Court Opinion

ID: 1842333
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-10-30 07:35:36.529033+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:05:14.567940
License: Public Domain

392 Mich. 685 (1974)
221 N.W.2d 393
BOISSONNEAULT
v.
FLINT CITY COUNCIL
BOISSONNEAULT
v.
MASON
No. 5 April Term 1974, Docket No. 54,623.
Supreme Court of Michigan.
Decided September 12, 1974.
Jerome F. O'Rourke, for plaintiffs.
Patrick H. Hynes, City Attorney, for defendants.
M.S. COLEMAN, J.
Defendants Flint City Councilmen appeal from a judgment and order of the *686 trial court and affirmance by the Court of Appeals (on different grounds), the effect of which would be to prohibit informal meetings or discussions by members of the council pertaining to the business of the city.[1]
The core question is one of construction of two statutes which could be interpreted as in conflict.
The constitutional problems of prior restraint, of freedom of assembly, speech and the press were neither briefed nor argued and so will not be considered. The balancing of rights as exemplified by the now classic observation that your right to swing your arm ends at the tip of my nose was  perhaps wisely  omitted from the issues placed before the Court. This is mentioned only because the trial judge obliquely brought constitutional issues into his opinion.
Although we will eventually construe the statutes in question, we cannot in good conscience apply the law to the stipulated facts. These "facts" are too abstract and the problem too important for us to enter into what would be essentially a guessing game. For this reason, we will retain jurisdiction but remand to the trial court for factual testimony.
The agreed statement of facts are:
"`Flint city councilmen have met in City Hall at the request of the city manager on several occasions at which meetings the public was excluded. Subjects of discussion generally effect [sic] overall policy and on *687 occasion, may involve items which may require legislative action at a later date.'"
If one were to speculate upon what really occurred in these gatherings, any number of possibilities come into focus. For instance:
1. A firm decision could have been made with only the formalities of a vote remaining.
2. Vague theories could have been tested upon colleagues.
3. A preliminary discussion could have taken place regarding a subject which may or may not ever come to a vote.
4. Legal advice may have been sought from the city attorney.
5. Labor negotiations then taking place may have been the subject.
6. A rumor involving the reputation of an employee could have been discussed.
7. A possible need for land could have been discussed, the knowledge of which might greatly increase the cost to the taxpayers if the probability blossomed into reality.
There are limitless possibilities as subjects of discussion.
However, the "stipulated facts" do limit discussions to those taking place in the city hall at the request of the city manager. The content of the discussions is unclear and specifically will be the focus of this remand.
We cannot apply the law to facts which we do not have.
For this reason, we remand to the trial court for a factual record concerning the character and content of the discussions and meetings in question. We retain jurisdiction.
T.M. KAVANAGH, C.J., and T.G. KAVANAGH, *688 SWAINSON, WILLIAMS, LEVIN, and J.W. FITZGERALD, JJ., concurred with M.S. COLEMAN, J. *689 personal, but not involving services or the acquisition thereof, except as provided hereinabove;
"`5. To consider records which are specifically exempt by law from public inspection;
"`6. To consider severe threats of riot or insurrection public knowledge of which, in the opinion of the City Council, would be detrimental to efforts to meet or lessen the threat.
"`Failure of members of the Flint City Council to abide by this stipulation may result in the commencement of contempt proceedings by the plaintiffs herein.
"`It shall be the continuing duty of the City Attorney, or his Assistant, as Officers of the Court, to report any violation of the Court's injunction as modified hereinabove. Failure to do so shall be regarded as contempt of this Court and subject such attorney to contempt proceedings.'"
The parties shall notify the Clerk of the Supreme Court forthwith of the entry of an appropriate order or consent judgment by the Circuit Court for the County of Genesee, whereupon this Court will dismiss the appeal presently pending before this Court as moot.
NOTES
[1]  "Members of the Council of the City of Flint are hereby ORDERED to conduct public meetings, at which the Plaintiffs herein, and the general public, are not to be denied admittance, when the said Defendants, their successors in office, vote on or discuss: 1) any ordinance, resolution, Motion or, 2) take other official action proposed by or to the Council dealing with the receipt, borrowing, or disbursement of funds or the acquisition, use or disposal of services or of any supplies, materials, equipment or other property, or, 3) the fixing of personal or property rights, privileges, immunities, duties, or obligation of any person or group of persons."

ORDER
Entered December 18, 1974.  REPORTER.
On order of the Court, the motion for special relief and stipulation filed by the parties is considered.
Now it is therefore ordered, that the motion for special relief is hereby remanded to the Circuit Court for the County of Genesee for consideration. The relief sought is a modification of the injunction issued by the Circuit Court for the County of Genesee pursuant to a stipulation of the parties as follows:
"Wherefore, both parties move this Court to issue an order modifying the injunction heretofore issued in the Circuit Court of the County of Genesee so that such injunction would provide as follows:
"`The City Council for the City of Flint, or any members thereof, are restrained from meeting in private for the purpose of making a decision or conducting discussions or deliberations which might lead to a decision involving the city government except for the following purposes:
"`1. To consider the employment and appointment, dismissal, suspension or disciplining of any one of the four appointed officials who serve at the pleasure of the Council;
"`2. To consider the appointment or removal of citizens to City Boards and Commissions, provided however, if a decision is reached to remove such an official said official shall have a right upon request to have a public hearing;
"`3. To discuss strategy sessions and interim reports with respect to collective bargaining or potential or pending litigation;
"`4. To consider preliminary negotiations involving the purchase or sale of property, both real and