Summary of Points - Key Issues

Policy Development through Actions of the Council

• Elected officials make policy, while appointed staff are involved in executing that policy. Maintaining these separate, but related, roles is important to the successful functioning of the municipality and to the making of effective policy decisions.

• The legislative body has specific restrictions to its authority. There are considerable consequences for acting beyond the scope of that authority. Local governments in Michigan have no power of their own, except as granted to them by the state constitution, statutes and local charters.

• There are differences between local ordinances and Council resolutions. Generally, an ordinance is intended to have a permanent and more general effect, while resolutions implement ministerial functions of government for short-term purposes. An ordinance must comply with state and federal laws, be reasonable in nature, and is enacted according to the procedures set forth by statute or local charter.

• Parliamentary procedure, or some similar system of managing the meetings of the legislative body, is helpful in moving business along. It is a way to protect and preserve the rights of all – the majority, the minority, individuals, and those who are absent.

• Public officials have the responsibility to become familiar with both the Open Meetings Act and the Freedom of Information Act, since these govern how business is conducted and how the public can express its right to know the business of the municipality and charter.