Mullett Township Clerk Rachel Osborn posted notice of the 2nd Special Meeting of the Mullett Township Board of Trustees this month.
The Meeting is Wednesday, September 28, 2011 at 7:30PM.
This appears to be a working meeting.
As the notice states, "To discuss, consider, review and approve (increase) in the cost project estimate for the DNR Trust Fund Grant......"
"To discuss, consider, review and approve a 30% match amount........"
"To discuss, consider, and approve the amount of the total for the Tiger III Grant ......"
"To discuss, consider, and approve the amount the amount of the matching funds available......"
"To discuss, consider, and approve a final version of the Tiger Grant III ......."
The underline on the words approve is ours.
The intent of Ms Osborn's Special Meeting is very clear. These items and issues have apparently all been discussed, considered, reviewed, and approved by the Board members, outside of an open public meeting, without a quorum.
This blog certainly hopes the Mullett Township Board of Trustees fully understands that "round robin" discussions, including emails between Board members, outside of a public meeting can be seen as contravening the Michigan's Open Meeting Act. We also trust the Mullett Township Board has formally adopted a policy regarding retention of emails related to Mullett Township business as defense against accusations of contravening the OMA.
New business, introduced and approved at a single meeting without a dissenting vote can give the appearance to the public that Board members had prior knowledge, discussion amongst themselves, and have already made a decision.
The costs and amounts mentioned in the notice of meeting are already known to the Board members. You'll have to attend the Special Meeting to see how much this will cost Mullett Township taxpayers.
