My Cousin Vinnie, the suburban real estate attorney, called me today
and was hot under the collar. “The remote board meetings have to stop!” he bellowed. “We can’t get anything done trying to talk to each other using World War II Era walkie talkies; it’s like:
‘Our
client’s land is not located in the wetlands resource area – OVER’
‘Your client’s land is in wetlands? -OVER’
‘NO,
it is not in the buffer -OVER’
‘Which buffer? -OVER’”
I had to laugh, because he was right. Only one person can talk at a time, and depending on the quality of the connection and the cheap microphones people are using, it can be impossible to understand what is being said.
“Did you read that some neighbors in Sandwich are opposed to the delicious Tree House Brewery from going into the former location of the ‘Drunken Seal Tavern’ because they were disconnected from the remote connection at the liquor license hearing” asked Vinnie. “Yes, it’s a travesty” I replied.
Vinnie went on. “So much time and energy is wasted just trying to find ways to effectively communicate simple points. Trying to show a subdivision plan via a shared screen to a board member using a 19-inch laptop screen does not work. And it is impossible to engage in simple give-and-take conversation. Like I said, its like using a bad walkie talkie. At a live meeting I can get out of my chair, point to a location on the plan and look a board member in the eye and engage in a back-and-forth conversation until we both understand one another.”
Vinnie wasn’t finished. “In one recent meeting a neighbor conducted a 30-minute filibuster, and the chairperson didn’t feel comfortable cutting him off. But in Carlisle, they know how to hit the ‘mute’ button if someone goes on too long; they’ll just cut you off mid-sentence. And Paulie, this process must be torture for you because I have seen you in action as you raise your 245-pound mass out of your chair and approach a board table with an exhibit; the board members cannot ignore you!”
“Vinnie, I am embarrassed to say: you are correct, sir”
“Contemplations,
Ruminations and Musings of a Country Lawyer” is Paul Alphen’s regular column in
REBA News.
A former REBA president, Paul Alphen
currently serves on the association’s executive committee and co-chairs the
long-range planning committee. He is
also a member of the Executive Committee of the Abstract Club. He is a partner
in the Westford firm of Alphen & Santos, P.C. and concentrates in
residential and commercial real estate development, land use regulation,
administrative law, real estate transactional practice and title examination. As
entertaining as he finds the practice of law, Paul enjoys numerous hobbies,
including messing around with his power boats and fulfilling his bucket list of
visiting every Major League ballpark.
Paul can be contacted at palphen@alphensantos.com.
