Might have it's roots in the 'town halls' that politicians hold on the campaign trail.
In New England, where many of the first British migrants settled, the communities were governed almost as a direct democracy, with the locals all convening in the town hall to discuss the issues of the day, to pass ordinances, and take part in decision-making.
If you visit New England towns today, you will typically see a large stone, or, if older, wooden building in the middle of town, of some substance and gravity.
From there it entered the American English vernacular as a noun, to mean any meeting with stakeholders.
And from there, it entered political discourse, to mean a meeting where candidates field questions from voters or potential voters, on the campaign trail.
From there, it appears to have entered corporate-speak, where suits apparently have turned the phrase into a verb, apparently to mean "messaging" the masses that the decision has already been made, for the good of everyone.
Ah, the debasement of language.
