Politics & Government
Chelmsford Town Meeting Moved, With New Rules Amid Coronavirus
All attendees will have to get their temperatures taken, wear face masks, and stay at least 6 feet away from others.
CHELMSFORD, MA —First the Chelmsford Spring Town Meeting, originally scheduled for April 27, was postponed to June 22, now it's being moved, as the community responds to concern about the coronavirus pandemic.
Town Meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. at the Chelmsford High School Gymnasium on Richardson Road, instead of its usual location at the Senior Center on Groton Road.
"[We] have determined that the [coronavirus] poses a serious health risk to the Chelmsford Town Representatives, Town officials as well as those in attendance and the community at large unless social distancing and other precautions are implemented," said Town Moderator Jon Kurland in a statement Wednesday. "The Senior Center does not have the requisite space to allow for social distancing."
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The moderator recommended that anyone who plans to attend in person, arrive early to allow for time for check in and get tested for a fever by officials using high speed non-contact digital thermometers. Anyone over 100.3 F will not be allowed into the meeting. All attendees will have to get their temperatures taken, wear face masks, and stay at least 6 feet away from others. And don't even think about touching the microphones.
Still, town officials said there will be disinfectant wipes and hand sanitizers available there for use.
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It's not much different from how town hall is handling the pandemic, the moderator pointed out. Every day any town employee comes to work, they have to sign a document that certifies they have no symptoms, have had no close contact with anyone who has been diagnosed with the coronavirus, including having a family member they live with and they have not been asked by a health official to self-isolate or quarantine.
The Chelmsford cable access station will be broadcasting the meeting on local cable television and online.
Earlier this year, Chelmsford Selectmen unanimously approved delaying the annual election to June 2 from May 5 under authority granted from the state in an effort to slow the spread of the virus.
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