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Plymouth Affordable Housing Trust rejects trial move to evening meetings
Summary
A proposal to shift Trust meetings to 6:00 p.m. on the third Wednesday failed 7–2 on May 20; proponents argued evening meetings would boost public participation, opponents cited staff availability for morning sessions.
The Plymouth Affordable Housing Trust considered and rejected a trial change to hold its meetings at 6:00 p.m. on the third Wednesday of the month. Barnaby Bosanquet moved the trial change and Bill Keohan seconded; the motion failed with seven no votes and two yes votes (Yes: Bill Keohan, Barnaby Bosanquet; No: Stephen Michael Palmer, Art Desloges, Kathy Dunn, Sandra Smith, George Herz II, Mark Snyder, Christopher Knoth).
Barnaby Bosanquet, who sponsored the motion, said shifting to evening meetings would allow more public participation and accommodate longer discussions. “Barnaby suggested a 6:00 pm or later on the third Wednesday of the month, rather than the 8:00 am, the main reason was for more public participation,” the minutes state. Supporters said evening meetings could increase community attendance; Chair Bill Keohan acknowledged that staff are available for morning meetings but agreed increased participation is a benefit of evening hours.
Opponents voted against the change largely on the basis that existing staff schedules favor morning meetings and some members preferred to retain the current 8:00 a.m. start. The motion failed, and the Trust returned to other agenda items.
