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Commission reviews which boards to include in charter; cemetery and brownfield debated
Summary
The commission discussed whether to retain or revise charter text about nonresident board membership, the cemetery trustees and inclusion of a brownfield board; members asked staff to check legal and appropriation details before final decisions.
The Big Rapids Charter Revision Commission discussed whether to change provisions that govern board membership, a statutory cemetery provision and language about a brownfield board during its Oct. 8 meeting. No final charter revisions were adopted on these items; the commission asked staff to follow up with legal counsel and return recommendations.
Commission members said public feedback and their own review suggested nonresident board membership changes were not popular; the commission noted the current charter language for board membership will remain as written unless compelling public or legal reasons require changes. "We will not be entertaining that one," a commissioner said when the idea of expanding nonresident membership was raised.
Members focused more on a provision that references a board of cemetery trustees. Commissioners said the city currently pays for maintenance of a cemetery that lies outside city limits under a long-standing arrangement, but the charter's cemetery section appears out of place and refers to a board that no longer convenes. The commission asked staff to consult the city attorney about whether the cemetery provision should remain in the charter and, if so, how to update the wording to reflect current practice, including ongoing appropriations for maintenance.
The meeting also covered including a brownfield board in the charter. Commissioners discussed whether listing the brownfield board has practical value given sparse activity in the past; some members favored including it now to preserve local authority for redevelopment tools, while others questioned whether to add every rarely-used board to the charter. The commission asked staff to consult legal counsel and report back with recommended text.
No formal votes were taken on boards, cemetery trustees or brownfield language. The commission instructed staff to check statutory requirements, the city’s financial obligations, and whether any boards must be included in the charter to preserve local authority. Commissioners said any recommended wording will be refined by the word‑smithing subcommittee and circulated before the next meeting.
