Our Feed

No, but you may be required to publish a synopsis. There is no requirement to publish meeting minutes in a newspaper. However, some General Law Townships and all Charter Townships must publish a synopsis of their meetings.

Charter Township Boards must publish or post a synopsis of Board proceedings each month. MCL 42.8(1). Charter Townships may use their websites to assist with publication. MCL 42.8(3)(b). General Law Townships are only required to publish a synopsis of their proceedings in a newspaper if they exceed a certain threshold of taxable value. MCL 41.72a(5). In 2025, publication is required if a township has a taxable value of $114 million or more. General Law Townships publish their synopses within 21 days of the Board’s meeting. Id.

The synopsis of the proceedings is prepared by the Clerk and approved by the Supervisor. Id. It must show “the substance of each separate proceeding of the board” to comply. Id. While minutes will satisfy this requirement and may be published, a shorter (and less expensive) synopsis may also be used. A synopsis will more closely resemble the agenda of the Board rather than the full minutes. For example, the details or names on a roll call vote would not be necessary. The synopsis should be specific enough to indicate what occurred at the meeting. See OAG No. 4820 (June 7, 1974) (county report).