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Ferrysburg council holds first reading of updated ethics ordinance to formalize complaint process
Summary
Council introduced Ordinance 337 to amend the city ethics code and standardize complaint forms and referral procedures; members discussed wording changes, notarization, an 'other' checkbox and a $500 frivolous-complaint fee and asked staff and the city attorney to refine the draft for a subsequent meeting.
Council heard the first reading of Ordinance 337, which would amend chapter 32 of the city code on ethics to align complaint procedures with state guidance. Under the draft, complaints would be filed with the city clerk for initial review; council would then decide whether to dismiss or refer a complaint to legal counsel (the ordinance allows referral to outside counsel if council chooses). City staff said the complaint form is based on state materials and that the city clerk would screen submissions before any referral.
Councilmembers raised edits to the complaint form and asked staff to check whether notarization should be required on the form. They also debated whether to include an 'other' checkbox to capture charter- or code-of-conduct issues that fall outside the state ethics act. One councilmember asked for a legal opinion on whether a $500 fee for frivolous complaints is legally defensible; staff said attorneys had reviewed the draft but that a formal ruling could be requested.
Council did not adopt the ordinance at this meeting; members agreed staff and the city attorney would return with cleaned-up language and clarifications before the next vote.
