Beck316 t1_jec0i1r wrote on March 30, 2023 at 10:23 PM

I think really depends on your town's bylaws with regard to how meetings are conducted. In my town's Annual Town Meeting or Special Town Meeting we can't speak about anything we want. We have to speak about whatever motion or amendment is open for discussion. There's a moderator who is ON IT and will bang the gavel. We also can't attack or mention anyone by name in comments.
Board of health decision-making meetings are technically public and we're allowed to go watch if you want but I don't believe their decisions need voter approval.
Edit for capitalization of the important, unique meetings.

dew2459 t1_jef682v wrote on March 31, 2023 at 3:51 PM

> Town Meeting

Minor nit/explanation: a Town Meeting technically isn't a public meeting; it is a semi-closed meeting of a town legislature that just happens to have a lot of legislators. They don't even have to let non-voter general public in. I have seen some debate (from attorneys and moderators) about how much this ruling will effect Town Meetings (short summary: no one knows for sure), as opposed to all the regular board meeting in a town which are definitely covered by it.

Beck316 t1_jefd6ta wrote on March 31, 2023 at 4:36 PM

How is town meeting not a public meeting? My town is small enough that we do not have representatives or whatever. Individuals vote by show of hands (raised index cards). We do have a section for non voting speakers/ visitors to sit.

dew2459 t1_jegm91j wrote on March 31, 2023 at 9:35 PM

It is a small but important distinction; I say it isn't public because the the moderator doesn't have to let "the public" into the meeting, such as those non-voter visitors. Only registered voters and a few select town/school employees are required by law.

In a regular public meeting (at least in MA, where the state Open Meeting Law governs public meetings) you simply can't do that, you must let everyone in, even random tourist visitors who just want to watch. Town Meetings are not under open meeting law, they have their own laws (in fact two chapters of state laws).

I've been to Town Meetings in maybe ten towns, and as part of a job a friend has been to several dozen. The moderators are always happy to welcome guests, but (for example) the auditorium in my own town is small enough that the moderator sometimes does not let visitors in until it is clear there will be enough space for all voters first. Perfectly legal, but if the selectmen did that for a selectmen's meeting (a public meeting), it would be an open meeting law violation.