The Open Meetings Law requires that all meetings of city boards / commissions be open to the public and be held in a place available to the general public. The law further stipulates that:
All decisions of a city board / commission be made at a meeting open to the public
All deliberations of a city board / commission constituting a quorum shall take place at a meeting open to the public
A person shall not be required, as a condition of attendance at a meeting, to register or otherwise provide his name or other information
A person shall be permitted to address a meeting of a city board / commission under the rules established and recorded by the board / commission
A person shall not be excluded from a public meeting except for a breach of the peace actually committed at the meeting
The city must post a notice, within 10 days after the first meeting of the new calendar year, stating the dates, times, and places of the regular meetings of the boards / commissions
For a special meeting, a public notice stating the date, time, and place of the meeting shall be posted at least 18 hours before the meeting
Closed Sessions
The law does provide for a city board / commission to meet in a closed session for only the following purposes:
To consider the dismissal, suspension, or disciplining of, or to hear complaint or charges brought against, a public officer, employee, staff member, or individual agent, when the named person requests a closed hearing
For strategy and negotiation sessions connected with the negotiation of a collective bargaining agreement when either negotiating party requests a closed hearing
To consider the purchase or lease of real property up to the time an option to purchase or lease that real property is obtained
To consult with an attorney regarding trial or settlement strategy in connection with specific pending litigation
To review the specific contents of an application for employment or appointment to a public office when the candidate request that the application remain confidential. All interviews for employment or appointment to a public office shall be held in an open meeting
Minutes
Each board / commission must keep minutes of each meeting showing the date, time, place, members present, members absent, any decision made at an open meeting, and the purpose or purposes for which a closed session is held.
Public Availability
Minutes are public records open to public inspection and are available at the Office of the City Clerk: Richmond City Hall 68225 Main St. Richmond, MI 48062
Proposed meeting minutes are available for public inspection eight business days after the meeting to which they refer. Approved meeting minutes are available for public inspection five business days after the meeting at which the minutes were approved by the board / commission.