Esperance v. Chesterfield Township

The present case involves the proper interpretation to be given the recently *459enacted Open Meetings Act, MCL 15.261 et seq.; MSA 4.1800(11) et seq., specifically whether the act prohibits a public body from voting by secret ballot.

Due to an increase in population, defendant township became eligible for three additional class C liquor licenses.1 Approximately 27 people applied for the licenses and in order to trim the number of applicants to the three that would be granted the licenses, the township board utilized a system of elimination ballots. On the first elimination ballot the board…