Board backs sending draft Chapter 18 language to city attorney and commission for review

The Civil Rights Board approved language to send to the city attorney and the city commission proposing changes to Chapter 18 (Article 3) that clarify how complaints are screened and when the city may investigate locally.

Director Sippling described the core change: a sufficiency review to determine whether a complaint is timely, within the city's jurisdiction and alleges a cognizable claim, and, if so, that the city may investigate with support from the city attorney or other departments instead of automatically referring the matter to the Michigan Department of Civil Rights. "So the decision tree is not that if something is validly here in the city, that it will be pushed on to the Michigan Department of Civil Rights," Sippling said. Board members emphasized that formal legal review is required before any ordinance change and Attorney Marcia Jones confirmed her office could review the draft and return feedback at the next scheduled board meeting.

Why it matters: the proposed rewrite would create a clearer option for local handling of complaints and require dismissal notices to specify the basis for dismissal. Supporters said the change would allow local, timely responses and make the system more accessible to residents; the board noted that the city commission retains final authority over any ordinance change and public hearings would be required.

Next steps: the board voted to approve the draft language for transmission to the city attorney's office and to Commissioner Hoffman for coordination with city staff; Attorney Jones said her office could provide feedback by the next scheduled board meeting depending on caseload.