980 C.M.R. 2.04 – Meetings; Voting

(1) Public Meetings. All meetings of the Board shall be open to the public to the extent required by M.G.L. c. 30A, §§ 18 through 25. All meetings of the Board shall be open to the press to the extent required by law. The Board may establish specific policies regarding the use of video cameras and other recording devices as necessary. Each calendar year, the Board shall schedule a standing monthly meeting or meetings to ensure timely consideration of Applications and petitions.
(2) Notice of Public Meetings. Except in an emergency as provided by 980 CMR 2.04(3), as required by M.G.L. c. 30A, §§ 18 through 25, a notice of each meeting of the Board shall be filed with the Secretary of State, and a copy thereof posted in the public office of the Executive Office for Administration and Finance, at least 48 hours, not including Saturdays, Sundays, or legal holidays, prior to the time of such meeting or session.
(3) Emergencies. The Board may conduct a public meeting or executive session without giving notice as required by 980 CMR 2.04(2), if it determines that an emergency exists and that immediate, undelayed action by the Board is imperative.
(4) Executive Sessions. The Board may in the course of a public meeting vote to go into executive session. An executive session may be held only as authorized by M.G.L. c. 30A, §§ 18 through 25.
(5) Records of Meetings. The Board shall maintain accurate records of its meetings, setting forth the action taken at each meeting, including executive sessions. Either a full transcript of the meeting or a summary of all matters voted shall be made available with reasonable promptness after each meeting; provided, however, that votes taken in executive session may be withheld from public disclosure for so long as their publication would defeat the lawful purposes of the executive session, but no longer.
(6) Quorum; Voting.
1. (a) A quorum consisting of five Board members shall be required to conduct any meeting of the Board held for the purpose of considering and voting upon an adjudicatory decision, or a proposal to adopt, amend or rescind regulations, or any other matter requiring a vote of the Board. A majority of members in attendance at a meeting shall be sufficient to dispose of any question properly before the Board during the meeting at which the question is taken up.
2. (b) Each Board member or designee in attendance at a meeting shall be entitled to vote on any matter which is properly before the Board at that meeting.
(7) Remote Participation. Board Members may attend meetings virtually in accordance with 940 CMR 29.10: Remote Participation. At the start of any meeting during which a member of a public body will participate remotely, the Chair must announce the name of any member who is participating remotely; such information must also be recorded in the transcript. Members of a public body who participate remotely and all Persons present at the meeting location must be clearly audible to each other. All votes taken during a meeting in which a member participates remotely must be by roll call vote.