Open Meetings Act

What are the responsibilities of a public body if the Open Meetings Act applies?

Provide Notice: A public body must give notice of its meeting. For a regular meeting, the notice must include the time and place of the meeting. For a special or emergency meeting, the notice must include the time, place and purpose of the meeting.

• Notices of meetings are available under the calendar events section of the township

homepage and found here.

Openness: The meeting must be open to the public to attend in-person. Voting by secret ballot and whispering or texting about public business is also prohibited by the “openness” requirement.

• Unless noted as an "Executive Session," all Boards and Commissions meetings are open to the public. Meeting events include the time and location of the public body.

• Citizen Comments: Public comments will be allowed during a specified time of the

regular public meeting agenda. Citizen input or comments are welcome during work

sessions either at the end of the session business or at a prior scheduled time during the

work session.
• Citizens must be recognized by the Chairman of the Board of Trustees prior to

speaking

• Citizens will identify themselves by name and address at the microphone.

• Citizens comments will be limited to 5 minutes each.

• Citizens’ comments must be addressed to the Board.

• A Citizen is called out of order twice, then he or she will be asked to leave.

Post Available Minutes: A public body must promptly prepare, file and maintain meeting minutes and make them available to the public.

• Meeting minutes will be available online following a public meeting once final

minutes are approved by the Board of Trustees. If you seek help in locating meeting

minutes, please call the Springfield Township Administration Offices at 330-794-1739

Please note that the minutes and video are in a preliminary draft format and are not considered an official record until approved by the Board of Trustees and Fiscal Officer.