On March 18, 2020, Governor Whitmer issued Executive Order No. 2020-15 (the “EO”) addressing virtual meetings of public bodies under the Michigan Open Meetings Act, PA 267 of 1976, as amended (the “OMA”). In part, the EO states that “to the extent that the [… OMA] requires that a meeting of a public body be held in a physical place available to the general public or requires the physical presence of one or more members of a public body, strict compliance with section 3 of the OMA, MCL 15.263, is temporarily suspended in order to alleviate any such physical-place or physical-presence requirements [….]” The EO goes on to specify the manner in which public bodies may conduct virtual meetings (i.e., via video conference, teleconference, etc.). The EO only addresses public meetings held between March 18, 2020 and April 15, 2020. To address specific meeting procedures, municipalities are encouraged work with their attorneys.
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