Boldyga announces Municipal Governance assistance bill
BOSTON – State Rep. Nicholas Boldyga, R-Southwick, has announced that cities and towns will be given additional tools to safely conduct Town Meetings and municipal elections during the global pandemic, under legislation recently approved by the Legislature.
Senate Bill 2680, An Act relative to municipal governance during the COVID-19 emergency, was enacted by the House of Representatives on a vote of 156-0 on June 4, and by the Senate on a voice vote the same day. The bill is now on Gov. Charlie Baker’s desk for his review and signature. Bill S. 2680 allows for municipal elections and municipal caucuses that were originally scheduled prior to June 30 to be rescheduled to a date no later than Aug. 1.
The municipal governance bill also allows local select boards, boards of selectmen, town councils and boards of registrars to vote to eliminate any municipal caucus scheduled to occur between March 23 and July 31, if they determine holding the caucus would constitute a threat to public health and safety due to COVID-19. If a town cancels its municipal caucus, local candidates will be required to submit nomination papers signed by not fewer than 10 of the town’s registered voters. S. 2680 also provides a number of options for conducting Town Meeting business while still maintaining safe social distancing protocols.
In addition to allowing Town Meetings to be conducted virtually – with members
participating and voting remotely through video or telephone conferencing – the bill also provides for reduced quorums during the State of Emergency, as long as the reduced number is not less than 10% of the existing quorum requirement. It also allows the select board, in consultation with and with the approval of the town moderator, to move Town Meeting to an alternative site outside the town’s geographic boundaries if needed to ensure public health and safety.
For communities that opt to hold a virtual Town Meeting, the bill requires town moderators to consult with the local disability commission or a coordinator to ensure compliance with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act. In communities with a representative Town Meeting form of government, registered voters who wish to participate in the virtual Town Meeting must submit a request to the town clerk at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting.
S. 2680 also provides additional time for cities to finalize a municipal budget for Fiscal Year 2021, by allowing local mayors to submit an annual budget to the city council within 30 days of the termination of the State of Emergency, or by July 31, whichever is earlier, and extending the deadline for city councils to act on the budget until 60 days after the State of Emergency is lifted. Cities that are unable to finalize a budget by June 30 can operate using a monthly continuing appropriation budget for up to 3 months.
Representative Boldyga represents the 3rd Hampden District, which consists of the city of Agawam and towns of Granville, and Southwick. He can be reached at (413) 569-3137 Ext 103 or via email at [email protected].
