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Planning board launches review of written rules and procedures after court guidance
Summary
Board members supported a project to draft written meeting rules and procedures—citing the SJC decision Baron v. Kalenda—and agreed to review the draft by sections, solicit city-solicitor input, and address hybrid/remote participation and executive-session procedures at future meetings.
The Woburn City Planning Board began a multi‑meeting effort on Sept. 24 to draft formal rules and procedures to govern meeting conduct, public comment and administrative practices, citing a Supreme Judicial Court decision that expanded public-speaking rights.
Planning board member Claudia introduced the project and referenced Baron v. Kalenda to explain why written procedures could help chairs manage public hearings while protecting speakers’ rights. Members said the city previously had a draft with comments from staff and a former city solicitor and recommended circulating the Word document (including embedded comments) to current members before the next meeting.
Board members suggested handling the draft in sections over multiple meetings — for example, taking sections 1–4 at the next session and reserving more complex items (executive session motions, minutes procedure, and hybrid participation rules) for later meetings. The board asked planning staff to obtain city-solicitor review before formal adoption to ensure the rules do not create legal risk.
Members also discussed hybrid participation for board members and the public, noting past authorization for remote participation following COVID-era rules and uncertainty about whether future state law will mandate hybrid capability; staff agreed to check the current state guidance for planning boards and report back.
The board endorsed the phased review approach and asked staff to put sections of the draft on future agendas for deliberation and revision.
