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Harwich training: remote participation may require roll-call votes and public accommodations
Summary
Michelle Randello advised that reasonable-accommodation requests for remote participation should be handled with administration and that when board members participate remotely, chairs must introduce participants and all votes must be roll-call and entered into the minutes.
During the session, Randello addressed remote participation and accessibility: boards should expect reasonable-accommodation requests and consult administration and disability authorities when necessary. She noted that pandemic-era authorizations permitting fully remote public bodies are in place through June 30, 2027, but local Harwich policy still requires a physical presence for chairs in some cases.
"If any members are participating remotely, all votes must be taken by roll call and recorded as such in the meetings in the minutes," Randello said, recommending that everyone announce themselves and that chairs default to roll-call votes to avoid procedural errors. She urged boards to prepare procedures for overflow/overflow rooms and to offer clear participation instructions during public hearings so that remote participants can be heard during public comment.
