The Board of Selectmen has been looking for a way to help the numerous town boards and committees that are chronically hampered by a lack of a quorum, and four out of five Selectmen think they've found one that works.

Members of town boards and committees will now be able to attend meetings remotely, after a Selectmen vote on Tuesday to allow the policy.

The policy allows members of the various boards and committees in town to attend meetings via phone, video chat or other devices, if they are physically unable to attend the meeting.

"We run multi-million dollar businesses every day" from far flung places, said Selectman Steve Holmes said in expressing support for the new policy. "I think we should have been doing this five years ago."

Selectman Patrick Tropeano was the lone dissenting voice on the matter.

"I'm totally against it," said Tropeano. "I just think it's wrong," he said, adding that if a person is voted to or appointed to a position, they have a responsibility to physically present.

Selectman Judy Whiteside said she had initially opposed the policy but grew to favor it.

"It doesn't get you out of irresponsibility, it gives you the chance to do what you're responsible for," said Whiteside.

Selectmen Chair Peter Teitelbaum said that the policy will help struggling committees.

"There may be a few people who abuse the system," he said, "but I don't think we can presume everybody's going to."