Open Meetings Act (OMA) Compliance

What is the OMA?

The Michigan Open Meetings Act (MCL 15.261-15.275) requires that all meetings of public bodies be open to the public, with limited exceptions. The Act ensures government transparency by requiring advance notice of meetings, public access to attend and observe, and availability of meeting minutes. It applies to the Township Board, Planning Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals, and all other township boards and committees.

Meeting notice requirements

• 18-hour advance notice

  Public notice of a rescheduled regular or special meeting generally must be posted at least 18 hours before the meeting. MCL 15.265(5) contains a limited emergency-session exception and additional notice requirements.

• Posting locations

  Notices are posted at Warren Township Hall and, when required by MCL 15.265, on the township website. Confirm the board’s adopted posting locations and procedures with the Clerk.

• Regular meeting schedule

  A schedule of regular meetings is posted within 10 days of the first meeting of each calendar year or at the organizational meeting.

• Special meetings

  For special meetings, notice must be posted at least 18 hours in advance and must include the date, time, and place of the meeting.

Minutes requirements

• Proposed minutes

  Proposed minutes must be available for public inspection within 8 business days after the meeting.

• Approved minutes

  Approved minutes must be available within 5 business days after the meeting at which they are approved.

• Content

  Minutes must include the date, time, place, members present, members absent, decisions made, the purpose and result of all roll call votes, and all other required information under MCL 15.269.

Public participation

• Right to attend

  Any person has the right to attend an open meeting of a public body. A person cannot be excluded from a meeting except for a breach of the peace.

• Right to address the board

  The public must be given a reasonable opportunity to address the board at each meeting, subject to the board's adopted procedures and agenda.

• Rules of decorum

  The board may establish reasonable rules to maintain order and decorum during meetings, such as time limits for individual comments.

Closed session rules

A public body may only meet in closed session for the following limited purposes under MCL 15.268:

• To consider the dismissal, suspension, disciplining, complaints or charges, or periodic personnel evaluation of a named officer, employee, staff member, or individual agent if that person requests a closed hearing
• For strategy and negotiation sessions connected with a collective bargaining agreement
• To consult with the township attorney regarding trial or settlement strategy in specific pending litigation, but only when an open meeting would have a detrimental financial effect on the township’s litigating or settlement position
• To review and consider the contents of an application for employment if the candidate requests confidentiality
• To consider the purchase or lease of real property up to the time an option to purchase or lease is obtained

The vote required to enter closed session depends on the statutory purpose. MCL 15.267 generally requires a two-thirds roll-call vote, but permits a majority vote for certain purposes. All decisions must be made in open session.

How this site posts meeting records

• Meeting notices appear online when provided for website posting
• Regular meeting schedules are posted as they are confirmed for each calendar year
• Proposed minutes will be posted online as source files are approved and added
• Approved minutes will be posted online as source files are approved and added
• Posted meeting records appear in the meetings and documents sections as source files are added