Title
Update on Potential Reconstitution of Board of Directors and Possible Resumption of Physical Meetings under the Michigan Open Meetings Act
Body
Agenda of: June 23, 2021
Item No.: 2021-262
Amount: N/A
TO: The Honorable
Board of Directors
Great Lakes Water Authority
FROM: William M. Wolfson
Chief Administrative and Compliance Officer
Great Lakes Water Authority
DATE: June 20, 2021
RE: Update on Potential Reconstitution of Board of Directors and Possible Resumption of Physical Meetings under the Michigan Open Meetings Act
The Michigan Open Meetings Act (OMA) currently allows public bodies to meet virtually pursuant to a local state of emergency declaration. The GLWA Board of Directors is currently meeting virtually pursuant to local public health emergencies declared by Wayne County and the City of Detroit. These state of emergency declarations, which to this point have been renewed prior to their expiration, are currently scheduled to expire on June 30, 2021.
Last week, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced that many restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic would be lifted on June 22, 2021. While the announcement was clear regarding many aspects, it was unclear as to how it may impact the workplace and if the State is contemplating different rules for public and private workplaces.1 To further complicate the situation, there is also a potential conflict within the federal government between the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), as well as between OSHA and MIOSHA.2 Some of these conflicts are likely due to the speed at which both federal and state officials are changing their COVID-19 guidance and the recency of those changes.
At its June 9, 2021 meeting, the Board's Operations and Resources Committee requested that the following update regarding the Board's form of meetings and future calendar be provided to...
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