I apologize for being in absentia on this thread. I had asked to be notified of replies, and I wasn't notified. Finally decided to check today, and I see that I stirred up quite a little discussion a couple of weeks ago. Let me try to bring it back around to the questions at hand:
Michigan's Open Meeting Act does require that the reason for entering closed session be entered in the minutes of the open meeting; in practice this means the reason is stated in the motion. It does not have to be so specific as "to fire Mr. X", but does need to be one (or more) of several specific reasons listed in the act, e.g., to discuss discipline of an employee. The act also requires all deliberations at a meeting constituting a quorum, and all decisions, to be taken in an open meeting.
The state attorney general's opinion says: "Leaving a closed session – the OMA is silent as to how to leave a closed session. We suggest that you recommend a motion be made to end the closed session with a majority vote needed for approval. Admittedly, this is a decision made in a closed session, but it certainly isn't a decision that ;effectuates or formulates public policy.'"
So we need a motion, and we need a vote. Richard Brown was very declarative that this motion needs a second and is debatable, and Josh Martin concurs. Neither learned gentleman cites an authority for this position. The remaining replies, while interesting, are not on point, except those suggesting we consult a Michigan attorney, which we have done. He agreed with my contention that the motion is akin to a motion to adjourn, because the closed session is effectively a meeting within a meeting, and the motion is to end the "child" meeting (and therefore to return to the "parent" meeting). But he agreed in a kind of "sounds good to me" way, not with any conviction or authority.
I state the questions again, with a third question:
Does the motion to leave the closed session require a second?
Is the motion debatable?
What authority supports your answer?
Thanks for the interesting discussion!