Press Release - Postponement Duxbury 2020 Annual Town Meeting and Special Town Meeting
TOWN OF DUXBURY
Press Release
2020 Annual Town Meeting and Special Town Meeting
As the concerns have increased over the last few days with respect to the novel coronavirus Covid-19, the Town of Duxbury has been watching closely. The Annual Town Meeting, and a special town meeting, are scheduled for this Saturday, March 14. In addition, we have a March 16, 2020, Special Town Meeting. Just yesterday, the Governor declared a state of emergency and recommended that large gatherings be avoided. Various professional sports leagues, universities, school districts, cultural institutions and events, and more, have been cancelled, closed, or temporarily suspended normal operations. Additionally, the Governor has suggested that persons that would be considered highly susceptible to transmission of the disease be particularly vigilant about protecting their health. Although we do not know what the situation will look like over time, this issue is evolving quickly; the Town wants to act consistently with what has been recommended by the Governor, and generally with advice coming from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the U.S. Center for Disease Control. In an effort to be respectful of the importance of the function of Town Meeting, a delay at this time will avoid forcing voters to choose between participating in the Town Meeting and managing their health in a manner most appropriate for them.
For all these reasons, following consultation with the Board of Health, the Board of Selectmen and Town Moderator have determined that it would not be appropriate to hold the Annual or Special Town Meetings at this time. To formally accomplish this delay in the date of Town Meeting, the Town Moderator, Town Clerk, Chair of the Board of Selectmen and Chair of the Finance Committee will meet at 9:00 a.m. in the Duxbury Performing Arts Center on Saturday, March 14, 2020, to open the Annual and Special Town Meetings, and continue them to 9:00 a.m., Saturday, May 2, 2020, at the Duxbury Performing Arts Center. On Monday, March 16, 2020, the same people will appear at the Duxbury Performing Arts Center at 7:00 p.m. to continue that Special Town Meeting to a time, date and place yet to be determined.
You are hereby notified, therefore, that YOU SHOULD NOT PLAN ON ATTENDING Town Meeting this Saturday, March 14, or on Monday, March 16.
Be further advised that the Board of Selectmen will conduct a meeting, as scheduled, at 8:00 a.m. that morning to address this issue, as well as the scheduling of the Annual Town Election. These same issues are implicated in the event an election is held, and it is therefore anticipated that the Board of Selectmen will vote to ask the Governor to file special legislation authorizing the postponement of the Annual Town Election to a date later in the spring. The Board will also address additional Covid-19-related matters that require attention. If you plan on attending this Board of Selectmen meeting, please note that the Board will be imposing social distancing mechanisms with respect to seating and limiting its meeting agenda to only those matters necessary to address at that time. Efforts will be made to expedite the posting of minutes on line so that they are available to the public as soon as possible.
The Board of Selectmen, Town Manager, Town Moderator, Board of Health, School Committee, School Superintendent, and the Police and Fire Departments will monitor the Covid-19 situation closely and provide additional information when and as received. Persons are encouraged to e-mail or call Town officials and employees with any typical Town Hall business including raising issues, expressing concerns, or making requests for assistance. The Town will, of course, make every effort to minimize the same as we move forward as a community during this difficult time. We are grateful to the entire community for its calm and measured response to these disruptions to our normal business.