Commission debates AI for minutes, then meets in closed session on Community House litigation

Summary

Commissioners debated whether to advance use of AI to draft minutes and ultimately declined to move that discussion to the next stage. The commission then voted to meet in closed session under MCL 15.268(8)(e) to discuss pending litigation regarding the Community House and, after closed session, reported that it has filed pleadings including a lis pendens to block a sale.

Commissioners discussed whether to advance a proposal to explore use of artificial intelligence to prepare meeting minutes. Commissioner Host argued AI-drafted minutes can be more comprehensive if reviewed by a human, while other commissioners and staff noted minutes are legal records governed by Robert's Rules and the Open Meetings Act and cautioned that current AI outputs require careful human verification. A motion to move the item to stage 3 (more extensive discussion) failed for lack of a second.

Immediately after the minutes discussion the commission voted to meet in closed session under MCL 15.268(8)(e) to discuss pending litigation: City of Birmingham v. Community House Association, case no. 2025219218CZ, pending in Oakland County Circuit Court. The roll call to enter closed session was approved. When the commission returned at 9:38 p.m., staff reported the city had filed pleadings, including a lis pendens recorded with the county recorder, intended to halt a proposed sale of the Community House; the city said it intends to use available legal means to try to preserve the property as a community asset.