item to discuss discontinuing Zoom access for meetings; the board agreed to add the discussion to the next meeting to hear public comment on transparency, cost and participation.
During 'Other Business' at the Oct. 14 meeting, a Selectman proposed that the board place a discussion item on the next agenda to consider discontinuing Zoom access for Selectmen meetings. The proposer argued that the town receives very little participation remotely and that continuing Zoom imposes costs and staff time to manage the platform.
Other board members and attendees raised concerns about transparency and access for residents who cannot attend in person (for example, caregivers or workers with scheduling conflicts). The board agreed to place the item on the next Selectmen meeting agenda as a public discussion (not a public hearing) to solicit resident comment and then take a vote at a subsequent meeting if appropriate.
Administrative staff were directed to include the item on the next agenda and to make the notice available through normal agenda-posting channels; board members discussed appropriate language for the notice and whether to accept written public comment before the meeting.
