For the first time in two-and-a-half years, the Edgartown select board will return to in-person meetings June 20.
The meetings, driven online due to the Covid-19 pandemic, had first gone remote after Gov. Charlie Baker issued an emergency measure allowing governmental meetings to be held via publicly-accessible video call. He had extended that measure in June 2021 and Gov. Maura Healey signed another extension into law earlier this year.
Edgartown officials expressed relief after the last extension had passed. Unlike other Island towns such as Oak Bluffs and Aquinnah, the Edgartown select board had not explored any hybrid meeting options. Chilmark and West Tisbury have also largely continued with remote-only meetings.
But on Monday, the Edgartown select board decided to resume its meetings in town hall.
“That’s great news,” chairman Arthur Smadbeck said of the return to in-person. “It’ll be great going back and seeing everybody and doing these meetings in 3D.”
Select board members will meet in the coming weeks to explore hybrid options, town administrator James Hagerty said. The first in-person meeting will take place in the select board office in Edgartown town hall at 4 p.m. Tuesday, June 20.
Comments
Comment policy »