The Select Board will revisit its decision to require face covering at Annual Town Meeting during a newly-scheduled virtual meeting on Monday, March 21, starting at 7 p.m.
The agenda, released Thursday afternoon, lists “Annual Town Meeting” at 7:10 p.m. It includes “final review and discussion of Covid-19 meeting protocols.” The agenda also features outdoor dining as well as a discussion of the future of remote board and committee meetings and an executive session.
Town Manager Sarah Stanton explained that board Chair Margot Fleischman requested the additional meeting to address a number of items, including the town meeting protocols. Stanton said it was always the plan to add the meeting if needed.
Mark Siegenthaler, an unopposed candidate for Moderator on Bedford’s March 12 ballot, is expected to be present at the March 21st meeting. The moderator has authority over town meeting procedures; the position has been vacant for several months.
There will be at least one new Select Board member joining the discussion, as William Moonan’s term expires with Saturday’s election.
The agenda also includes discussions about outdoor dining, the future of remote board and committee meetings, and an executive session.
Background on Select Board’s March 7 Vote on Masking
Last Monday, after a lengthy discussion, the board voted unanimously to require masks at Annual Town Meeting at 7 pm on Monday evening, March 28, in Joseph Buckley Auditorium of Bedford High School.
During that conversation on masks, Select Board members tried several avenues that turned out to be dead ends. Initially, the discussion was about using satellite rooms as alternatives for voters who felt compromised without masks. That idea didn’t survive because of concerns about inherent inequality and some questions about technology.
Board member Ed Pierce suggested separating voters who prefer face-covering within the auditorium, but that idea was not pursued.
Members, some of them reluctantly, voted to require masks, out of consideration of voters who may be or feel vulnerable to Covid-19. It was suggested that the plan could be reviewed with the latest Covid-19 case data, except no meeting had been scheduled before Annual Town Meeting.
In the ensuing days, the board’s authority to set the protocol has been challenged by some, because the Board of Health voted on Feb. 14 to rescind its indoor mask requirement, effective Feb. 28.
It was pointed out during the meeting that the BHS administration will require face covering for the March 19 performance of the spring musical.
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