Rules Of Conduct for Bridgeport Township Board Meetings

Bridgeport Township may be adhering to the letter of the law of the Michigan Open Meetings Act but they are not adhering to the spirit of the law which is to encourage openness and transparency between a township and the residents.
Very little information is given regarding the items being voted on and passed by the board members at these meetings.  You are not allowed to ask questions about the agenda items.  If you want further information you are told to schedule a private meeting with either the township supervisor or manager during business hours.
Many of the items being rubber stamped in these meetings are actions that are being decided and handled by the unelected members of the DDA board.  Most residents have no idea what is going on really unless they attend both meetings.
Michigan Open Meetings Act
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Rules of Public Comment & Participation – Board Meetings


The Bridgeport Charter Township Board recognizes the value of public comment on township
issues and the importance of allowing members of the public to express themselves on
matters of community interest. But, for the benefit of all, and in the interest of all, the
following rules of participation and public comment shall apply at all meetings as allowed by
the Open Meetings Act.

Any person or group wishing to place an item on the agenda shall register their intent in
writing with the Township no later than seven (7) days prior to the meeting and include name
and address of the participant, group affiliation, and the topic to be addressed.

The Township Administrator or presiding officer of each Board meeting at which public
participation is permitted shall administer the rules of the Board for its conduct.

The Township Administrator or presiding officer shall be guided by the following rules:

1. Attendees must register their intention to participate in the public portion of the meeting
upon their arrival at the meeting.
2. Participants must be recognized by the presiding officer and will be requested to preface
their comments by an announcement of their name, address, and group affiliation, if an when
appropriate.
3. Each statement made by a participant shall be limited to three (3) minutes duration, unless
extended by the presiding officer.
4. No participant may speak more than once on the same topic.
5. To ensure that all interested parties have an opportunity to speak, please be brief and limit
your comments to one topic.
6. All statements shall be directed to the presiding officer; no person may address or question
Board members individually.
7. The Board will not respond to comments made during the public participation periods unless
it is necessary to ask a clarifying question, correct a factual error, or provide specific factual
information in answer to a direct question.
8. The presiding officer may:
a. interrupt, warn, or terminate a participant’s statement when the statement is too
lengthy, personally directed, abusive, obscene, or irrelevant;
b. request any individual to leave the meeting when that person does not observe
reasonable decorum;
c. request the assistance of law enforcement officers in the removal of a disorderly
person when that person’s conduct interferes with the orderly progress of the
meeting;
d. call for a recess or an adjournment to another time when the lack of public decorum
so interferes with the orderly conduct of the meeting as to arrant such action.