Governor Extends Hybrid and Remote Public Meetings to Increase Access

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BOSTON — Governor Maura Healey signed An Act Extending Certain COVID-19 Measures Adopted During the State of Emergency.
 
This legislation will permit state and local public bodies to conduct public meetings in a hybrid or remote format while also allowing participants at town meetings to participate remotely through June 2027.  
 
"This law allows everyone, no matter where they are in our state, to engage in important discussions that affect their lives and makes it easier for everyone to have their voices heard in our government," said Governor Maura Healey. "We don’t want anyone to be held back from attending public meetings because they don’t have a ride or child care or because they have a disability. We're grateful for the partnership of the Legislature and local officials as we work together to increase access to participating in our democracy." 
 
Earlier this year, Governor Healey and Lieutenant Governor Driscoll proposed the Municipal Empowerment Act, which would make hybrid and remote access to public meetings permanent.  
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Lanesborough OKs Open Space Plan, Short-Term Rental Forms

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — The Select Board on Monday set fees for short-term rentals and adopted an Open Space and Recreation Plan.
 
Town Administrator Gina Dario discussed the draft for STR registration and certificate of inspection since the new bylaws were passed at the annual town meeting.
 
The draft shows the process to file for inspection through Permit Eyes, the town's online permitting system that includes the state building code and safety requirements. Dario said members of the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals and the building commissioner looked at other town models to come up with the best process for registration.
 
Inspections will be annually for non-owner occupied units and five years for owner-occupied. The inspection fee is a flat $50. The last suggestion discussed was the posting requirements for key information.
 
Dario said they looked at about four other communities on how they used non-sensitive information on owner contacts. Chair Deborah Maynard motioned to have the information posted both inside and out to help with law enforcement if needed.
 
"I'm going to make a motion that we put that relevant information not only on the inside of the short-term rental but on the outside, so if the police need to respond, ambulance needs to respond, fire especially needs to respond, all that information is there, nobody has to go searching for it," she said. "If push comes to shove, and it's a matter of minutes, that's going to make a big, a big difference in the outcome of the incident."
 
The board then heard a presentation from Berkshire Regional Planning Commission's community planner Andrew McKeever and Open Space and Recreation Committee Vice Chair Mark Hawthorne.
 
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