What constitutes a quorum at a public meeting?
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January 15, 2009
A: A quorum is defined by state law as a simple majority of a governmental body unless otherwise defined by applicable constitution, charter, rule or law. For towns with a three-member board of selectmen, this means that a meeting of two selectmen constitutes a quorum and must adhere to the Open Meeting Law.
Subcommittees are subject to the same standard, even if the quorum for the subcommittee would not constitute a quorum for the parent body. For example, if a school committee appoints a three-member subcommittee to screen superintendent applicants, whenever two members of the subcommittee meet to discuss the matter, the Opening Meeting Law applies.
Source: Open Meeting Law Guidelines, updated by the Attorney General’s office in April 2008
