Hello Rebekah:
The draft minutes as well as the final minutes are public record and must be available for the patron to see – and copy.
MCL 15.269(2) https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-15-269
(2) Minutes are public records open to public inspection, and a public body shall make the minutes available at the address designated on posted public notices pursuant to section 4.
The public body shall make copies of the minutes available to the public at the reasonable estimated cost for printing and copying.
I hope this is helpful!
Clare
Clare D. Membiela, MLS, J.D.
Library Law Consultant
Library of Michigan
517-335-8132
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Hello all,
Pardon the silly question but I need to understand this issue in more layman’s terms. I have reread the section many times but fear I may be reading into the potential meaning
too much.
We often have a patron who will come in to request our meeting minutes before they have been approved at the next meeting. Our secretary makes them available to the board and
myself normally on the 8th day (so the following Friday). The patron does understand that they are technically
not approved/official. My question is, is the patron allowed to have a print off copy that they can take home? I am getting caught on the “public inspection” verbiage and need clarification if that means they can only peruse the proposed minutes at the library
(public) or if they can take it home and do whatever they desire with them? We’ve not ever had an issue but I want to make sure I understand this better. Thank you!
Best,
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