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Council advances first reading of ordinance named for Joshua Connaught; mayor pledges state-level push
Summary
The council approved first reading of an ordinance to add training standards for certain security personnel—presented as the "Joshua Connaught Ordinance"—and discussed plans to pursue similar language through the Michigan legislature with community support.
The Port Huron City Council approved first reading of an amendment to Chapter 12 of the Port Huron Code of Ordinances to establish training standards for certain security personnel, introduced in the meeting as the "Joshua Connaught Ordinance." The ordinance will return for a second reading at a subsequent meeting.
Mayor Anita R. Ashford said the ordinance was drafted at the family's request and reviewed by the family's attorney and by city legal counsel. The mayor said she would seek to build legislative support in Lansing and that she would "work with the state representative and the Senate as well, to get bill text to the legislative bureau in Lansing to have a bill text drafted." Mayor Ashford asked the public and community organizations to be prepared to support hearings in the state legislature to move the measure forward if the city pursues a state law.
A family member and others addressed the council after the ordinance passed first reading. The mayor framed the next steps as a combination of local ordinance passage and a broader lobbying effort: "Getting a bill passed in Lansing is incredibly hard. And this will take probably 1 or 2 cycles to get it through," she said, and called for bipartisan sponsorship in both chambers.
The council took the first-reading vote by roll call; the motion for first reading carried. The mayor and council also described a community role for testimony when the measure is heard in Lansing so that lawmakers understand the bill’s objectives.
At the meeting the city attorney and Mr. Shouty (the drafter) were credited with preparing the ordinance text and clearing it with the family attorney. The council did not take a final vote to adopt the ordinance at this meeting; that final adoption will require a second reading and any further local revisions before becoming local law. The mayor said she would coordinate with the Conaught family and legislative contacts to pursue state-level enactment.
