Municipalities throughout Michigan have conducted municipal public body meetings electronically via teleconference, videoconference, Zoom, etc. This can be done under Governor Whitmer’s Executive Order No. 2020-15 so long as the proper procedures and public postings are utilized. One practical problem, however, is public comment. The best video or teleconferencing platforms allow the municipal clerk or other municipal official to “mute” participating members of the public until the appropriate public comment or public hearing portions of the meeting.
Many Michigan municipalities have ended in-person public meetings during this state of emergency. If your municipality has not already done so, it would be wise to make arrangements for a teleconferencing or videoconferencing service in case the public body needs to meet on short notice.