Our Feed

We are involved in our communities, our profession, and our clients' associations and activities.

Can township trustees attend township meetings by phone or teleconference?

Yes. Although the Attorney General ruled in 1977 that telephone conferences could not meet Open Meetings Act requirements, the Court of Appeals disagreed in a later case. In Goode v Dept of Soc Services, 143 Mich App 756, 759-60; 373 NW2d 210 (1985), the Court said:

“We find no problem with the holding of hearings via teleconference calls. Such calls are heard through speaker phones and are audible to all in the room. Persons who wish to attend the hearing are allowed to do so and may attend at either location. The conference call set-up actually increases the accessibility of the public to attend, as now more than one location is open to the public.”

Stay tuned for next month when we tackle another township’s pressing question. If you have current issues or legal topics you need addressed, please fill out the form below with your question. We will select a question each month to answer.

Recent Articles & Announcements

  1. Fahey Schultz Burzych Rhodes Ann...

    Okemos, Mich. — January 1, 2026 — Fahey Schultz Burzych Rhodes PLC (FSBR) is pleased to announce that Cole Hedrick and Kyle O’Meara ha...

    Read More
  2. A resident claims that various j...

     You can still enforce your blight regulations, provided they are not part of your zoning ordinance. “Grandfathering” is a colloquial t...

    Read More
  3. To dB or not to dB? Recommendati...

    Under Michigan law, municipalities are empowered to enact regulations for the public health, safety, and welfare. The scope of this regulato...

    Read More
Talk to an Attorney
Request a Consultation

At Fahey Schultz Burzych Rhodes PLC, we’ve been helping municipalities, franchised businesses, employers, and more with their legal needs since 2008. We’d love to learn how we can help you, too.