Council weighs tightening camera rules after residents report on-site harassment

Lathrup Village councilors discussed proposed changes to the body’s recording rules aimed at preventing disruptive or harassing behavior while preserving the public’s right under the Michigan Open Meetings Act to record public meetings.

Council members and staff described the rules’ goals as balancing transparency with resident safety. Staff and a council member said the existing language—requiring larger cameras to be placed on tripods in designated areas and prohibiting recording used to "intentionally frighten, intimidate, threaten, harass, or annoy" others—was drafted after residents reported feeling threatened by recording devices pointed in their faces.

Several public commenters said the rules had improved their comfort at meetings. Resident Lauren Ferris said she experienced repeated on-camera harassment and that clips of her had been “weaponized” on private social media pages, which made her reluctant to attend meetings before the rule change. "That change of the rule did make it safer for me to come," Ferris said.

Other commenters disagreed. One speaker warned that relaxing the tripod requirement could make enforcement harder and lead to more disruptive behavior; another urged the council to retain easy-to-use online reporting tools (Cclick fix) that allow residents to report problems anonymously and attach photos.

Council members agreed the rules could be refined to focus on outcomes (obstruction, intimidation, disruption) rather than specifying only equipment; several suggested retaining designated areas and restrictions on lights, additional microphones or flash photography while allowing greater flexibility for handheld cell-phone recordings that do not invade others’ personal space.

Members asked one council colleague (John) to draft proposed language for review and suggested returning the revisions to a future session. No ordinance or binding change was adopted at the meeting.