Board of Selectmen Review Remote Attendance

A very short meeting of the Marion Board of Selectmen commenced on April 19. Selectmen Stephen Cushing, Jonathan Henry and Jonathan Dickerson were settled in by 7:00 pm, waiting only on the television recording to be ready. Also present was Town Administrator Paul Dawson, who had been absent due to illness for several weeks.

The board moved swiftly through several minor action items, mentioning that a 2005 Crown Victoria would be up for auction as surplus town property. It became surplus as the Recreation Department had received a new electric car.

“It was a hand-me-down from the police to the Board of Health to me,” said Dickerson.

“Well, if it was a 1912 Stoddard Dayton I might take it, but…” said Henry.

“Sorry, I think we sold that one yesterday,” Dawson joked.

Notable correspondence came from the Marion Planning Board, whose Chairman Robert Lane was in attendance at the meeting.

He addressed the selectmen and asked them to consider a new plan for remote meeting attendance, with board members calling in by phone or web applications such as Skype.

The option of remote attendance would affect all Marion boards, and Lane had a one-year trial period in mind.

“Some board members travel for work, some travel for pleasure, some people are out due to illness. The Planning Board has seven members. Almost never are all seven present at meetings, and I’d like to be able to have all seven available,” Lane explained.

“I’d like to have town counsel review the idea,” said Dawson. He elaborated that the plan didn’t conflict with the Mullin Rule previously approved by the selectmen, which allowed board members absent for one meeting to review a tape of the meeting, sign an affidavit, and vote on the issues.

“Is there a limit to the number of meetings that a board member can call in remotely?” asked Cushing. “Can we add a restriction in?”

“That’s what I’d like town counsel to tell us,” Dawson replied.

“I know there is some worry about abuse of the function,” Lane said, “but I’m confident that our board members are mature enough to not abuse it.”

Near the end of the meeting, Dawson took time to thank the town for the support he had received over the last eight weeks.

“I wanted to thank the board and everyone else. The cancer diagnosis and surgery were difficult, but the prognosis is good and the doctors used the word ‘cure’,” he said cheerfully. “More than anything else, the outpouring of support, the cooking of meals and grocery shopping, everything I couldn’t do, is a debt that I will never be able to repay. They say it takes a village, and I’m sure grateful to be part of this one.”

The next meeting of the Marion Board of Selectmen will take place on May 3 at 7:30 pm at the Marion Town House.

By Andrea Ray

 

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