Oak Park Board votes to enter closed session citing Michigan Open Meetings Act

At a Nov. 18 special meeting, the Oak Park School District Board of Education voted to enter a closed session to discuss an attorney-client privileged matter under the Michigan Open Meetings Act.

An unidentified meeting official moved that "Be it therefore, resolve that, as permitted under the Michigan Open Meetings Act section 8(1)(h), the Oak Park board shall enter into closed session for the purpose of attorney-client privilege," and the motion was seconded by Trustee Clark, according to the meeting transcript. The board then approved the motion by roll call; Clark, Copeland, Madison, Herman Cain, Scott and Tyler each answered "Yes."

Earlier in the meeting the board approved the meeting agenda. The roll call on agenda approval recorded "Yes" votes from Tyler, Scott, Herman Cain, Madison, Cochran and Clark. The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m., and the special meeting was identified as a Board of Education session for the Oak Park School District.

The motion invoked section 8(1)(h) of the Michigan Open Meetings Act, which permits a public body to meet in closed session to discuss matters of attorney-client privilege. The transcript records no public comment or substantive debate on the motion before the board voted to enter closed session.

Following the roll call, the board proceeded to the closed-session portion of the meeting; no further business was recorded in the public transcript.