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Council hears Human Rights Commission request to allow a nonresident member; no ordinance change made
Summary
Human Rights Commission asked council to permit appointment of a non-resident member after several commissioners moved out of the city for affordability reasons. Council members expressed differing views and deferred policy changes, asking staff to notify the commission of council's position.
At the Jan. 7 meeting the Human Rights Commission asked the council to permit nonresidents to serve as commission members after multiple commissioners said they moved outside the city for housing affordability reasons.
Elaine Hardy, director of diversity, equity and inclusion and staff liaison to the Human Rights Commission, said the commission requested the change after several active members left the city because they could not afford housing inside East Lansing. Hardy noted comparable exceptions in the city's code for other bodies: the seniors commission and the Independent Police Oversight Commission allow limited nonresident appointments.
Council members debated the request. Some members said commissions should generally be composed of city residents because commissions advise a government whose decisions are made by the city's voters. Others, including the city council liaison to the HRC, said the Human Rights Commission’s work benefits from retaining experienced members who remain engaged in commission business even after moving just outside the city.
No ordinance change or appointment action was made at the meeting. Council asked staff to inform the Human Rights Commission of the council discussion; one council member suggested a broader, future review of board and commission residency rules rather than a single-case change.
