![]() ![]() State laws authorize both types of Michigan townships to perform mandated and permissive functions. The entire state is covered by township governments except for areas within cities. Each township is governed by a board of trustees consisting of the township supervisor, township clerk, township treasurer, and two or four elected trustees. ![]() Typically, though not always, townships are 36 square miles in size. Townships are the original units of government formed in the state. There are 1,123 townships and 117 charter townships which are all actively functioning governmental units. Bureau of the Census offers a definition of Michigan townships: Article VII of the constitution, entitled Local Government, authorizes the establishment of counties, townships, cities and villages. The discussions that our leaders have on decisions that affect Township residents are to be made in public, not on phone calls, and certainly not held back until the results “come to fruition”.The Michigan Constitution of 1963 recognizes various units of government within the state. ![]() Why is this important to the Citizens of Oakland Township? Transparency in government goes beyond having meetings videotaped. Is this another way of saying “I am all for transparency unless there is something to hide”? ![]() “While I am for transparency, there are policy decisions and strategies that must not be shared until after they have come to fruition. - I think we have to be careful as to what we circulate in emails. The policy decison impacts the relationship between the Township Board and the separately elected Parks and Recreation Commission. In an April 6th document received through a Freedom of Information Act request, Supervisor Gonser responded to Treasurer Langlois discussing a concern raised by a citizen about how an April 1 policy decision had been made. HOWEVER, the discussions between Board members that occur ‘behind the scenes’, and not on camera, can be violations of the State’s Open Meeting Act, and certainly contribute to the amount of “transparency” in our Township governance. Since he has come into office, the various governmental Board, Commission and Committee meetings are being broadcast live and are captured on video for playback on the Township website. Oakland Township Supervisor Terry Gonser ran on a platform of “transparency”. ![]()
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