Waterford trustees remove work‑session schedule from tonight's agenda amid public concern over transparency

The Charter Township of Waterford Board of Trustees voted unanimously to amend the meeting agenda and remove agenda item 9.3 — a proposal to change the township's work‑session schedule — during the board's regular meeting.

The motion to remove the item was made and seconded and passed on a roll call vote with all seven trustees recorded as voting yes. The board then proceeded with the rest of the evening's business.

Residents who had come to speak about the proposed change addressed the board during the meeting's public comment period. Joseph Smith of 610 South Lake Road said canceling or moving work sessions would reduce transparency and urged trustees to “keep the 4:30 sessions, move them to this auditorium, and record and broadcast them.” Mary Craig, who identified herself as attending past work sessions, urged trustees not to remove the item because she learns substantive details at work sessions that do not always appear in regular meetings.

Other residents repeated those concerns. One speaker said the afternoon work sessions “were created to encourage open discussion and collaboration,” and that eliminating them “reduces the public's ability to hear how decisions are shaped.” Several asked that work sessions be televised or live streamed if they continue in order to preserve public access.

Board members did not debate the substance of the proposed schedule change at length during the regular meeting after voting to remove the item from tonight's agenda. No formal direction to staff or final policy on the township's work‑session schedule was recorded at this meeting. The decision recorded in the minutes was to remove item 9.3 from tonight's agenda.

The removal drew repeated public comment urging the trustees to retain work sessions or to provide better public access if changes proceed. No subsequent motion to reinstate or revise the work‑session schedule was recorded in tonight's proceedings.