Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting 04/29/2020
CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS FOR PUBLIC MEETINGS
March 20, 2020
Each meeting shall be LIVE BROADCAST on Harwich Public Access Channel 18. This live broadcast will provide a video feed of the documentation informing the meeting and a live audio, in real time, of the meeting. This will provide full access to the deliberations as set forth in Section 1 of the Governor’s Order.
Each meeting also shall be simulcast on the town’s website through the following link:
http://harwich18.dyndns.org/cablecast/public/Live.aspx?ChannelID=1
The Town will post a complete recording of each meeting to its WEBSITE, as soon as practicable, following the meeting.
All public meetings will be conducted using the technology of GOTOMEETING.COM.
All persons required to participate in a public meeting WITH ACCESS to a computer, will be able to log into the meeting via his/her computer to access the audio and video of the meeting. Those persons may also use a dial in number to participate in the audio portion of the meeting.
Any person required to participate WITHOUT ACCESS to a computer may do so by watching the LIVE BROADCAST and by using the dial in number to participate in the audio portion of the meeting.
Instructions for participation will be provided with any meeting packet and/or agenda.
5. POSTING OF MEETINGS.
Before any meeting is posted, the Chairperson and/or Supporting Staff must contact the Town Clerk’s Office requesting a DATE & TIME. The Town Clerk’s Office will confirm availability with the necessary parties, including but not limited to Channel 18 staff to ensure the time is available for a live broadcast.
Each Chairperson must provide the Town Clerk’s Office with a complete agenda packet containing all of the documentation which will inform the agenda items on the proposed agenda. If no documentation exists with regard to any particular agenda item, such agenda item shall be postponed to another meeting.
Once confirmed by the Town Clerk’s Office, the Chairperson and/or Supporting Staff may then post its meeting agenda packet in the same manner as used prior to the State of Emergency.
All meeting notices must include the following language:
Pursuant to Governor Baker’s March 12, 2020 Order Suspending Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A, §18, and the Governor’s March 15, 2020 Order imposing strict limitation on the number of people that may gather in one place, this meeting of the Town of Harwich [board/committee/commission] on [DATE & TIME] will be conducted via remote participation to the greatest extent possible. Specific information and the general guidelines for remote participation by members of the public and/or parties with a right and/or requirement to attend this meeting can be found on the Town of Harwich website, at www.harwich-ma.gov. For this meeting, members of the public who wish to watch the meeting may do so in the following manner on Channel 18 or by watching the simulcast at: http://harwich18.dyndns.org/cablecast/public/Live.aspx?ChannelID=1 No in-person attendance of members of the public will be permitted, but every effort will be made to ensure that the public can adequately access the proceedings in real time, via technological means. In the event that we are unable to do so, despite best efforts, we will post on the Town of Harwich’s website an audio or video recording, transcript, or other comprehensive record of proceedings as soon as possible after the meeting.
At the start of each meeting, every Chairperson shall state the following:Pursuant to Governor Baker’s March 12, 2020 Order Suspending Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A, §18, and the Governor’s March 15, 2020 Order imposing strict limitations on the number of people that may gather in one place, this meeting of the TOWN OF HARWICH [board/committee/commission] is being conducted via remote participation. No in-person attendance of members of the public will be permitted, but every effort will be made to ensure that the public can adequately access the proceedings as provided for in the Order.
A reminder that persons who would like to listen to or view this meeting while in progress may do so by [specify remote access instructions]; or
Despite our best efforts, we are not able to provide for real-time access, and we will post a record of this meeting on the city/town’s website as soon as we are able.
All Agenda Packets MUST INCLUDE a GOTOMEETING link, the web address for the live simulcast on Channel 18, and a dial-in number for the meeting.
Those persons wishing to participate in any (public access) portion of a meeting may participate through a dial-in telephone number provided with any Meeting Agenda Packet.
All persons using the GOTOMEETING LINK and/or any DIAL-IN ACCESS NUMBER are asked to please MUTE your microphone/telephone. When called upon, please state your name and the reason for your participation at the beginning and at the end of each statement made.
For example. The Conservation Commission is holding a public hearing. The Chairperson asks if anyone is appearing for the applicant. Applicant, his counsel, or representative shall unmute the voice connection, and state. “THIS IS JOHN APPLESEED, ATTORNEY FOR APPLICANTS BILL AND CECELIA DALEY ON 20 SHORE STREET, HARWICH. I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A STATEMENT AT THIS TIME CONCERNING THE APPLICATION…. AGAIN THIS WAS JOHN APPLESEED, ATTORNEY FOR THE APPLICANTS.”
These procedures are fully informed by and in accordance with the directives set forth in the Governor’s Order Sections 1 through 3, a copy of which is attached hereto as EXHIBIT A. As always, we thank you for your patience as we transition to a new way of conducting meetings.
Respectfully submitted:
Anita N. Doucette
Town Clerk