Oak Park provides boards and commissions training on Robert’s Rules and Open Meetings Act

City staff led a training session for Oak Park board and commission members to review meeting procedures under Robert’s Rules of Order and Michigan’s Open Meetings Act.

The presenter, identified in the transcript as the city attorney, told attendees the session would include a brief mock meeting and asked that questions be held until the end. The city attorney emphasized that meetings must be open to the public and that the temporary exception permitting remote participation implemented during the COVID pandemic "no longer applies." He added that the city may broadcast meetings but governing members must be present in person for deliberations and votes.

On canvassing the presenter said the Open Meetings Act permits canvassing — "You are allowed to canvas. That's what the law says"— but warned that such calls often lead into prohibited deliberation if they go beyond a narrow question about how a colleague plans to vote.

The training covered common procedural items: officers are selected at an initial meeting, bylaws guide each board’s operations, motions should be stated affirmatively ("I move to approve …"), and motions to open consideration require a first and second and are distinct from a final vote on the matter. The city attorney reminded members that quorum is 50% plus one and that the city charter requires members not to miss more than 25% of meetings or face replacement.

Staff liaison responsibilities described in the session include preparing and posting meeting notices (board name, address, phone number, time and place), assisting with agendas, determining whether absences are excused, and reporting attendance to the clerk when required. The presenter said draft minutes must be available for public inspection within eight business days and approved minutes filed with the city clerk within five business days.

Public comment rules were described as a three‑minute limit per speaker (boards can set different limits), not a forum for back‑and‑forth debate with members, and not a space for campaigning or offensive language. After the training portion the public comment period opened; a commenter identified as Ken urged that the library receive available funds for reading materials, programming and extended hours, saying the library receives no financial or after‑school resource assistance from the Oak Park School District.

The presenter closed by explaining the usual adjournment process (chair moves to adjourn, a second, and a voice vote) and invited questions for the Q&A period of the session.