MA H5131

Public bodies may allow remote participation by members at meetings, with roll call votes required when members participate remotely; municipalities must adopt standards and guidelines before implementing remote participation.

Procurement thresholds increased: sound business practices threshold raised from $10,000 to $25,000, and competitive sealed bidding threshold raised from $50,000 to $100,000 for all governmental bodies.

Double pole removal requirements established with 90-day transfer deadlines for utility attachments, $100 civil penalties for noncompliance (plus $100 per 30-day delay), and creation of a Double Pole Municipal Fund to distribute collected penalties to municipalities.

Towns with representative town meetings may authorize remote participation for town meeting members, requiring select board approval at least 10 business days prior and 48-hour advance registration by participants.

Municipal borrowing term extended to 40 years for school facilities and municipal buildings; cities and towns may amortize major disaster-related deficits over 3 fiscal years; regional school districts may use enterprise funds for landfill and broadband-only municipal light plants.