The COVID-19 pandemic made it clear that municipal meetings — even large ones like the annual Town Meeting — could take place remotely.
Eventually, town officials introduced the hybrid model, designed to bring residents back into the room after the threat of the pandemic waned. While some participants returned to meeting in person, others opted to remain online. For some, it was a matter of necessity to accommodate work, travel, medical needs, or family obligations; for others, it was a matter of convenience.
Since hybrid became an option, the trend toward remote participation has only grown. Though data for the first hybrid Town Meeting is not available, at the next hybrid Town Meeting, which took place in May 2025, 25% attended the first day remotely, 37% the second day, 40% the third and fourth days, and 44% the fifth day.
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The following hybrid meeting — a special Town Meeting in October 2025 — had remote participation at 50% and 52% over two days.
And finally, the most recent special Town Meeting, which took place in March 2025, saw remote participation at 41% the first day and 57% the following day.
With two exceptions that were fully remote (including the special Town Meeting last July), the intervening Town Meetings between the first hybrid meeting in November 2023 and May 2025 took place entirely in person, according to data from the town clerk’s office.
For former Town Moderator Michael Widmer, the trend toward remote participation for convenience is a concern.
“When I was moderator, I introduced hybrid, and I certainly favor it,” he said. “There’s no way we’re going to go back to all in-person meetings, but I am concerned that so many members have chosen to participate virtually and that we’re losing the special benefits of in-person meetings.”
In-person meetings build “community spirit,” he said. Beyond that, though, he finds participation more active when a majority of members are sitting in the room together. At the most recent Town Meeting, he said that a majority of speakers were those who attended in person.
“I don’t think that was an accident,” he said. “I think when you’re there in person, you engage. Even if you’re not speaking, you’re listening more intently…than when you’re online.”
According to Widmer, being a Town Meeting member entails greater responsibility because it is an elected position.
“I think all the current town moderator and leaders can do is try to remind Town Meeting members they have a responsibility,” he said. “From my point of view, it’s exercised better in person. I don’t think there’s any way to enforce it.”
Incoming Town Moderator Adam Dash, however, sees the use of remote participation in hybrid meetings as a sign that the process is working.
“I think that is how public meetings are done all over the state post-COVID,” he said. “It’s not a particularly unique thing in Belmont. People seem to like it.”
The availability of hybrid and, more specifically, the option to participate remotely, will hopefully encourage more people to run for Town Meeting in the future, he added.
“We did not have a lot of people running for Town Meeting this year, so the more convenient we can make it for them, the more likely we are to get good candidates to run,” Dash said. “And I am always looking to make it better, but I think the concept of having hybrid is a good one.”
In May the plan is to pilot at least one improvement, according to Dash. A camera will be set up in the room so people online can see those in the room, and those in the room will see a list of people online.
Regardless, Dash doesn’t have a problem either way with how people choose to participate.
“As long as people participate and get involved in the town government, that’s a good thing,” he said.
