Selectmen said they would take the Planning Board's request under advisement.
LUDLOW - The Planning Board on Tuesday asked the selectmen to consider permitting town boards to allow some members to participate in public meetings from remote locations.
Selectman William Rooney said he knows that businesses conduct meetings remotely, but he said he is not ready to sanction public meetings from remote locations.
“I would be reluctant to do this,” he said.
Rooney said he would like to hear from the public before taking any action on such a request.
Planning Board Chairman Raymond Phoenix said a quorum would still be required at a public meeting, even if one member was allowed to participate remotely.
He said that remote participation is legal if the selectmen vote to allow it and all parties can hear the conversation, through a speaker phone, for example, or through electronic video.
Selectman Aaron Saunders said the technology exists for such meetings to take place in the private sector.
Selectman Carmina Fernandes said in general she is in favor of using advanced technology, but she said all documents, such as plans and blueprints, might have to be submitted in electronic format to give all Planning Board members access to them if a member was participating from a remote location.
Phoenix said remote participation can be permitted legally for board members who have a disability, or are at a great geographic distance or are away for military service.
Planning Board member Carlos Chaves said he asked about the possibility of participating at meetings from a remote location because he is sometimes out of town on business.
Rooney said he could visualize that a member participating remotely could be at a disadvantage.
“How could that person see the plans?” he asked. He said the School Committee frequently is asked to view Powerpoint presentations, and those could be difficult to see from a remote location.
“Everybody should have access to all documents,” he said.
“We will take this under advisement,” Selectman Manuel Silva said. He said the town would need to consider the added costs of requiring all information to be submitted electronically.
Saunders said he considers the consistency of a person’s attendance at a public meeting important.