6 PM Special Meeting
Sentinel Comments
Special meetings like this one are often scheduled with the primary purpose being to hold a closed session as the main agenda item instead of just adding a closed session to the 7 PM regular meeting. Sometimes, but rarely, the meeting does include a board decison. In this meeting, three items were discussed in a 45 minute closed session but no decisions followed in open session. Residents can attend these special meetings and make comments at the beginning before any decision to go into closed session.
Item #3 on the agenda below was decided in the 7 PM regular meeting that followed. I have no clue what items #1 and #2 were about, nor why the Board felt a closed session for them was in Township’s best interest.
Unfortunately, at least in my view, the Open Meetings Act has a loophole allowing discussion of just about anything in closed session. All that is needed is a confidential legal opinion on the topic to discuss it, regardless of topic.
Closed sessions are never required, just allowed, if the Board sees it as in the best interest of the township. Unfortunately I have rarely ever seen a debate on whether or not going into a specific closed session is in the township’s best interest. The last incidence of such a debate that I am aware of occured in Parks Commission in maybe 2013 or 2014 led by Andy Zale’s comments. I find the lack of debate by the Board on the need for a specific closed session troubling.
Agenda
Video
None
Minutes
7 PM Regular Meeting
Sentinel Comments
Take a few minutes below to read the meeting minutes below.
Unrecorded Citizen Comments
I will attempt to summarize the comments for items not on the agenda not now summarized in minutes.
John Markel had three concerns – 1) Erosion along the berm of Rochester Road north of his sub threatens the pavement integirty, 2) He was not able to access the virtual Board meeting recently to raise this concern. He felt that lack of clear instructions was a violation of the Open Meetings Act and asked this be addressed for any future virtual meetings 3) His email communication on these two matters has gone unanswered.
Later in the meeting, Manager Kline said RCOC was addressing the road. Clerk Buxar asked him to follow up with RCOC. There were no comments during Board Reports and Correspondence on concerns 2) and 3).
Agenda and Meeting Packet
Video – (2 hours, 36 minutes)
You can easily select only the agenda item you want to watch.
Oakland Township Sentinel 