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Merrimack budget committee votes to allow remote attendance with statutory safeguards
Summary
Committee members voted to remove an internal prohibition on remote participation, allowing remote attendance when a physical quorum is present and requiring roll-call votes for remote participants, with members asking for limits and improved technology.
The Merrimack School District Budget Committee voted on Oct. 15 to eliminate its prior internal ban on remote participation, allowing members to attend remotely in cases where the statutory quorum requirements are met.
Dan Coakley moved to rescind the committee’s prior attendance restriction; he argued remote participation had proven necessary during the COVID years and cited ADA concerns for members who cannot attend in person. "We have the technology available to accommodate members that need to attend meetings from almost anywhere," Coakley said.
Members discussed safeguards. Several said remote participation should be allowed on a case-by-case basis and not be used as a substitute for in‑person engagement. Committee members noted state law requires a physical quorum at a meeting location and that all votes involving remote participants must be conducted by roll call so remote members can be heard and their votes recorded.
After discussion and procedural votes, the committee voted to permit remote attendance under the statutory framework; the chair and administration will determine implementation details, including the technology used and any reasonable caps or chair discretion.
