Committee moves to stop reading public emails aloud; emails to be included in meeting packet

The North Middlesex Regional School District policy subcommittee voted March 3 to advance a change to BEDH (public participation at school committee meetings) that would place submitted emails in the meeting packet rather than having them read aloud during the public comment period.

The Chair said emails are already public records and can be included in the packet without taking meeting time to have them read aloud: "Reading it out loud doesn't bring anything more than reading it to ourselves." Committee members generally supported that approach and discussed making sure the agenda or meeting materials indicate that submitted emails are part of the posted packet so the public can locate them.

One committee member suggested adding an explicit note during the meeting that emails submitted for the record exist and will be posted; members agreed this could be included. A motion to bring BEDH to the full committee for a first reading was moved, seconded and approved unanimously.

Next steps: BEDH will appear on the full committee agenda for first-reading discussion and any further public comment.