Bill > S2680

This bill aims to provide flexibility and guidance for municipal governance during the COVID-19 emergency. The key provisions are: 1. Allows towns without a representative town meeting form of government to reduce the quorum requirement for town meetings held during the state of emergency, but not less than 10% of the normal requirement. 2. Enables towns with a representative town meeting to hold town meetings remotely if the moderator determines it is not safe to assemble in person, with specific requirements for the remote platform and procedures. 3. Permits select boards, in consultation with the town moderator, to hold town meetings outside the geographic limits of the town if necessary for health and safety. 4. Extends the deadlines for cities to submit and approve their annual fiscal year 2021 budgets due to the state of emergency. 5. Allows cities and towns to make payments on existing school/education service contracts even if the contractor was unable to fully perform due to COVID-19, with certain conditions. 6. Provides similar provisions for regional school districts to make payments on existing service contracts. 7. Limits the payment amounts to the contract amount less any government financial support received by the contractor due to COVID-19. 8. The act will expire 35 days after the end of the state of emergency, but any actions taken under it will remain valid.