Whitmer likely to sign remote meeting bill
Macomb Twp. latest to call off session
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is expected to sign legislation by the end of the week that will allow city councils, school boards and other public bodies to continue to meet remotely, ending confusion that resulted in numerous cancellations of meetings.
The confusion began when the Michigan Supreme Court ruled Monday that its nullification of all of Whitmer’s coronavirus orders went into effect immediately. The state’s highest court denied a request to keepWhitmer’s orders in place through Oct. 30.
The court ruled Oct. 2Whitmer did not have the authority to issue dozens of executive orders designed to halt the spread of the coronavirus.
One of the orders had allowed public bodies toholdmeetings virtually. With that order declared void, public bodies were unsure if
they could continue tomeet that way.
Before the pandemic hit, public bodies were required under the state’ s Open Meetings Act to meet in person.
On Tuesday, the resulting confusion caused Warren to postpone its regularycity council meeting. Wednesday night, Macomb Township officials called off their scheduledBoardof Trusteesmeeting. Officials at the township hall Thursday confirmed the meeting was scrubbed with no makeup date planned. Roger Cardamone, deputy township clerk, confirmed the meeting was postponed due to the ruling.
Officials in a few communities reached by The Macomb Daily this week have stated if the bill is signed into law they expect meetings to be held beginning next week. One, Clinton Township, went ahead with its Board of Trustees meeting remotely Tuesday in spite of the ruling.
Senate Bill 1108 allows public bodies to meet remotely until the end of the year. Between January and March, ifamemberofapublic body has a medical condition or if there is a state of emergency declared by a local body or the state, then public bodies can continue to hold remote meetings.
Both the state House and Senate have approved the bill. A spokesperson for Gov. Gretchen Whitmer told The MacombDaily Thursday her office has not yet received the bill but she intends to sign it as soon as it arrives.
At least one public body — the Sterling Heights City Council — has been meeting in person for a couple of months now. Those sessions, held at the city community center, are broadcast live on cable television as well.
The Macomb County Board of Commissioners held two meetings Thursday — a 2 p.m. workshop and a 3 p.m. finance, budget and audit committee session. A board spokesperson told The Macomb Daily county independent counsel has recommended to officials the sessions be held, adding since they area workshop and committee meeting, if necessary the actions taken could be rolled into a futuremeeting.