House Bill 5947

Committee: Local Government and Urban Policy

Complete to 10-9-00

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 5947 AS INTRODUCED 9-26-00

House Bill 5947 would amend the Township Zoning Act to revise the procedure for using the services of an alternate member of the township zoning board of appeals.

Under the law, each township board must appoint a township board of appeals having five or more regular members if the township has a population of 5,000 or more people, or if the township has a smaller population, then a township board of appeals having three or more regular members. (The precise number is specified in the township's zoning ordinance.) A township board also may appoint up to two alternate members to its zoning board of appeals. Under the law an alternate member may be called to serve in the absence of a regular member if the regular member is absent from, or will be unable to attend, two or more consecutive meetings of the zoning board of appeals, or if he or she is absent from, or will be unable to attend, meetings for a period of more than 30 consecutive days. House Bill 5947 would eliminate the language regarding absences, and simply provide that an alternate member could be called to serve as a regular member of the zoning board of appeals in the absence of a regular member. In addition, the law specifies that an alternate member can also be called to serve as a regular member in order to reach a decision on a case in which the regular member has abstained for reasons of conflict of interest. House Bill 5947 would retain this provision.

MCL 125.288

Analyst: J. Hunault

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.